We had the most unforgettable stay in Matera. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome and completely at home—warm, friendly, and always ready to help. The accommodation, set in a beautifully restored cave, far exceeded our expectations. It perfectly blended the charm of Matera’s ancient history with modern comforts—everything we needed was thoughtfully provided. We especially loved the recliner seats (ideal for taking in the view or watching TV). And the daily breakfast, served in our own little courtyard, was an absolute highlight—fresh, generous, and beautifully presented. A truly special experience in a magical city. Highly recommended!

Honestly—nothing! And I don’t say that very often. Everything exceeded expectations and we wouldn’t change a thing.

The room was large and completely unique, truly part cave (SASSI) with a simply, tasteful rebuild/renovation . We had a separate entrance and everything was on one level. Large bathroom and a separate steam room, which we tried. Breakfast was included, buffet style but had a good range available. Of course with fresh espresso coffee. They also handled gluten free/dairy free better than normal. The people were excellent, especially the reception and management. The lift back up out of the Sassi area to our car was really an treat well beyond expectations. Thank you .

The fact that we had to park our car outside the accommodation (SASSI) zone and we had a 15min walk in, on cobble streets would have been a hassle at night or with large bags. But the WhatsApp messaging and phone calls were great. Also the lift back up out of the Sassi area to our car was really an treat well beyond expectations. Thank you .

I had no idea that staying in a cave could be so luxurious. The cave has been converted into a suite with a beautiful, comfortable bed at one end, a small sitting area around the view of the old (dry) cistern below the cave, a very nice seating area around the wall mounted flat screen tv, and a warm, comfortable, clean bathroom. There is wine waiting in the room and other wine in the reception area if there is something else more to your liking. Breakfast was typical southern Italian cuisine with an extensive selection and areas to eat indoors or out. The staff were more than helpful; making dinner reservations, reservations for a walking tour, and even arranging to have some of our laundry done for us. Staying right in an area as unique and historical as the Sassi of Matera is an experience not to be missed. The history of the area may put a few travelers off, but the story and its effect on southern Italy should not be missed.

Met my expectations for an unusual cave dwelling night in the midst of an historical old town. Easy to walk to many interesting locations, as long as you can cope with climbing the numerous steps. Great views within metres of this property. Plenty of restaurant options to choose from.

The instruction to catch the Sassi Bus from the overnight car parking in town to near the property was a bit vague. Yes the bus does stop right near the entrance to the Car Park, but it isn’t very obvious to a stranger, and we didn’t know that the Sassi bus is a small red bus for getting down the narrow streets. We set off in the wrong direction looking for a bus stop, not fun on a hot day with all your luggage. Possibly a picture of what to look for would help.

Absolutely amazing place to stay! The staff were so helpful from check in to making dinner reservations each night for us! The cave room was fantastic - an absolute highlight of our trip in Italy. Breakfast in the courtyard was fantastic and such a peaceful spot. The location for staying is very central and perfect for a couple of nights staying here. Parking in the garage off site for €25 per night was well worth it with a free private shuttle to transfer us to the accomodation and back. We loved this accomodation and city so much that we both think it’s the highlight of our trip (surpassing Positano and Sorrento, Naples and Rome). Absolutely recommend you stay here in a cave room for a truly memorable stay!

Nothing 😃

The residence is really well located, especially because we chose to park several km away and take a free shuttle to the residence. We had to climb one flight of steps from the street to the residence, where a host was waiting to greet us. We stayed in room 27, which was an actual cave. This contributed to the novelty of the experience. Functionally, it was much like a night anywhere, but the silence and the darkness might have made us a bit late for breakfast.

This is not really a criticism. GPS in my iPhone was unreliable, and two-dimensional street maps were very difficult to use because the landscape was so vertical. We had a very similar experience recently in San Marino.

Bora checked us in and it was a perfect stay from the get go. She gave us a map and pointed out all her recommendations. We were on our honeymoon and we are LGBT+, she was very friendly and we felt so welcome, which means so much. The room was incredible. The best room we’ve ever stayed in. Gorgeous and so cool inside despite outside being so so hot. Our welcome gift wine was white but she had no issue at all swapping that out for some red after we requested it. The breakfast was one of the best included breakfasts we have had too. Great selection of food. Something for everyone. We would stay here 100 times if we could and will be recommending to everyone

Beautiful place, with very friendly staff. Staying in Matera is a wonderful experience, and even more so in a place like this, located inside one of the Sassi. The room was large, beautiful, and spacious. The breakfast was amazing! generous and delicious. We would stay here again without a doubt! We loved everything! They even surprised us with a lovely gesture: gifting us a nicely packaged artisanal bread on the day of our check-out.

Thymus was a lovely experience. We were a family of four and the cave room and the bathroom were very roomy and airy and sparkling clean. We loved the experience of being in the cave, it was cool and comforting after a day of hiking around the city and seeing the sights. It felt authentic and modern at the same time. The staff was more than super helpful booking our dinner reservations and giving us suggestions on where to go and what to see to maximize our time. Some of our favorite meals were in Matera thanks to the bookings that Thymus made for us.

It was a unique experience staying in a cave room. The room was large yet cosy. The Thymus Residence was in a great position on the edge of the Sassi. The hotel staff were so helpful giving us information on what we should see to make the most of our stay in Matera. They also very kindly booked our parking and transfer to the property. The breakfast was really good with plenty of choice. I would not hesitate to stay there again if I were lucky enough to revisit Matera.

Absolutely nothing.