Matera, Sassi – Underground space carved into the tuff, with a panoramic courtyard

Description

At the entrance to Sasso Barisano, where Via Sant’Agostino descends towards the church from which it takes its name and the rocky ridge opens onto the ravine, this rock-hewn complex occupies one of the quietest and most secluded stretches of the ancient city. It extends over three levels for approximately 150 square metres, in addition to an open courtyard of around 145 square metres and the volume of the ancient cistern. From the wooden doorway opening onto the alley, one enters the terraced courtyard overlooking the rooftops of the Sassi, with views reaching as far as the Civita and the bell tower of the Cathedral. Here, everything is carved from and built in the same calcarenite stone: the exposed rock of the vaulted ceilings, the squared masonry blocks, and the stone slabs lining the paths and steps.

The courtyard is the heart of the property and defines its character. Terraced across several levels and sheltered by the rock face, it can accommodate up to 120 guests, with tables, built-in stone benches and seating shaded by olive trees, among prickly pears rooted in the stone, jasmine, bougainvillea and aromatic plants. A stone parapet opens the view towards the lower level and across the city, while dramatic lighting creates an evening atmosphere every bit as striking as the daytime landscape. A stone mill, an ancient well and a carved niche once used as a cupboard evoke the historic use of these spaces.

From the courtyard, a staircase leads down to the level of the professional kitchen, fully fitted in stainless steel, with mosaic finishes and the exposed rock vault left visible, and served by its own bathroom with an anteroom. At the centre of the floor, a circular walk-on glass hatch reveals an iron spiral staircase descending into the most remarkable space in the entire property: an ancient bell-shaped cistern, 5 metres in diameter and 4 metres high, carved into the tuff bedrock and once used for storing water and snow. Its naturally constant thermal conditions make it a highly atmospheric space, suitable for ageing products, as a wine cellar, or as a tasting room.

At the lowest level, two spacious internal rooms open beneath carved vaults, with pale stone floors and windows that draw natural light from the garden, served by two bathrooms, one of which provides access to the technical room. In a side chamber beneath the rock, a pool fitted with 5 hydrotherapy jets offers an unexpected retreat. Comfort is ensured by a high-specification, fully renewed systems package: a multisplit inverter heat pump with independent heating and cooling controls in each room, radiators supplied by a natural gas condensing boiler, dedicated dehumidifiers, controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and an airflow capacity of 1,380 cubic metres per hour, and video surveillance. The floors are raised by 70–80 centimetres above a ventilated crawl space with 7 centimetres of insulation, a solution designed to protect the underground interiors from rising damp and make them suitable for year-round use.

The property is ready for hospitality use, with spaces already authorised and operational for food and beverage service and a total capacity of 120 guests across the courtyard and garden: a turnkey foundation for a signature dining concept or a hospitality venture in a city that welcomes international visitors throughout the year. By virtue of their scale and character, the same spaces could also be reimagined as a private residence in the Sassi. It is rare for a property of this kind to become available just a few steps from the Church of Sant’Agostino, combining a courtyard, rock-hewn rooms, a historic cistern and views over the Civita: a place to be enjoyed every day and, at the same time, a legacy built to endure.