Aque Cave - Le Grotte del Caveoso

The owners have clearly put a lot of effort into making this a special place, and all the little details are appreciated. The rooms are fantastic and the stay felt unique. I highly recommend it. This hotel made our time in Matera even more special.

Paola and Francesco shared fascinating insights into Matera and its history, and their warmth made the stay even better. Staying in a cave there was such a unique experience. We loved it and hope to return :)

The pictures don’t do this place justice, and the reviews barely capture the care Paula and Francesco put in. We flew in for a date and ran into a few curve balls, but nothing else could have made it go better. The service, stay, and staff were the best in Matera. Superb, and thank you for the strawberries, champagne, and treats! If you’re thinking of staying somewhere else, read this and book here.

The room had everything you’d want from cave living, without the downsides. It was comfortable, beautifully put together, and had a window with a spectacular view of the Church of St. Mary of Idris, an astonishing structure on a nearby rock. Other rooms are different, including a larger, deeper one a few steps down. Each space has its own character. Aque Cave captures the charm of Matera, with an enchanting maze of hidden corners and discoveries. Paola and Francesco are charismatic, smart, charming, and helpful hosts. They make the great location, breakfast, and sightseeing advice all seem effortless, though clearly there’s a lot of work behind it. The rooms rely on unseen air and humidity systems that need constant maintenance and upgrades. Without that infrastructure, they wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable. Life in these caves used to be much harder. In earlier centuries, you might have shared the space with mules, a pig, and a chamber pot instead of enjoying it with your partner. The hosts are wonderful storytellers, full of details and ironies about Matera’s history. They’ll show you how the city offers a richer experience than you might expect. Aque Cave is a unique place to stay.