Your stay — B&B Le Colombine
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The Property — B&B Le Colombine
B&B Le Colombine occupies a converted stone stable in the Sasso Caveoso, Matera’s oldest district. The lobby is a cool, whitewashed cave with original rock walls, low vaults and simple wooden furniture. It feels intimate and no-frills: a clean, quiet base for exploring the Sassi, not a place for resort-style leisure. Best for budget-conscious travellers who want authentic cave accommodation without paying for a four-star spa.
Chronicles of Matera
Matera was founded in the Paleolithic era; its Sassi – cave dwellings carved into the ravine – are among the first human settlements in Italy. In the 1950s the government forcibly evacuated the Sassi, deeming them a national shame. Carlo Levi’s 1945 book “Christ Stopped at Eboli” had exposed the squalor. Renovation began in the 1980s, and by 2019 Matera was European Capital of Culture, with the Sassi now a UNESCO World Heritage site hosting boutique hotels and restaurants.
Best Time to Visit
Full Matera guide →Best months
May, June, September: warm days (22–28°C), low humidity, clear skies, and the Sassi are lively but not packed. July and August are too hot and crowded. October is mild but shorter days.
Peak / festival surge
July–August plus Easter week: temperatures often hit 35°C+; tourists flood the Sassi. Hotel prices can double. The Festa della Bruna (2 July) draws crowds with fireworks and a parade, pushing occupancy to near 100%.
Budget shoulder season
April, October and early November: daytime 15–20°C, cheaper rates (30–40% below summer), fewer queues for cave churches. Risk of rain showers, but still pleasant for walking.
Weather & packing
Matera’s stone retains heat: expect cool mornings even in July, but scorching midday sun. Pack layers – a light jacket for dawn/dusk walks – and sturdy sandals or walking shoes for steep, uneven alleyways.
Live City Briefing — Matera
- The Sassi’s new pedestrian-only zone from Piazza San Pietro to Madonna de Idris now restricts vehicle access during peak hours (10:00–20:00) – plan to arrive by foot or taxi from the car parks on the plateau.
- Matera’s summer programme ‘Estate Materana’ runs from late June to August, with free evening concerts in the Sassi’s rock churches and open-air cinema in Piazza Duomo; check the local tourism office for dates.
- A new bike-share scheme launched in May 2025, with docking stations at Piazza della Visitazione and near the train station – practical for exploring the Gravina riverbank path, though the Sassi hills require good fitness.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to B&B Le Colombine, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, one flight up) facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These rooms tend to be quieter and more private.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms overlooking the street — Matera's narrow lanes can be noisy with pedestrian and scooter traffic, especially in the evening and early morning.
Best views
Rooms overlooking the internal courtyard offer a calm, enclosed view typical of historic buildings in Matera. Street-facing rooms have a direct view of the Sassi district's alleyways.
Quietest floors
First floor (one above ground) and above, with courtyard orientation.
🔊 Noise notes
Matera's historic centre gets busy with tourists and occasional vehicle access. Street noise is the main source; internal courtyard rooms are significantly quieter.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a courtyard-facing room when booking — it's the best way to guarantee a quiet night. 2. If arriving by car, confirm parking arrangements in advance: Matera's centre is restricted and public parking can be tight.
