Sextantio Grotte della Civita

This unique, 18-room boutique hotel is built into the famous sassi (ancient cave dwellings) of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• The location in the sassi
• The minimalist design aesthetic
• The ancient church, Cripta della Civita, that is now the hotel’s common area

Set in the oldest part of the sassi quarters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 18-room hotel faces Murgia Park and its rock-hewn churches. Sassi, meaning rock, refers to the village in Matera in which hundreds of cave dwellings, which date back to the Stone and Bronze Ages, were turned into homes, churches and palaces. During the Middle Ages, the area was home to many monastic communities and later became a dynamic farming center.

All 18 of Sextantio’s rooms are set in caves, each of which were carefully restored and renovated over the course of five years before the hotel’s opening in 2009. The décor is minimalist and simple–think white linens, wood furniture and sleek cream bathtubs–in order to let the caves’ primeval beauty speak for itself.

The Cripta della Civita, an ancient church, is the main common space of the hotel. There is no restaurant on property, but guests can request to have a private dinner in the church. Otherwise, the up-and-coming city of Matera (named a European Capital of Culture for 2019) has a plethora of restaurant options.

History buffs and adventurous travelers looking for a truly unique hotel experience. Note that because of the uneven cobblestones and stairs in Matera and at the hotel, this property cannot easily accommodate travelers with mobility issues.