Lovely intimate venue
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: September 2016
Overall Rating
Good
A small intimate venue that is open daily to have a look around to see what the caves of Marera looked like when people lived in them but it also transforms into a venue for musical performances and talks at other times too.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
The entrance is through large double doors, and is sloped downwards into the cave. You pay at the entrance but it isn't a desk, just a person sitting by a table. There isn't disabled access into the full cave but into most of it. It's mainly a performance space which is raised above the caves surface on glass so you can see the whole thing. To access the stage you have to go down steps. There is a wheelchair space for performances (there are probably only 100 seats in total) as well as a bar area with dropped counter. There is a small gathering area up several steps that isn't accessible (separate to the main space).
Parking & Transport
Average
Matera is a World Heritage Site and is under going a lot of development as it will be the European Capital of Culture in 2019 so a lot of development work is being done so things are likely to change a lot over the coming years. At the moment there are several disabled parking bays (marked with yellow lines) about five minutes walk from the venue (outside of the Sasso). The city is made up of cobbled roads however effort has got into make as much as the city as possible accessible so it is easy enough (although slightly bumpy) to get from the parking to the Casa Cava and other parts of the city too. It is fairly steep going down the hill from outside of the Sassi.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There is an accessible toilet, it is well signposted (sits with the other male/female toilets). It is to the right before the performance space. There is quite a lot of space with transfer space to the right of the toilet and hand rails. There wasn't a red cord - but not seen these anywhere in Italy so far.
Staff
Excellent
Really friendly staff! They speak good English and are happy to show people around.
Additional Information
There is a small entrance fee to have a look around normally - definitely worth it just to see what it would have been like to live in a cave!
