Dimora Ulmo

The story

Dimora Ulmo: Modern Italian Cuisine in Matera – Michelin Recommended

A Historic Address in the Heart of Matera

In the labyrinth of Matera’s Sasso Caveoso, Via Pennino connects Piazza del Sedile to the ancient quarter below. Here, the 18th‑century Palazzo Torraca once belonged to the aristocratic Ulmo family. Today, that same stone and silence house Dimora Ulmo, a restaurant where the past breathes through every arch and the kitchen speaks a language both rooted and inventive.

The interior design, chosen by Nico Andrisani, respects the building’s lineage while creating a space that feels intimate and modern. A generous wine cellar, curated by maître and sommelier Francesco Russo, offers one of southern Italy’s most thoughtfully assembled selections of wines and spirits.

The Team Behind the Table

Chef Michele Castelli is a Matera native who spent six years at Osteria Francescana and two years at Ristorante Italia in Istanbul under Massimo Bottura. He returned home to cook the food he knows best: Italian cuisine that honours local tradition while welcoming intelligent, modern influences. Alongside him, Virginia Caravita brings her own experience working with Bottura and with Luca Marchini at Erba del Re in Modena. Together, they create dishes that feel both familiar and surprising.

Francesco Russo, a seasoned sommelier who has worked at Osteria Francescana, Piazza Duomo in Alba, and La Locandiera in Bernalda, leads the front‑of‑house with quiet precision. His pairing suggestions transform each course into a journey.

A Michelin‑Recommended Experience

Dimora Ulmo has earned a place among the restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide, a recognition that speaks to the team’s commitment to quality without artifice. The tasting menus change with the seasons, drawing on local produce and the flavours of Basilicata, then reimagined through a modern Italian lens. Each plate is a quiet statement: tradition is not a cage but a foundation.

Whether you sit in the air‑conditioned dining room or outside when the Matera evening softens, the atmosphere is one of unhurried attention. This is fine dining that never forgets it is, above all, a meal shared.