Corte San Leonardo

Our family loved this cave hotel, even though we were only there for one night. The room was roomy, well equipped, and in a great spot, with a lovely view and easy access around town. Marco helped with everything, from local advice to support during our stay, and the dog was cool too! My six-year-old took those pictures.

The two women working for the owner were lovely, but that wasn't enough to make up for the stay. We paid €190, drawn in by the 9.6 online rating and the promise of a wonderful view. That view is now blocked by a neighbor's recent renovation, so the claim felt like a straight-up lie. The high rating also gave us the wrong impression. The place was rundown and shabby, not shabby chic. Our air conditioner leaked water down the walls, the old faded sheets barely showed their pattern, and the furniture and decorations looked like junk. The current rating is totally misleading.

We’d happily come back. It was just right, and the price was good compared with some of the fully cave-style stays. The location made it easy to walk to everything in about 5-10 minutes, though bring comfortable shoes with good grip. Getting lost is part of the fun. We loved starting the day with the included breakfast: freshly brewed percolator coffee, homemade tarts, bread, and jams, served by a friendly team of women who made us feel at home. They can arrange a car from the bus or train station for a small charge, and they also suggest restaurants and things to do. Our top-floor room had a little open balcony looking over the Sassi, just magic. The beds were so comfortable, and the lovely linen, large bathroom, and great shower pressure made it a pleasure to stay. There was no bath, which was fine, and we had plenty of clothes storage, a coffee machine, fresh water, a full-length mirror, and, I think, an illuminated makeup mirror too. Grazie for three wonderful days!

We could walk all around the sassi, with good restaurants close by. The location was perfect. The room was clean, comfortable, and nicely renovated while still keeping its cave feel. The manager was easy to talk to and gave us lots of recommendations for Matera. Breakfast was very gooood!