Where to stay in Matera for first-time tourists

Instead of booking your rooms at a conventional hotel in Matera, consider staying at one of the city's cave hotels. The rock settlements in this area are part of a World Heritage Site, and several local hotels offer lodgings at cave dwellings dug into the limestone rocks, complete with private bathrooms, satellite TV, air conditioning, and mini-bars. Alternatively, you can also stay at a small B&Bs or private inn in the old town, where you can explore most of Matera's main attractions on foot.