🇮🇹 Matera, Italy
B&B Casastella
📍 Via Casalnuovo, 257, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
Your stay — B&B Casastella
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The Property — B&B Casastella
Casastella is a compact, family-run B&B tucked into a quiet lane in Matera’s Sasso Caveoso. The lobby feels like someone’s living room – low stone arches, a tiled floor, a small reception desk with homemade biscotti – and the whole place smells of baking bread. Rooms are small but functional, with whitewashed walls and tiny windows carved into the tufa rock. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a genuinely local base, not a mod-con hotel, and who are happy to walk uphill to the main piazzas.
Chronicles of Matera
Matera’s Sassi – cave-dwelling districts – have been inhabited continuously since the Palaeolithic, making it one of the world’s oldest still-lived-in settlements. For centuries, families lived in grottoes carved into the ravine, until post-war poverty drove a government relocation in the 1950s. The city was neglected until the 1980s, when restoration turned the Sassi into a Unesco World Heritage site (1993). Today, Matera is celebrated for its rupestrian churches, its baroque palaces on the Piano, and its role as the 2019 European Capital of Culture. Locals are fiercely proud of their stone-carved city, and the tourism boom has revived crafts such as handmade ceramics and cave-dwelling cooking schools.
Best Time to Visit
Full Matera guide →Best months
May, June and September offer sunny low-30s°C days and tolerable tourist numbers – perfect for exploring the Sassi without sweating at every staircase.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak heat and peak price. Matera swells with Italian holiday-makers and out-of-towners for the Ferragosto festival mid-month; hotel rates at Casastella can double and rooms sell out six weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
Late September and early October drop to 25°C days and thin crowds. You can often negotiate 20-30% off room rates, and the light on the stone is still warm enough for photos.
Weather & packing
June afternoons can spike to 38°C in the sun, but evenings in the stone canyons get cool fast – treat every forecast with scepticism. Pack a long-sleeve layer and a lightweight scarf for dinner on the Sasso rooftops.
Live City Briefing — Matera
- The city’s new pedestrian bridge over the Gravina gorge (Ponte della Gravina) opened in 2024, linking the Sassi to the Murgia plateau – saving you a 30-minute climb in June heat.
- Matera’s main lift (scala mobile) on Via Madonna delle Virtù is undergoing maintenance until mid-July – the alternative stair route adds 15min uphill to the historic centre.
- A mini Metro-bus shuttle (line Sassi) now runs every 20 minutes from the central station to the Sasso Barisano – 1.50€ per ride – useful if you have heavy luggage for Casastella.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to B&B Casastella, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first or second floor (piano primo or secondo) facing the rear courtyard – quieter and cooler in summer, with typical Sasso views over the gravina.
Rooms to avoid
Top-floor rooms under the roof (terzo piano) can be stifling in summer with no lift and steep stairs; rooms facing Via Casalnuovo get street noise from early morning foot traffic and scooters.
Best views
Rooms at the back face the Sasso Barisano ravine and the Matera stone canyon – request 'vista sul gravina' at booking.
Quietest floors
First and second floors (piano primo and secondo) – stone stairs muffle sound between levels.
🔊 Noise notes
Via Casalnuovo is a narrow pedestrian lane but local scooters and delivery vans use it early. Noise from neighbouring B&Bs' check-in chatter and stairwell echoes. No bar or restaurant on-site.
Insider tips
1) Park at Parcheggio Via Lucana (€12/night, book ahead) – free street parking is unreliable. 2) Ask staff to carry luggage to your room; you'll need it for the three stone floors.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — B&B Casastella
Free throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps download; no login portal, uses a simple room-key card password
No lift; three floors reached by stone stairs (typical of historic Sasso building); luggage assistance provided by staff
No digital newsstand; one printed local newspaper (La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno) in the breakfast room; building is a restored 18th-century cave-dwelling with original tufa walls and vaulted ceilings
14:00–20:00 standard; early bag-drop from 10:00 if pre-arranged; late check-out until 12:00 costs €25, after 12:00 full night charge
free on request for same-day arrivals/departures; stored in locked ground-floor room
No step-free entry – three steps at main door; interior stairs only; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; nearest accessible entrance via rear courtyard by prior arrangement
No on-site parking; free street parking in Piazza della Visitazione (500 m, limited spaces); paid garage at Parcheggio Via Lucana (€12/night, 600 m); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night, payable at check-in; children under 14 exempt
Deposit & card hold: 30% advance deposit by bank transfer or card link; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Rocco (453 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Rocco al Casalnuovo (462 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Santa Lucia alle Malve (762 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di Santa Maria de Armenis (771 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parco del Castello — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
Casa Grotta del Casalnuovo — 650 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Postamat — 806 m · ~10 min walk
Vezzoso — 276 m · ~3 min walk
Matera Sud — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATM withdrawals with a fee-free card; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or tourist spots—rates are poor.
Cards accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops; contactless and mobile pay are common. Small bars or market stalls may be cash-only.