- 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 Le Colombine
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed about 30 Mbps; no login required – one-time password from reception
Internal lift serves all three floors (ground, first, second); no stairs-only sections
No physical papers; free digital newsstand via PassaParola app (Italian/English titles); building is a quiet 1960s residential villa conversion – narrow corridors but no heritage quirks
Check-in from 15:00 to 20:00; early bag drop available from 12:00 free of charge; late check-out until 11:00 (no fee) – after 11:00 charged €25
Free storage in locked ground-floor cupboard; collect by 18:00 on departure day
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; ground floor rooms available on request; lift door width 80cm – suitable for most wheelchairs; no grab rails in bathrooms
No on-site parking; free street parking on Via Buozzi (unreserved, limited) – alternative: Garage San Biagio, Viale San Biagio 7, €15/night (0.3 km); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night, collected at check-in; children under 12 exempt
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required via credit card within 48 hours of booking; incidental hold of €50 per stay at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa Maria Santissima Addolorata (499 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Parrocchia Cristo Re (653 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Francesco da Paola (839 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa Rupestre dello Sprito Santo (903 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Panda Italia — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Parco Macamarda — 370 m · ~5 min walk
Flying Stones — 947 m · ~12 min walk
Vecchia giostrina anni 80 — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bancomat Poste Italiane — 723 m · ~9 min walk
Farmacia Dott. G. Montesano — 370 m · ~5 min walk
Market f.lli "Sacco" — 725 m · ~9 min walk
Matera Centrale — 322 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside actual bank branches for fair rates and lower fees; avoid exchange desks at the airport or tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Most restaurants, shops, and hotels accept Visa/Mastercard contactless, but carry cash for small purchases, market stalls, and tips.
No mandatory tipping; round up for good service in restaurants (5-10%), leave a couple of euros for housekeeping, and tip taxi drivers by rounding up the fare.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a counter in any local bar — about €1.10.
Panino or slice of pizza from a bakery/forno plus a drink — about €5-7.
A main of pasta or grilled meat at a trattoria — around €10-12.
Focus on the Sassi districts for cheap panzerotti, focaccia, and pizza al taglio from bakeries and small kiosks.
Conad, Simply, and MD are the common budget supermarket chains in the Matera area.
Look in the centre around Via delle Beccherie for high-street chains, or try local markets for affordable basics.
Walk — Matera is compact. For longer trips, buy a single city bus ticket (€1.20) or a day pass (€3.50). From the airport (Bari), take the regional train to Matera Centrale for about €5.50.
Eat lunch at bakeries/forni instead of sit-down restaurants; buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than tourist shops; visit free sights like the rock churches and the Sassi viewpoints.
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 Le Colombine
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bancomat Poste Italiane — 723 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Dott. G. Montesano — 370 m · ~5 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.
About Matera
Wikipedia ↗
Matera (Italian pronunciation: [maˈtɛːra], locally [maˈteːra] ; Materano: Matàrë [maˈtæːrə]) is a city and the capital of the Province of Matera in the region of Basilicata, in Southern Italy. With a history of continuous occupation dating back to prehistory (the eighth millennium BC), it is renowne...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at B&B Le Colombine?
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, one flight up) facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These rooms tend to be quieter and more private.
Which rooms should I avoid at B&B Le Colombine?
Avoid ground-floor rooms overlooking the street — Matera's narrow lanes can be noisy with pedestrian and scooter traffic, especially in the evening and early morning.
Is B&B Le Colombine noisy?
Matera's historic centre gets busy with tourists and occasional vehicle access. Street noise is the main source; internal courtyard rooms are significantly quieter.
Which rooms have the best views at B&B Le Colombine?
Rooms overlooking the internal courtyard offer a calm, enclosed view typical of historic buildings in Matera. Street-facing rooms have a direct view of the Sassi district's alleyways.
What are insider tips for staying at B&B Le Colombine?
1. Ask for a courtyard-facing room when booking — it's the best way to guarantee a quiet night. 2. If arriving by car, confirm parking arrangements in advance: Matera's centre is restricted and public parking can be tight.
What time is check-in at B&B Le Colombine?
Check-in at B&B Le Colombine is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does B&B Le Colombine have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed about 30 Mbps; no login required – one-time password from reception
Is there a city or tourist tax at B&B Le Colombine?
€1.50 per person per night, collected at check-in; children under 12 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near B&B Le Colombine?
Panino or slice of pizza from a bakery/forno plus a drink — about €5-7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from B&B Le Colombine?
Walk — Matera is compact. For longer trips, buy a single city bus ticket (€1.20) or a day pass (€3.50). From the airport (Bari), take the regional train to Matera Centrale for about €5.50.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
May, June, September: warm days (22–28°C), low humidity, clear skies, and the Sassi are lively but not packed. July and August are too hot and crowded. October is mild but shorter days.
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.