Caves can make great homes, and - it turns out - hotels. These millennia-old cave dwellings in the historic town of Matera, Italy, were recently transformed into an amazing hotel. Manca Studio developed 300 square meters (3,229 square feet) of these underground spaces as grotto-style hotel units that respect the history of the site.
The architects designed four new suites, a common area and a spa for the La Dimora di Metello Hotel in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Southern Italy. They added new walls and luxury hotel amenities to the existing configuration of dwellings that date back to the Paleolithic era. Tuff, a light porous volcanic rock, and plaster were used to recreate the earthy feel, complementing the cave walls’ existing texture.
Related: 6 Awesome Caves to Call Home
Details made of wood, neutral fabrics and subtle lighting fixtures make the spaces look and feel luxurious and modern. This mix marries the traditional and the contemporary, providing an exclusive space that has become a real tourist attraction.
Via Contemporist
Photos by Pierangelo Laterza
