Il Palazzotto I Residence & Winery
Quiet, design-forward cave hotel with a strong sense of place. Minimalist interiors in ancient stone. Zero gimmick — the history is the feature, not the decor.
Always book direct on the official website for best price guarantee and 10% off at Radino Wine Bistrot (excluding drinks)
Why It Matters
Listed in both the Michelin Guide and Tablet Hotels. One of Matera's only truly isolated historic structures turned boutique hotel — not a cave carved out for tourism purposes, but a real palatial building rooted in centuries of local life, renovated with care. Comes with its own winery (Radino, established in the 1950s) and produces organic wines from Vulture-area grapes.
Architect Katia Vitale took one of the very few freestanding structures in Matera's Sasso Barisano and turned it into ten individual cave residences, each carved from the city's characteristic tufa stone. The building is easy to spot from the street — look for the ornamental stone balcony brackets the locals call 'big cats' and the shelves cut directly into the facade. Inside, rooms keep their barrel vaults and soaring ceilings, furnished with minimal contemporary pieces that let the raw stone architecture do the talking. Some suites still have the original mangiatoie, the stone feeding troughs where animals once ate — that's how far back this place goes.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Apartment
The largest option at 70 sqm, and the only room that accommodates up to 4 guests. Set on an upper level with more natural light than the cave rooms below. It includes a matrimonial bed plus a matrimonial sofa-bed, making it a solid choice for families or longer stays. Also the only pet-friendly unit — small dogs under 7 kg accepted for a €50/night supplement.
Matrimonial + matrimonial sofa-bed · 70 sqm
Deluxe Room
The Deluxe rooms are the original 16th-century chambers — arches and stone details unchanged since the 1500s. At 40 sqm and sleeping up to 3, these are the most atmospheric rooms for guests who want genuine historic grandeur with room to breathe. Bathrobe and slippers included, plus a dehumidifier (useful in the stone rooms).
French style (large double) · 40 sqm
Standard Room
The entry-level rooms here are genuine underground cave spaces — tuff stone walls and authentic barrel vaults cut straight from the rock. No windows, no natural light. That's not a flaw, it's the point: you're sleeping in a Neolithic cave in a UNESCO World Heritage city. Minimal contemporary furnishings let the architecture speak. Good for those who want the full subterranean cave experience.
Matrimonial · 25 sqm
Suite
The Suites most closely recall what life in a Matera cave home actually looked like. High ancient ceilings, a proper bathtub, and — uniquely — original mangiatoie, the stone feeding troughs where animals once ate. These are the rooms that tell a story. Sleeps up to 3. Each suite has its own distinct layout shaped by the natural cave contours.
Matrimonial · 40 sqm
Superior Room
A step up in ceiling height and atmosphere. The Superior rooms feature the typical barrel vault rooflines of old Matera homes but with more vertical drama. Hand-picked furnishings give them a chic, contemporary edge while the tufa stone walls keep the historic character. Sleeps up to 2.
French style (large double) · 30 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Each morning, breakfast is served in the immense tufa-carved Lounge & Winery room. A convivial communal experience (guests may share tables) featuring all-local, km0 ingredients: fresh Matera bread from a wood oven, cakes, Scorzedde pastries, seasonal fruit, local cold cuts and cheeses, and a full Italian coffee service.
The signature tasting experience held in the on-site Lounge & Winery cave room. The 'Sassi DiVini' package includes 4 glasses of Radino Winery wines paired with small tastings of local Lucanian delicacies. Wines span reds from Aglianico, Primitivo and Negramaro; whites from Chardonnay; and sparkling wines from Verdeca grapes. Reservation required at least one day in advance.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The structure has no lift and is not suitable for guests with motor disabilities. There are 10 steps from the main road to reception on irregular cobblestones.
A large tufa cave lounge shared by guests, used for breakfast, aperitivo and wine tasting events.
Available throughout the property.
On-site bar serving drinks; wine from affiliated Radino Winery available.
Staff provide restaurant recommendations and local orientation. Hotel advises guests on parking and navigating the Sassi.
Outdoor terrace available for guests.
No swimming pool on-site.
In-room coffee machine and kettle for tea or herbal infusions in all rooms.
In-room air conditioning in Standard, Superior, Deluxe and Suite categories.
In-room minibar in all room categories.
Hairdryer, courtesy toiletry kit and slippers available in rooms.
Safe deposit box in Standard, Superior, Deluxe and Suite rooms.
Driving is prohibited inside the Sassi di Matera. Guests must use external parking lots — contact the hotel at least 24 hours before arrival for current parking recommendations.
BUILD YOUR IL PALAZZOTTO I RESIDENCE & WINERY PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning