Hot List Hotels 2009
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Seventy years ago, Carlo Levi painted a grim portrait of the cave-dwellers of Matera, in southern Italy's Basilicata region. Post-war governments paid attention, first relocating the inhabitants, and then making tourist hay by encouraging the renovation of the Sassi, or caves, into small inns. In July, the evolution of Matera took a giant leap forward with the opening of the 20-room Palazzo Gattini. From the summit of Matera, on the Piazza del Duomo, the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century rooms and suites look across the roofs of the town. Each room is unique, preserving painted ceilings in cool beiges and blues, balconies and balustrades in some suites, while adding enormous bathtubs, theatrical lighting, lithographs by the Franco-era artist Juan Rafael Ortega, and slashes of color in dramatic ten-foot draperies by Dedar. An underground spa features aromatherapy, water massage, and a heated pool, and the adjacent restaurant features a nuovo italiano menu of local ingredients. All is run impeccably by a superb staff of locals who will direct you to the seasonal festivals and nearby abbeys, beaches, and even caves.
When to go: April through June or September through October for the most pleasant weather.
Which room to book: Room 210, while not grand in its dimensions, comes with a terrace and swimming pool overlooking the ancient Sassi.
Information may have changed since date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.
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