Your stay — Diamante
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Matera.
The Property — Diamante
The Diamante is a straightforward, no-fuss three-star in Matera’s modern outskirts, a ten-minute walk from the Sassi. The lobby feels like a clean, functional pit stop – tiled floors, a small reception desk, a lift – rather than a destination in itself. Rooms are basic but spotless, with air conditioning and decent bathrooms. It suits budget-conscious travellers who prioritise a good night’s sleep and a solid breakfast before heading into the historic centre.
Chronicles of Matera
Matera is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements, with people living in its cave dwellings (the Sassi) since the Palaeolithic. The city’s iconic ‘Sassi di Matera’ are two districts – Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano – carved into the limestone gorge. After post-war poverty emptied the caves, Matera was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, sparking a revival. Today it’s a cultural hub, celebrated for its baroque churches, contemporary art spaces and status as a European Capital of Culture in 2019.
Best Time to Visit
Full Matera guide →Best months
April–May and September–October: mild temperatures (18–25°C), clear skies, and far fewer tourists than summer.
Peak / festival surge
July–August: scorching heat (often 35°C+) and school-holiday crowds. Hotel prices can double. The main draw is the annual Festa della Bruna on 2 July – fireworks, processions, and a papier-mâché chariot race.
Budget shoulder season
March and November: room rates drop 30–50% below peak, daytime temps hover around 12–18°C, and the Sassi are nearly empty.
Weather & packing
Summer heat in Matera is dry and intense, with no sea breeze to cool things down. Pack light linen or cotton, a sun hat, and sturdy walking shoes – the Sassi’s steep, uneven lanes are brutal in flip-flops.
Live City Briefing — Matera
- Matera’s main train station is undergoing platform upgrades through 2026; check for last-minute schedule changes on Trenitalia routes from Bari.
- The ‘Matera 2026’ exhibition at the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario has extended its run, showcasing films and photos from the city’s pre-UNESCO era.
- New pedestrian zones around Piazza Vittorio Veneto mean some old bus routes now terminate further out; pick up a free city map at the tourist office.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Diamante, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, away from the lift shaft. Upper floors minimise street noise from Via delle Murge and offer better light.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially the two adapted rooms near the main entrance — they face the street and get footfall and traffic noise. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift on any floor (the lift is single, serving all four, so it's used frequently).
Best views
Rooms on the upper floors facing away from Via delle Murge (the building's rear side) look over the Sasso neighbourhood and the ravine — you'll see stone rooftops and the landscape beyond. The front side looks onto a busy road and a petrol station.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest — they're above the general hubbub and the lift is less busy on top floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Via delle Murge is a main road with local traffic and delivery vans. The hotel's position on a slight bend means engine noise from vehicles accelerating. The lift motor is audible in rooms next to it on all floors.
Insider tips
Park at Parcheggio Via La Martella (250 m, €12/24h) and walk — it's a flat route, cheaper than any hotel arrangement. If arriving by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the hotel's side entrance on Via dei Ciliegi to avoid the front road noise.
- 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 — Diamante
Free for all guests; standard speed 30 Mbps; no login required (open network per room code at check-in)
One lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access with 50+ titles; no printed papers
14:00–23:00; early bag drop from 08:00 free; late check-out until 12:00 €30, after 12:00 charged as half day
Free at reception during operating hours (07:00–23:00), locked room available
Step-free main entrance and lift to all floors; two adapted rooms on ground floor with roll-in shower; no accessible parking on-site
No on-site parking; nearest public car park Parcheggio Via La Martella (250 m) €12 per 24h; no EV charging on-site (public charger at Piazza Vittorio Veneto 1 km away)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night (exempt under 14 years)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card at booking; €50 incidental hold upon check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Sacro Cuore (123 m · ~2 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange desks at Matera train station or tourist offices as they charge high fees and poor rates.
Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops, but some smaller cafes and markets prefer cash; contactless is common.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service: round up the bill in restaurants (5-10% is generous), leave small change for taxis, and tip hotel staff a few euros for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →An espresso at a bar counter costs about €1-1.50; a cappuccino seated at a table can be €2.50-3.
A slice of pizza or a panino from a bakery is €4-6; a full meal with drink and side at a trattoria lunch special is around €10-12.
A main course (primo or secondo) at a casual restaurant costs €8-12; a full dinner with house wine is typically €15-20.
The Sassi area has a few takeaway spots selling focaccia, arancini, and cured meat rolls; local bakeries offer warm cheese-and-herb pies for quick cheap eats.
Budget supermarkets include Eurospin, Lidl, and Conad, found on the outskirts and the main Via Lucana area.
Affordable high-street shopping is limited; look for discount stores on Via Roma and near the train station for cheap basics, or head to the weekend market in Piazza Vittorio Veneto for budget clothing.
Walking is free and best for exploring; the cheapest bus ticket is €1.20 for 90 minutes. From Bari airport, a direct bus to Matera costs about €8-10 one way.
Eat lunch rather than dinner at sit-down restaurants for discounted fixed-price menus; buy water and snacks at supermarkets, not tourist shops; get the Matera Card if visiting multiple sites for entry fee savings.
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 Diamante
🕒 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.
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 Diamante?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, away from the lift shaft. Upper floors minimise street noise from Via delle Murge and offer better light.
Which rooms should I avoid at Diamante?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially the two adapted rooms near the main entrance — they face the street and get footfall and traffic noise. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift on any floor (the lift is single, serving all four, so it's used frequently).
Is Diamante noisy?
Via delle Murge is a main road with local traffic and delivery vans. The hotel's position on a slight bend means engine noise from vehicles accelerating. The lift motor is audible in rooms next to it on all floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Diamante?
Rooms on the upper floors facing away from Via delle Murge (the building's rear side) look over the Sasso neighbourhood and the ravine — you'll see stone rooftops and the landscape beyond. The front side looks onto a busy road and a petrol station.
What are insider tips for staying at Diamante?
Park at Parcheggio Via La Martella (250 m, €12/24h) and walk — it's a flat route, cheaper than any hotel arrangement. If arriving by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the hotel's side entrance on Via dei Ciliegi to avoid the front road noise.
What time is check-in at Diamante?
Check-in at Diamante is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Diamante have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; standard speed 30 Mbps; no login required (open network per room code at check-in)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Diamante?
€2.00 per person per night (exempt under 14 years)
Where can I eat cheaply near Diamante?
A slice of pizza or a panino from a bakery is €4-6; a full meal with drink and side at a trattoria lunch special is around €10-12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Diamante?
Walking is free and best for exploring; the cheapest bus ticket is €1.20 for 90 minutes. From Bari airport, a direct bus to Matera costs about €8-10 one way.
When is the best time to visit Matera?
April–May and September–October: mild temperatures (18–25°C), clear skies, and far fewer tourists than summer.
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.