Suite with Hot Tub
The tub sits at the heart of the room, the terrace does the rest: warm water, evening air slowly cooling, and the Sassi lighting up right in front of you.
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Rione Vetera · Sassi di Matera
Where the stone
catches the light
Four suites carved into the tufa of a centuries-old cave dwelling, restored to preserve the story of Rione Vetera and give you the same show every evening: the Sassi lighting up, one by one.
At a glance
Giardini di Luce, one glimpse at a time
Our story
Where the evening lingers a little longer
Rione Vetera is the oldest heart of the Sassi di Matera, the place where it all began. Here, in the shadow of the Cathedral, lies a pocket of silence that the city carved into rock has always chosen to respect — legend has it that this ground once belonged to the ancient temple of Sant’Eustachio, and perhaps that is why, for centuries, no one has ever dared disturb it.
Old photographs hold the same stillness you can feel here today: as in sacred places, where silence is not absence but presence, this space has crossed the centuries staying true to itself.
Every evening, as the sun sets behind the rooftops of the Sassi, this is where the light lingers longest — the last point where the stone stays warm before giving way to the night.
From this desire for silence, Giardini di Luce was born: the chance, for those who travel, to dwell in a place that has crossed the centuries, to relive the essence of these spaces and breathe their ancient, spiritual air — in the hope that, like the stone each evening, those who stay here may also find their own light: the one that guides each of us along the path of life.
"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Suites in the Sassi, with hot tub
Four stones, four moods
Each suite is independent, built for those who want the privacy of a small apartment with the care of a boutique hotel. Each is named for what makes it unique — choose yours.
Standard Suite
Tufa walls, light that enters measured and soft, the silence of Rione Vetera as the only extra furnishing — the simplest starting point for losing yourself in the Sassi, and finding yourself again.
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Superior Suite with Hot Tub
An arc of light traces the headboard, a chromotherapy tub keeps the rest of the night company: the suite where the stone still seems to tell its own story.
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Superior Standard Suite
More space to breathe, the same care in every detail — for those who want to stay a little longer in this quiet corner of Rione Vetera.
Book this suite →Gallery
Every corner, in light
Services
Small things, done well
Experience
Tailored experiences to live the Sassi from the inside: private walking tours or Apecar tours, and excursions to the Murgia Park and other unmissable nearby sights.
Events
The terrace and garden welcome small celebrations, private events and marriage proposals — with the option to arrange catering.
Parking
Guarded parking with our partner providers, plus an escort service to the property: in the Sassi, with the limited traffic zone, that makes a real difference.
Local Products
On request, a selection of local specialities to order and purchase: bread, biscuits, cured meats, cheeses and other regional products.
Exclusive Villa
The whole property reserved just for you, with cleaning and catering included: the ideal choice for short or extended stays, in complete privacy.
Breakfast Included
Breakfast is always included: served buffet-style from 8:00 to 9:30, in the breakfast room or the outdoor area overlooking the Sassi.
Weddings & celebrations
A destination wedding in the Sassi of Matera
The terrace above the Sassi and the garden enclosed by tufa walls host intimate celebrations: no room shared with anyone else, no schedule but your own, and the whole property yours until the next morning.
The spaces
The panoramic terrace
Set above the Sassi, this is where the light lingers longest. A symbolic ceremony at sunset, drinks or dinner with the lit city in front of you.
The garden
Enclosed by tufa walls, with trees and lawn: the most sheltered space on the property, for the reception and for the evening that follows.
The spaces are set up for a maximum of 30 guests. For a larger party write to us and we will look at the layout together.
Two ways to celebrate
Intimate Wedding
A symbolic ceremony on the terrace or in the garden, a catered reception, and all four suites reserved for the couple and their guests. For the whole event the property stays closed to other guests.
Reception & Stay
For couples marrying in town, at the Cathedral or in one of the churches of the Sassi, who are looking for somewhere to carry the day on: drinks, dinner and the night for the whole party, a few minutes away on foot.
