Alba Chiara Holiday Home

The apartment was exactly as photographed. Terrace overlooking the square. Kitchen very usable. Bathroom good size. Stefania sent a video link before we arrived to show how to get there. Very helpful. WiFi strong.

Toaster/ grill not very appealing. Needs a new one. Only minor as we didn't use it. Stovetop was excellent .

The views from the terrace were fabulous. Facilities were fine - access was easy once we were parked. We felt very lucky to be able to stay in such a place. Didn't see any place we might have preferred.

Parking was not really simple. We finally parked in a city lot where we could leave the car during our stay and walked from there. It's not so hard once you get some sense of the territory but was unnerving at first. By the end of the walk to the place we were a bit tired and crabby but also knocked out by the beauty of the path we took. Matera is spectacular.

There was literally a pot full of kittens on the tarrace. I cannot give a different numer of stars than 10 out of 10 :D

The view

The balcony had dead plants. Unfortunately the floor inside had not been cleaned, sticky and dirty. The view is amazing, but the inside needs attention to make it comfortable and enticing to want to be there.

This property is all about the fantastic location and amazing view. The owner agreed a late check out at short notice and at a minimal cost which was really appreciated.

Spectacular views! Please be nice to the one-eyed cat. Just a note that there's a one-eyed cat that visits the balcony. She/ he gets bullied by other cats and humans so she looks messy. She wouldn't go inside the house, she just chills on the balcony. If you can, please feed her. We bought cat food from the nearest market (Divella - they also have nice cheese and deli there). I assume that previous guests fed her too because there's a plate on the very corner of the balcony. Don't worry, she's well-behaved. If you feed her, try to protect her from other cats who steal her food and bully her. Grazie mille! ^_^

Without question it is the view from the deck which makes this holiday home so special. It is hard to imagine a more impressive view of the town, the mountain caves and the rock cathedral. The kitchen was well appointed which allowed us to eat in and enjoy the views while we ate. The main bed is in the loft and was too small for two tall people but I slept on the sofa bed downstairs which was incredibly comfortable. My wife and I both slept well as a result! While finding the house takes some time and planning the host provided a helpful video which made it relatively easy to find. Would be very happy to stay again.

Parking is a challenge. The closest parking is a 10 minute walk away. Some is free. Double check though as we thought we had parked in a free space but it turned out not to be and we got a ticket. We had luggage we could carry which made it easier, but there we a few steps and inclines! I would not advise bringing a suitcase with wheels. To be fair this will probably be an issue with most accomodation in Matera.

Just the place to stay in Matera. Fantastic terrace with a 180° view covering the most iconic sight in the city. The bathroom superclean, the kitchen more or less equipped, comfortable beds but most importantly, a great vibe. Just a few steps to all the important sights and the best restaurants. Highly recommended!

There could have been some decent wine glasses and a chef's knife in the apartment. We didn't mind buying those though.

The view from the terrace is just terrific! The house is very comfortable and we had one of the best stays in Italy!