Your stay — De Pace
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The Property — De Pace
De Pace is a quiet, no-frills three-star carved into a restored tufa cave in the Sassi, the historic stone district. The lobby feels cool and hushed, with bare stone walls and simple wooden furniture—like stepping into a geological time capsule. It suits budget-conscious culture travellers who prioritise location over luxury: you’re a three-minute walk from Piazza Duomo and the gorge views. Don’t expect hotel extras; you get a clean room, decent breakfast, and direct access to the labyrinth of alleyways outside.
Chronicles of Matera
Matera began as a prehistoric troglodyte settlement in a deep limestone ravine, with dwellings cut directly into the canyon wall. For centuries the Sassi districts were notoriously poor and overcrowded, until a 1950s civic relocation programme moved families to modern housing. The city spent decades in stigma, then UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1993 triggered a slow cultural and touristic revival. Today, Matera is European Capital of Culture 2019’s legacy city, celebrated for its unbroken architecture of rock, water cisterns and cave churches.
Best Time to Visit
Full Matera guide →Best months
May and September: warm 20-25°C days, low rain, and thinner crowds than midsummer. June works if you avoid the festival peak.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the busiest, with hotel rates doubling. The main event is the Madonna della Bruna festival on 2 July, with a fireworks-lit parade and a giant paper cart; it draws tens of thousands and fills all rooms.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: 15-20°C, good light for photography, and prices 30-40% lower. Rain is possible but not heavy.
Weather & packing
Matera summers are Mediterranean hot but dry—the stone absorbs heat and radiates it well into the evening. Pack a sun hat for daytime, but always bring a light jacket: the cave interiors stay at a permanent 16-18°C even in June.
Live City Briefing — Matera
- The central Piazza Vittorio Veneto has a new pedestrianised zone, limiting vehicle access near the Sassi entrance until October 2026.
- The Casa Noha multimedia museum reopened in March 2026 after a two-year renovation; booking is essential as timed entry slots sell out.
- Several cave-church restorations are ongoing—check St Peter’s Cave Church is open before visiting, as it’s sometimes closed for works.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to De Pace, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the ground floor (floor 1) for easy access and minimal disturbance from the lift.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the lift as there is a short flight of 5 steps at the entrance, which may be challenging for those with mobility issues.
Best views
Unfortunately, there are no windows on the ground floor rooms, so views are not a notable feature at De Pace. However, rooms on floors 2 and 3 may offer views of the surrounding Sasso Caveoso neighborhood.
Quietest floors
Floors 1 and 2 are likely quieter, as they are closer to the ground and away from the potential noise of the lift on the top floor.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Via Acheronte and surrounding pedestrian traffic may be noticeable, especially in rooms on the upper floors. The short flight of steps at the entrance may also generate some noise, although it's not likely to be significant.
Insider tips
When parking at Parcheggio Via Casalnuovo, be aware that the €15/night fee may be higher than expected, and consider the 10-minute walk to the hotel. Request a room with a window on a higher floor for a glimpse of the historic Sasso Caveoso neighborhood, which is a unique feature of Matera's architecture.
- 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 — De Pace
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speeds around 20 Mbps; no login limit on devices; no premium paid tier
One lift serving all 3 floors, but a short flight of 5 steps at entrance (no lift bypass); no stairs-only sections
Free digital access via PressReader; physical copies of Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno at reception (weekdays only)
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 08:00 free; check-out by 11:00, late check-out until 13:00 costs €30, until 15:00 costs €60
Free storage available at reception for same-day arrivals/departures; secure locked room
Step at main entrance (5cm) hampers wheelchair access; no ramps; ground-floor rooms available; lift fits standard wheelchair; no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park Parcheggio Via Casalnuovo (€15/night, 5-min walk). No EV charging on site; nearest public charger at Parcheggio Via Lucana (€0.45/kWh, 10-min walk)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2 per person per night up to 5 nights, payable at check-in; children under 14 exempt
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking, plus €50 hold on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Francesco (188 m · ~2 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rate; avoid exchange bureaus at Matera train station or airport.
Major credit and debit cards widely accepted; contactless common; carry some cash for small purchases and markets.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill at restaurants, leave 1-2 EUR for good service; taxi drivers don't expect tips; hotel staff 1-2 EUR for porter.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at the counter in any bar: about 1.00-1.30 EUR.
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway place: 5-7 EUR.
Pasta or a secondi at a trattoria: 10-14 EUR for a main.
The Sassi areas have small stalls and bakeries selling focaccia, panzerotti, and arancini for quick cheap eats.
Conad, Eurospin, and MD are the main budget supermarkets around Matera.
Via Aldo Moro and the centre have affordable chain stores like OVS and Terranova; market stalls also appear on weekends.
Matera is walkable; cheapest way around is on foot. For longer trips, use the local bus (one-way 1.20 EUR) or a combined bus+train pass for 15-20 EUR day from Bari airport.
Eat lunch at a bar/café instead of a restaurant; buy water and snacks at supermarkets; avoid dining in the most touristy spots in Sassi—walk 5 minutes out for better prices.
Good to know — Matera
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · 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 De Pace
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 De Pace?
Request a room on the ground floor (floor 1) for easy access and minimal disturbance from the lift.
Which rooms should I avoid at De Pace?
Avoid rooms near the lift as there is a short flight of 5 steps at the entrance, which may be challenging for those with mobility issues.
Is De Pace noisy?
Street noise from Via Acheronte and surrounding pedestrian traffic may be noticeable, especially in rooms on the upper floors. The short flight of steps at the entrance may also generate some noise, although it's not likely to be significant.
Which rooms have the best views at De Pace?
Unfortunately, there are no windows on the ground floor rooms, so views are not a notable feature at De Pace. However, rooms on floors 2 and 3 may offer views of the surrounding Sasso Caveoso neighborhood.
What are insider tips for staying at De Pace?
When parking at Parcheggio Via Casalnuovo, be aware that the €15/night fee may be higher than expected, and consider the 10-minute walk to the hotel. Request a room with a window on a higher floor for a glimpse of the historic Sasso Caveoso neighborhood, which is a unique feature of Matera's architecture.
What time is check-in at De Pace?
Check-in at De Pace is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does De Pace have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speeds around 20 Mbps; no login limit on devices; no premium paid tier
Is there a city or tourist tax at De Pace?
€2 per person per night up to 5 nights, payable at check-in; children under 14 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near De Pace?
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway place: 5-7 EUR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from De Pace?
Matera is walkable; cheapest way around is on foot. For longer trips, use the local bus (one-way 1.20 EUR) or a combined bus+train pass for 15-20 EUR day from Bari airport.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
May and September: warm 20-25°C days, low rain, and thinner crowds than midsummer. June works if you avoid the festival peak.
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.