Masseria Fontana di Vite Matera

Masseria Fontana di Vite is a former Mansion house converted into a boutique hotel located on a hill overlooking Matera, Unesco Patrimony and European Capital of Culture for 2019. The mansion welcomes you in a splendid rural setting.

Surrounded by golden fields of grain and a natural olive grove adjacent to a spring that hides a very ancient history about the beneficial properties of Fontana di Vite, the fountain of life. It is the ideal place for a quiet retreat but still not far from Matera and other picturesque villages of Puglia and Basilicata.

Built in the 18th century, the mansion, originally owned by the aristocratic Gattini family, is surrounded by hundreds of acres of land which was once dedicated to the production of olive oil, wheat and other grains.

The cat with a viper in his mouth, visible on the arch of the entrance of the now Masseria Fontana di Vite, is the Gattini crest.The name, Fontana di Vite or ‘Fountain of Lives’, is inspired by an old tradition.

The story tells of a spring located close to the Masseria, , which was so pure that the residents living in a village nearby would journey to that spot for its water.

Before the building’s 1806 expansion, the structure was comprised of the noble house residency, located on the first floor, and the warehouse with barrel vaults, on the ground floor, which was used to store the wheat.

Other rooms around the courtyard were used as wine cellars and small storage depots.In the early 1900s Fontana di Vite was significantly expanded with the addition of a chapel, an outdoor oven, two other large warehouses to store tobacco leaves and small houses for the farm workers called “Lamielle” due to the shape of the ceiling with small barrel vaults.

At that time Masseria Fontana di Vite transformed into a rural village hosting almost 40 families.

ROOMS
Following a 2014 restoration project, the renewed building and surrounding structures, and a team of multi-disciplinary and innovative hospitality professionals have turned the Masseria Fontana di Vite into a destination for anyone looking for a special getaway in the scenic countryside.

The farm has many common areas for relaxing, reading and work. It is equipped with a conference center that accommodates up to 200 people, two reception rooms that can accommodate up to 250 people and countless outside areas as well as a church.

The 13 rooms are located between the noble farm floor and the boulders, which are the old peasant residences that populated the village of the masseria during the summer.

The elegant and spacious rooms all have a private garden or terrace and access to wifi.Some rooms also feature a spa bath. The furniture is a balanced mix combining modern comfort with a look to the past.

LAMIELLE SUITE
This suite faces a sweeping view of the countryside. It is composed of a lounge with a sofa bed with breakfast table and one bedroom with queen size bed.

This gorgeous suite has high ceilings, two flatscreen TVs, wifi, air conditioning, minibar, security safe, high-quality bedding and linens, one spacious bathroom with extra large shower and traditional decor from Basilicata.

In this room you’ll appreciate the relaxed elegance and enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the room as well as the front garden views. The room is approx. 60 sq mt. Sleeps 1-4 guests.

GATTINI SUITE
This is the biggest and most exclusive room on the property with a balcony with sweeping views of the countryside. Located on the top floor of the Masseria in the former residences of the Gattini noble family.

The room has a spacious living room with sofa bed and corner desk, two large double bedrooms with high ceilings, one king size bed and one French sleigh bed, two flatscreen TVs, wifi, air conditioning, minibar, security safe, high-quality bedding and linens, one spacious bathroom with a jacuzzi for two. In this room you’ll appreciate the unique furnishings from the private collection of the family who owns the masseria.

The room is approx. 90 sq mt with balcony and a 60 sq mt terrace. Sleeps 1-6 guests.

RESTAURANT & BAR
A taste of true Southern Italian style. Our breakfast features a selection of fresh homemade cakes, muffins, cookies, yogurt, fresh fruit and jams. For those who prefer a more savory breakfast, we offer bread, focaccia, ricotta, scamorza and eggs.

For lunch and dinner our restaurant proposes regional specialties reinterpreted in a totally innovative way, paying attention to the local cuisine and using vegetables and fruit from the farm of the Masseria Fontana di Vite.

For the perfect aperitivo at the warmth of the fireplace in the wine bar you will be able to taste our charcuterie and cheese board with a selection of local wines.

