I have traveled all over the world and stayed in many places. I knew this place would be special, but when I walked into our room, the walls of the cave gently lit with candles and low lighting, gorgeous wood and white linen used to simply design the space, I literally STARTED CRYING AT THE BEAUTY. This place is incredible. Absolute peace, simplicity and the best night sleep of my life. Do yourself and your nervous system a favor and stay here. It is worth every penny and more.
Sleeping in a modernized cave was a great experience. You really notice the effort to preserve the heritage of this environment and the authenticity of the furniture and accessories. It was very interesting to learn about the history of Matera (and the caves). The hotel overlooks beautiful hills and vistas. Be prepared for lots of steps but it is worth it. The staff is very nice and accommodating. Breakfast is delicious in a wonderful large cave (deconsecrated former church) or outdoors on the terrace with great views. Our cave was enormous with 3 levels and all modern conveniences.. Lighting was the biggest challenge but it is quite charming and you get used to the romantic candles throughout!
We really enjoyed our stay and would recommend the Sextantio. We loved our room and it was such a romantic atmosphere with the lit candles, bathtub, and natural elements of the cave. Our room looked out onto the 9,000 year old sassi and we received excellent service from all the staff (porter, front desk, breakfast server). We decided to use the $35 overnight parking lot they recommended that had a shuttle. It was very easy, nice van, and the car was already pulled out for us upon our return. Fast and efficient. Our stay was obviously in the winter season when things are slow and many of the restaurants were closed. Front desk assisted us with making a reservation and we enjoyed a great meal at Stano. We plan to return when it's a little warmer!
Can a cave be a luxury hotel? It is for sure a great experience. If you come to Matera and spend the night, it would be a shame to stay in a regular hotel. All caves are different; we chose one with an extra single bed because it was the way to get a king size. There’s a nice bathtub in the room, that becomes an obstacle at night and forced us to leave a light on. The bathroom is behind a wall, with no door and the shower is open air, so close the toilet before showering and place the towels aside. The only mirror is small and vintage, but you can ask for extra ones at the reception. The floor is uneven but heated (it was January). The room had a small table for two, always set with a fruit basket and we were welcomed with all candles on. The closet is small and there are no drawers, but some shelves in rustic wood. They have good wi-fi internet, but no TV. Breakfast is served in a beautiful cave and they will tell you its interesting story. A taxi can take you to the main road access, and from there you must climb a flight of stairs. If you’re driving your own car, it’s imperative to hire the parking through the hotel, as we did. We got the location of the parking garage, and they were expecting us with the van ready to transfer to the hotel, a 10 minutes drive. I surly recommend this exotic, romantic hotel.…
This was the most amazing dining experience I’ve probably ever had. Michelin worthy. Biagio and his crew made us feel like royalty but it was the food that deserves the recommendation! The pastry chef created a work of art! The 5 courses were just so unbelievable that I thought they couldn’t possibly top it but then another course would arrive even more incredible! You should go the extra mile to find and dine in this exquisite establishment! Be sure to ask for Francisco sommelier who guided us to every wine I could possibly have dreamed of!
My husband and I went here for our honeymoon mid Sept. and stayed in cave 13. It was perfect, we were even welcomed with a special bottle of wine to celebrate! The location, cave and entire staff were amazing. We had the best breakfast each day, some of our favorite food in Italy. I have never experienced better hospitality anywhere and we travel a lot. Their mission and history is amazing and how they restored the property is an unbelievable story worth taking time to cherish. The staff that takes care of the property and their guests are some of the most caring people we have met in traveling the world. While we hope everyone can experience this place someday we hope it remains the special hidden gem that it is.
I chose this “hotel” based on so many positive reviews and found the reviews were reliable. The service, uniqueness of the stay, food quality, and bed comfort were 5 stars. Candles and a few lights were helpful but the cave is dark even with the lighting. The cave was kept clean by courteous staff. In ours, there is still a bit of a smell especially when we entered after being away for the day. This is the kind of place that you may not want to miss experiencing. We stayed two nights.
This was truly one of the most exceptional stays we've ever had. The team has done everything to respect the history of the site while making it a comfortable experience. We read previous reviews that refer to the rooms as sparse or plain - we couldn't disagree more! The luxury of this hotel lies in its authenticity and the effort to pay tribute to its past, while providing the absolute best amenities for its guests. The location is absolutely breathtaking.
This was an incredibly experience - beautiful rooms, amazing breakfast in the "common" cave - I've never stayed anywhere so atmospheric. The 'rooms' were exquisitely and simply decorated, and the staff was so knowledgeable about the history of Matera.
Our cave experience at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita was amazing. Beautiful, ambient lighting with multiple candles and a very comfortable king size bed made for a delightful retreat after a day of exploring unique and interesting Matera. Breakfast offered an amazing spread of fruits, cheeses, meats, breads and cakes, yogurts and toppings. The staff was friendly and helpful with securing guided tours and dinner reservations. All in all a wonderful and worthwhile visit.
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