Alla Mescita

Alla Mescita was hands down the most magical part of our entire trip to Italy. It is absolutely exceptional in every way. For those seeking the cave experience in Matera, yes this is built into the tufo and is a cave apartment in the old city. It is not clear in the photos, but there are also two additional caves in the apartment, one of which was for making wines in ancient times. There is a private courtyard with a beautiful view of the old city. Every bed is comfortable (and I got a cold, so I slept one night on fold out futon in the living room which is also extremely comfortable). The linens are great, the bathroom and kitchen are perfect and everywhere in the apartment there is a beautiful piece of history - cisterns and frescos. Even the doors are beautiful, the location is perfect - it is absolutely wonderful. As if this isn't enough, the owner, Pier (who makes mozzarella as his day job) SAVED US A FREE PARKING SPOT WITH HIS OWN CAR and gave us a lift to the apartment (even though the parking spot was just a short walk from the apartment). He gave us a little tour and explained a bit of the history of Matera and this apartment- his Mom grew up in the stassi before the evictions in the 50's. He gave us recommendations of things to look at and places to eat and we ate the best meal on our travels in Italy based on his recommendation. And of all the places we visited and places we stayed on our trip, Alla Mascita was priced so fairly and was the most exceptional. I cannot recommend a stay at Alla Mescita enough, pictures from the courtyard balcony of Matera are the first thing I show my friends and family when they ask about our trip to Italy. Absolutely extraordinary experience!! Thank you so much to Pier for a lifetime memory of a special place in the world!! This is the reason we all get up off the couch and travel in the first place.

Absolutely nothing could have been better - it was perfect!

This apartment is definitely something special. There's an actual cave that opens right out of the living room, and a water tank you can see through the bathroom floor—really unique stuff. The location is great too—right in the old part of town, just a few steps from bars and restaurants, but still very quiet at night. The host was really nice —gave us great tips on what to see and even helped us find free parking. We also got free coffee and water in the apartment, which was a nice touch. All in all, a memorable stay, but with a bit of effort, it could be amazing.

That said, the place could use some work when it comes to comfort. The bed wasn’t very comfortable, the pillows were super flat, and the furniture felt kind of random and out of time, put together from leftovers without much thought. That takes away a bit from the great atmosphere the place could have.

The apartment was wonderful. spacious, good amenities and a huge cave! There was a cold snap when we arrive but heating the cave house was easy and he were lovely and warm. Mavi was our host. He met us at a convenient parking area and took us not to the rocks. He gave us great advice about what to visit and where to eat for local dishes.

We liked everything about staying here and would stay again.

Pier was a first- class host who, after picking us up from the shuttle bus, spent time explaining the incredible history of the accommodation and offering valuable advice on what to see and where to eat. We couldn't have chosen better, our stay was even more enjoyable than I could've imagined and the location simply breath-taking. A perfect location to enjoy the unique delights of Matera and the Sassi...

This is such a special space -- a fully renovated cave house with bits of fresco still visible on the wall. We loved the unique accommodations and the location was perfect as a home base to explore Matera! I have truly never stayed anywhere like this. The renovated portion had a spacious bedroom and bathroom, a living room, and a fully outfitted kitchen. Although it was chilly when we first arrived because we visited during the winter, the apartment heated up quickly and Pier provided a space heater. My traveling companion and I both had to take Zoom calls throughout the week, and we had no problems at all with the wifi. The renovated portion opens into two caves beneath the main living area, one with an old wine press still in it. This creates the effect of living simultaneously in the city's history and in modern Matera. Absolutely magical! The location was perfect. There are beautiful views from the parapet above the apartment and the terrace outside, and the apartment is located very close to a variety of nice restaurants and cute bars. It's also close enough to a main road that a taxi from the bus station was able to drop us off quite close to the apartment and we didn't have to drag out suitcases up and down stairs. I cannot say enough good things about Pier and his family. The were absolutely perfect hosts, and even drove us to the bus station when it was time to go! When booking.com messed up our booking, Pier was incredibly helpful in sorting things out. We would stay here again in a heartbeat. We fell in love with the city of Matera and Alla Mescita was perfect for us!

It was a bit hard to keep the bathroom from flooding when we showered at first, but we figured it out!

This property will offer you a completely different experience to anywhere you have stayed before. Situated deep in the old town area of Matera with a stunning rampart view from your own private internal courtyard, you will feel part of the history of Sassi. The house has been loving completely modernised with respect paid to the age and story of the property.

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