Residenza del Monaco Bianco

Really at walking distance from the Sassi. If you are lucky you can park in front of the B&B. Very nice host who explains well what to do in Matera. The rooms are on the second floor (there is an elevator). Room is fancy and modern but not too large (just enough place to put two suitcases). Very modern bathroom.

We’ve stayed 3 nights in La Residenza del Monaco Bianco during a one week trip to Italy and have left a little disappointed. We paid a premium for a “luxury” hotel, and this was not good value for money. It’s a small boutique hotel with 4 rooms and 2 suites on the second floor of a lovely building on the Via Lucana. The location is good for access on foot to the city. There’s no parking and Matera was heaving when we arrived on the Saturday night, so we had to drive around for 30 mins before eventually finding space a 15 minute walk away (not great with bags). Other visitors have commented about the staff, but we’ve barely seen them and they’ve not been present on the two occasions we’ve rung the bell for assistance. Our suite was quirky but reasonably well appointed. A massive bathroom, next to a combined living / sleeping space. We thought we’d been left without toiletries, but found them hidden in the bathroom cupboard after hunting throughout the hotel (could have done with being shown them on arrival). The water in the room cut off on our third night leaving us without the ability to shower before dinner after a hot day being active around the city - not very pleasant for our last night... Breakfast was a very poor buffet selection in the restaurant next door - not at all good value, given the premium price we paid. At best, average, given the room rate.

Where do I start with our stay at this beautiful hotel in the heart of Matera. We were met by Roberta and her lovely assistant on reception at our arranged check in time. These are luxurious apartments with very hi tech specifications. Our room was beautiful. But the best memory we will always have was meeting Roberta and her staff. They were exceptional with their wonderful personnalty and making sure you thoroughly enjoyed your time in Matera Even giving up their precious car parking spot right outside the hotel so I could park there for three days. That’s what I call Customer Service. Would highly recommend staying here and meeting Roberta.

So, this is not really a hotel, more a luxury apartment. There are only six exclusive rooms located on the top floor of this beautiful building which is ideally situated within a few minutes walk of the Sassi and all of Matera's attractions, bars and restaurants. Each room is so beautifully decorated using Italian materials as is the communal area. and the decor is utterly chic. This stay was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we could not have chosen anywhere more lovely or romantic. My description will never do it justice but here goes. Our suite had a circular bed, a small, fully equipped kitchen and a circular wet room with an exceptional ceiling shower set up complete with colour changing lights and a separate toilet with music! A small seating area and two huge windows overlooking the opposite side of the ravine really sets off this room. The towels and complementary slippers were presented artistically in an old suitcase and there were gorgeous toiletries and a whole range of little things for guests such as toothbrushes etc in case you have forgotten something. A daily maid service and a coffee machine were also welcome additions. Buffet breakfast was served in a small restaurant round the corner where we were so well looked after with amazing staff and a lovely spread each day and truly delicious coffee. Before we arrived the hotel contacted us regularly and, as there is not a 24hr receptionist, they made sure that there was someone to welcome us even though our plane was badly delayed. Roberta, the lovely receptionist (sorry - I'm not sure what else to call her), was so wonderful. She spoke perfect English and, on arrival, she sat us down and told us what we should go and see, the routes we should take, restaurants we might like and so much else. She offered to book restaurants, tours etc for us and was such an amazing source of useful information. As this is not a hotel as such we felt that she had more time to chat, find out how we were doing and was a great sounding board for my terrible Italian which made our stay so much more personal and friendly. Her wonderful help and advice ensured that we made the best of our stay and we are so very grateful to her for this. Without her help I am sure we would have missed bits. At the end of our stay I was so sad to leave this wonderful place. A real hidden gem and a stunning place to stay supported by amazing staff. Truly beautiful.

This really is an extraordinary place and having stayed in some of the best hotels in the world (for work) this will be the stay I remember most, not just because of the great design but also because the staff were superbly helpful, down to earth and really really nice. We stayed in the suite which was so good that i did not want to leave. The design decor was amazingly neat and clever and the bathroom, with its 'chromatherapy' shower, convinced me to have several showers a day just for fun. Roberta the fantastic Hotel Manager and her assistant were super-helpful, with excellent recommendations for what to visit and where to eat Roberta.. They were brilliant! Matera is spectacular and if I visit again then I would come here without the slightest hesitation. Thank You so much!