WEDDINGS IN ITALY
The Masseria is the dream place for an unforgettable wedding and reception. Our team will work to make your wedding day every bit as special as you had ever dreamed it would be.We can tailor your event to take place in several locations on the Masseria property.

The historic chapel is the perfect backdrop for the wedding ceremony. Aperitivo can be served poolside and you can revel and enjoy a lavish meal in the courtyard. We can accommodate up to 35 guests and for the restaurant a maximum of 250.

We have our in-house restaurant, where you will be treated to the best of traditional Italian cuisine, all homemade, of course! A carefully curated selection of wine to make sure we serve your guests the best in Southern Italian wine.

All menus and services are tailored to your exact requirements. If requested, a wedding planner and staff are available to assist in connecting you with vendors such as florists, organizing transportation and accommodation, and to help you make your special day truly unforgettable.

EXPERIENCE
Here at the Masseria we want you to live all the best Italian experiences, that’s why we have created a list of activities you might want to try whilst in Matera.

COOK LIKE AN ITALIAN
We love to share our traditional recipes. Giuseppe, our lovely chef will teach you how to prepare our typical dishes in the most authentic way and provide you with the ingredients necessary to recreate the experience once you return home.

PIC-NIC
You’ll be able to have a lunch experience in the Masseria fileds. Our chef Giuseppe will prepare a pic-nic hamper full of delicious traditional food. Place your booking though our reception desk.

OLIVE HARVESTING
We will escort you through a beautiful walk in our own olive grove. Experience the olive harvesting process with your own hands and take home a bottle of our extra virgin olive oil (only available for 2 weeks between October and November).

MATERA TOUR
Book a walking tour to discover the most important part of the Sassi of Matera, the famous rocks that strongly characterize this town. You’ll see Sasso Caveoso, Piano area, Sasso Barisano, then visit the cellars, the natural caves, the cisterns, the baroque Romanesque churches and the Rupestrian churches.

Follow the steps of your expert guide through the places where some famous movies were made. For instance, you’ll see the locations of Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and James Bond! Did you know that the ‘City of Stones’ is considered one of the oldest in the world? Matera is an authentic open-air museum.

TOUR OF PUGLIA
Visit the most picturesque villages of Puglia, like Ostuni, located on the foothills of the Murge plateau. Also known as the White City because of the characteristic color of its houses. Ostuni rises to over 200 meters above sea level and has spectacular views.

Alberobello, the trulli village, is a UNESCO world heritage site: the trulli are remarkable examples of drywall (mortar less) construction, a prehistoric building technique still in use in this region.

The trulli are made of roughly worked limestone boulders, collected from neighboring fields. Characteristically, they feature pyramidal, domed or conical roofs built up of corbelled limestone slabs.

Stone street, calm plazas and mystical sea caves make Polignano a Mare one of the most charming coastal towns in Italy. You can also enjoy some of the best gelato over here!

MATERA APE CAR TOUR
An unusual way to visit one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in the world on boars of an exciting and vintage Ape Calessino. It’s great fun to be transported on this atypical vehicle which used to be so popular two decades ago.

BIKE TOURS
Discover the beauty of Southern Italy on two wheels! From one-day biking experiences with our expert guides and dedicated support vehicle to week-long cycling adventures in Basilicata and Puglia, we do it all. QUADIf you prefer discover this beautiful land by Quad we can help you renting one for a day or more

BALLOON TOURS
Matera’s breathtaking landscape makes it a top global destination for balloon flights. The terrific flying conditions allow for amazing views of the spectacular landscapes. You’ll float through impressive valleys and canyons.

ANGEL FLIGHT
Above the Lucanian Dolomites, in the heart of Basilicata, a steel cable suspended between the tops of two small towns, Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa let you make and live a unique experience: the Angel Flight.

It’s an attractor, a new concept, which make you feel a great experience of the environmental heritage, a new offer of of leisure and recreation, for who seek new emotions. An adventure in contact with nature and with a unique landscape, discovering the soul of this land.

Rooms: 12

Price: from 115 EUR per night

Source: www.fontanadivite.com