Tipping is not expected, but rounding up the bill or leaving a euro or two for good service is appreciated in restaurants; taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standing espresso at a bar—around €1.00–1.20.
A panino or slice of focaccia from a bakery or takeaway—around €5–7.
A pasta or pizza main in a casual trattoria—around €10–14.
Crispy breadcrumb-coated lamb or pork (crapiata or bread with olive oil) in the Sassi area; look for small food stalls or bakeries near Piazza Veneto.
Conad, MD, and Lidl are common in the city and on the outskirts.
Via Lucana and the area around Piazza Vittorio Veneto have affordable chain stores and independent shops; markets like the Saturday Mercato Settimanale near the stadium offer budget clothing.
Walk—Matera is compact. A single bus ticket (€1.20) is the cheapest way for longer trips; airport shuttle bus to Bari airport costs about €8.
Book accommodation in the Sassi for free stone-built ambiance; buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than tourist kiosks; eat at places aiming at locals away from the main cathedral square.
Good to know — Matera
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Matera, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at B&B Casastella
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Postamat — 806 m · ~10 min walk — pharmacy · Vezzoso — 276 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) → Hotel La Corte, Matera
💡 Share with other travellers at the rank—drivers sometimes wait until they have 3–4 passengers for a fixed €25 per person. Works well if you arrive on a Ryanair/Wizz flight from UK or Eastern Europe. Don’t accept a solo ride for €80 if others are waiting.
Bari Centrale station (connected to airport by shuttle train or bus) → Matera Sud (then local bus to centre)
💡 Don’t do this unless you want to save €2 and waste 2 hours—the shuttle from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale adds another 30 mins. But useful if you’re coming from Naples or Rome; change at Bari Centrale. From Matera Sud, take urban bus line 1 or 2 to Piazza Vittorio Veneto (€1.10, cash only).
Bari Airport (BRI) bus stop → Matera central bus station (Piazza Matteotti)
💡 Buy ticket on FlixBus app 24hr ahead for €6. From Piazza Matteotti it’s a 15-min walk to Hotel La Corte—go via Via delle Beccherie to avoid the steeper Sassi inclines. Taxi back from bus station costs €5.
Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) → Hotel La Corte, Matera
💡 Book a Fiat 500 via NCC services (noleggio con conducente) for €10-20 less than standard taxis. Ask the driver to drop you at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso—Hotel La Corte is a 200m walk downhill from there, avoiding the steep Sassi stairs with luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at B&B Casastella?
Request a room on the first or second floor (piano primo or secondo) facing the rear courtyard – quieter and cooler in summer, with typical Sasso views over the gravina.
Which rooms should I avoid at B&B Casastella?
Top-floor rooms under the roof (terzo piano) can be stifling in summer with no lift and steep stairs; rooms facing Via Casalnuovo get street noise from early morning foot traffic and scooters.
Is B&B Casastella noisy?
Via Casalnuovo is a narrow pedestrian lane but local scooters and delivery vans use it early. Noise from neighbouring B&Bs' check-in chatter and stairwell echoes. No bar or restaurant on-site.
Which rooms have the best views at B&B Casastella?
Rooms at the back face the Sasso Barisano ravine and the Matera stone canyon – request 'vista sul gravina' at booking.
What are insider tips for staying at B&B Casastella?
1) Park at Parcheggio Via Lucana (€12/night, book ahead) – free street parking is unreliable. 2) Ask staff to carry luggage to your room; you'll need it for the three stone floors.
What time is check-in at B&B Casastella?
Check-in at B&B Casastella is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does B&B Casastella have Wi-Fi?
Free throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps download; no login portal, uses a simple room-key card password
Is there a city or tourist tax at B&B Casastella?
€1.50 per person per night, payable at check-in; children under 14 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near B&B Casastella?
A panino or slice of focaccia from a bakery or takeaway—around €5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from B&B Casastella?
Walk—Matera is compact. A single bus ticket (€1.20) is the cheapest way for longer trips; airport shuttle bus to Bari airport costs about €8.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
May, June and September offer sunny low-30s°C days and tolerable tourist numbers – perfect for exploring the Sassi without sweating at every staircase.
Top Attractions in Matera
💡 Best view is from the terrace on the right side of the cathedral. Free to enter the square; cathedral entry is 5 euros but the exterior is more impressive.
💡 Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and see the golden light on the limestone. Wear sturdy shoes; the cobbled slopes are steep.
💡 Walk the short trail to Belvedere di Murgia Timone for a classic postcard view of Matera. Free access; rock churches require a 3 euro ticket at the visitor centre. Go late afternoon for cooler temperatures and golden light.
💡 Cost is only 3 euros. Skip the more expensive museum replicas—this one is authentic and run by a local association. Combines well with a walk through Sasso Caveoso.
💡 Entry is free if you attend the 11:00 Sunday mass—but for tourists, a 3 euro donation is appreciated. The crypt below is sometimes open and shows older fresco fragments.