Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita

This is definitely a unique hotel. It is in the Civita area of Matera, up a huge flight of stone stairs and all rooms are caves. The rooms are supposed to give you a feel of cave like living with some comforts. There are plugs near the bed but plug adapters are needed and the best lighting is bed side. The room is lit minimally with electric lights and candles. The bath area is not particularly well lit but they did offer to bring a makeup mirror and extra lighting but there aren’t many plugs to plug into. There are no drawers and a few hangars but they are on a rod above a shelf that we used for our bath items. We requested a room with a shower and the large king sized bedded room had a shower but no door. The sink was a farm style stone sink. The bed was high above the floor which I understand is typical for cave dwellers and there is a step stool. You must be careful when you get out of bed. The remaining furnishings consisted of a small side table, some uncomfortable cane back chairs and wooden benches for seating. There was also a bathtub in the bedroom area. The floors are stone with 3/4s of stone being irregular and sometimes slippery. The toilet area is down several uneven stone steps and I needed to hold onto the wall to get there. In fact I needed to be careful to get to the mirror and the shower since that part of the floor sloped down. There is no TV. Our room was on the 2nd floor and we had to walk down two flights of stone stairs to get to the reception and breakfast room. It rained while we were there, so outdoor stairs were even more challenging. The staff is efficient and friendly and there is someone to take your luggage up all of those stairs. Parking is in the new town and you should take a shuttle to get there or else it is a tough 15 minute walk. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes. The breakfast room is also a cave with uneven stone floors. The Breakfast buffet is plentiful and very nice with delicious fresh squeezed orange juice. This hotel is certainly unique and if you want this kind of experience it is first rate, but I personally would chose another style of luxury hotel.

This hotel is beyond amazing; words fail to capture its uniqueness. The staff's dedication to preserving and enhancing its original charm is truly remarkable (thank you, Pietro and Emilia). Our stay in the Palazzo was simply breathtaking – the views, the design, and every detail exceeded our expectations. The staff, incredibly passionate and hospitable, made us feel like family from the moment we arrived. Breakfast was outstanding, with carefully selected ingredients enhancing the experience. The apertivo in the courtyard was a highlight; the wine, cheeses, and meats, along with the friendly staff (shoutout to Nunzia!), created a welcoming atmosphere. Airport transfer was arranged effortlessly, adding to the convenience. Even our children felt right at home. Simply put, this hotel offers an unforgettable experience. Our children are older, so if you have a stroller it could be a little problematic, but that is all of Matera, there are many stairs.