Hotel in Pietra: The hotel at the historic heart of Matera

Text: Rose Sgueglia | Photos © Antonello Di Gennaro

At the heart of the ancient city centre in Matera, considered by many to be the ‘sleeping beauty’ of Italy and one of Europe’s best kept secrets, lies the Hotel in Pietra – named after the historic local stones.

Housed in a converted 13th-century church, San Giovanni Vecchio, this historic boutique hotel is just 200 yards from Matera’s main square, Piazza del Duomo, and the city centre. The six rooms and three suites – which come complete with Jacuzzis – feature an eclectic décor mixing contemporary chic with traditional styling, markedly different from the more straightforwardly traditional approach of other nearby hotels but still very much in harmony with the character of the building.

“I have been lucky to find these locations,” says Roberto Cristallo, hotel manager and owner of the Hotel in Pietra. “In particular, this converted church which houses the hall, the breakfast room and the bar. Everything else, such as the buildings which stand next to the church, has been carved directly into the stones, adding a special charm to their character.”

“I have always been interested in the tourism sector,” he continues. “It’s a passion of mine which was born after spending several years working with my father Raffaele in my family hotel,”

“We have worked tirelessly to make the hotel as comfortable as possible. We wanted our customers to come to our hotel, relax and enjoy their stay in Matera, and that is why we have added the Jacuzzis and soon we will be adding a sauna room.”

The hotel also offers an excellent breakfast buffet designed to set guests up for a day of exploring in Matera.