Legally binding civil ceremonies take place in the venues authorised by the City of Matera. Here the ceremony is symbolic, and we are glad to help you coordinate the two.
The spaces, hour by hour
From the afternoon to the blue hour, when the Sassi light up one by one.
Availability
For events we reserve the entire property, so every date has to be checked and held in advance. Write to us with the day you have in mind and we will come back with confirmation and the options open to you.
Are you a wedding planner?
We work readily with agencies, Italian and international. Tell us your role in the form and you will receive availability, capacity and dimensions of the spaces, and the terms we reserve for the trade.
Tell us about your day
Exclusive use · Whole villa buyout
The whole villa, exclusively yours
Four suites, the terrace over the Sassi and the garden: no other guests, nothing shared. Up to ten people in a centuries-old cave villa that becomes yours for a few days.
What it can include
- All four suites, for up to ten guests
- Panoramic terrace and garden for your exclusive use
- Buffet breakfast included, every morning
- Daily housekeeping throughout
- Welcome and escort from the car park, with the restricted-traffic permits handled for you
- Catering and private dinners on request
Who it is for
Families travelling together, groups of friends, company retreats and small incentives, anniversaries and weddings that would rather keep everything in one place.
How the quotation is built
Exclusive use starts at €800 per night and covers all four suites, the shared spaces for your use alone, breakfast and daily housekeeping. The minimum stay is three nights; the rate then varies with the time of year and the length of the stay.
Quoted separately, and only if you want them: catering and private dinners, styling and flowers, guided visits and excursions, airport transfers.
Request your quotation
Minimum stay of three nights.
Reviews
Told by those who stayed
Summaries of public reviews left by guests: the full texts are on the respective platforms.
Location
Rione Vetera, 58
In the heart of the Sassi di Matera, a few minutes’ walk from the Cathedral and the main viewpoints. The area is a limited traffic zone (ZTL): let us know your arrival time and we’ll point you to the easiest way in, with guarded parking nearby.
Reaching the property involves two flights of steps: we recommend comfortable shoes and hand luggage. The property is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Rione Vetera 58 · Matera
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Open in Google MapsFrequently asked questions
What guests ask us most often
Do the suites at Giardini di Luce have a hot tub?
Two of the four suites have a private hot tub with chromotherapy inside the room: the Superior Suite (about 50 sqm) and the Suite with hot tub (about 30 sqm).
Are the suites really inside the Sassi of Matera?
Yes. Giardini di Luce is at Rione Vetera 58, in the heart of the Sassi: four suites carved into the tufa of a centuries-old cave dwelling, a few minutes on foot from the Cathedral and the main viewpoints.
Can I drive all the way to the property?
No: the Sassi district is a restricted traffic zone and even driving through to drop off luggage is not allowed. Vehicles for disabled guests and motorcycles are exempt. There is street parking and private parking with a shuttle at check-in.
Are there stairs to reach the suites?
Yes, two flights of steps on foot. We recommend comfortable shoes and hand luggage. The property is not suitable for guests with limited mobility.
Is breakfast included?
Yes, breakfast is always included in the rate. It is served buffet style from 8:00 to 9:30, in the breakfast room or outside with a view over the Sassi.
Which suite suits a family?
The Superior Standard Suite, about 35 sqm with a patio, sleeps two to four people and is the most comfortable choice for a family.
Can you hold a wedding at Giardini di Luce?
Yes, for intimate celebrations. The panoramic terrace and the garden host the symbolic ceremony and the catered reception, while all four suites stay reserved for the couple and their guests. Legally binding civil ceremonies take place in the venues authorised by the City of Matera.
Can the whole property be rented exclusively?
Yes. Exclusive use covers all four suites, the panoramic terrace and the garden for your use alone, with breakfast and daily housekeeping included, from €800 per night, with a minimum stay of three nights. The rate varies with the time of year and the length of the stay.
How many people does the property sleep on exclusive use?
Up to ten people sleep across the four suites. For events on the terrace and in the garden we work to a maximum of 30 guests.
Contact
Write to us
For special requests, groups or longer stays, write to us directly: we always answer in person.