These Millennia-Old Caves Were Transformed into A Stunning Grotto-Style Hotel in Italy

Hotels are getting more and more creative as design styles continue to expand. Many styles from the ’60s and ’70s have made comebacks, but one hotel is going back a few thousand years for their inspiration. Rather than call in someone to try and make their hotel look beautiful, historic, and dated, this hotel actually is – because it was once a cave.

Located in Matera, Italy, these millennia-old cave dwellings now host an elegant hotel. Manca Studio developed over 3,000 square feet of former Italian cave dwellings to create some truly unique hotel units.

The underground spaces capture the history of the site while executing a grotto-style theme that Ariel would certainly approve of.

Developers created four new suites, a common area, and a spa at La Dimora di Metello Hotel in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Southern Italy. There is also a joint terrace with a breathtaking view that is perfect for a morning cup of coffee or tea.

The dwellings date all the way back to the Paleolithic era. The developers were able to capture the beauty of the caves, while still managing to give them new walls and luxury hotel amenities.

A light porous rock, tuft, was used to complement the natural cave wells, as well as pale oak accents, neutral tones, and subtle lighting fixtures. Most of the furniture in the hotel is custom made. There are no closets or armoires, but instead, only clothing racks for guests to use, which is an intentional, but interesting, style choice.

La Dimora di Metello was the first hotel built by Manca Studio, a brother-sister architecture firm. The owners had seen their previous work and commissioned them to build the hotel.

If you love unique hotels, you will also enjoy this underwater hotel that is opening on The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.