TRAVELling TO ITALY
We recommend flying to Bari (BRI) which is 45 mins from the venue. Both easyJet + BA fly direct from Gatwick and Ryanair from Stanstead (..yeah, we’d rather not either). You can also fly into Brindisi (BDS) which is 1hr 45mins from the venue.
If flying out on the Thursday, we highly recommend getting the 09:10 flight with easyJet from Gatwick. The BA and Ryanair flights will get in too late if you're planning on joining for the welcome dinner.
We recommend where possible hiring a car. Basilicata and neighbouring Puglia are pretty sparse regions so cars are needed to do pretty much anything. If you can’t hire a car, let us know and we will try to match you to a driver to carpool with!
The other option is a taxi, which will cost £80-100. Again, we can help facilitate groups of four. Unfortunately there’s only 1 bus per day between Bari Airport and Matera, which leaves at 19.05, but a potential option for those who fly in earlier in the week!
Where to stay
We highly recommend staying in the hotel closest to the venue, MH Matera Hotel, which is 2.4km (4 min drive/30 min walk) away on the same rural road.
The main town of Matera is a 15 minute drive away, with a variety of hotels and Airnbnb’s if you fancy staying in the heart of it all. You can find some recommended accommodation here. You will need to organise taxis/cars to and from the venue on the wedding day.
There’s quite a few agroturismos in the area (read: posh farms offering B&B services), so feel free to get stuck in with the locals if that’s more your vibe.
The local area
The closest town to the venue is Matera. Matera is a Unesco World Heritage site and SUCH a beautiful place. It has some amazing history and some incredible sights as it’s all made up of little caves! Also fun fact, the latest James Bond was filmed in Matera so we definitely recommend a visit if you’re not staying in town.
We’re also in the region next to Puglia, which is a fan favourite. Famous for its white Trulli’s (little huts with pointy tops) and orecchiette pasta.
Some towns we recommend visiting:
Ostuni which is arguably the most popular and has lots of good gelato and a big piazza where D&G held their latest show.
Poligano a Mare has that beach you’ll have all seen floating around the internet.
Grottaglie is worth a visit if you’re after a keepsake. Known for their pottery, you’ll find loads of little cave-like shops with old men that can’t speak a word of English. Nice stuff though, and take cash!
Albereobello is the place to go if you want a real Pugliese experience. The whole town is full of Trulli’s and Americans that want to see them.
Monopoli is another popular one, definitely worth a trip for dinner and a spritz. Also home to Cala Diavolo which is a great beach club.