Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

First, I want to say a few positive things about this hotel. The staff were very friendly and professional, and the location and views over the Sassi of Matera are extraordinary. There are clearly many people who love this hotel and its concept, and if you are looking for a very authentic cave experience with minimal modern comforts, you may find it fascinating. However, if you value things like normal lighting, comfortable seating, temperature control, and conventional room layouts, you should think carefully before booking. Unfortunately, our experience with the rooms was so difficult that we left after about an hour and did not stay the night. We chose this hotel partly because the reviews were mostly positive, but in our opinion the hotel description does not clearly explain the practical implications of staying in a cave hotel that prioritizes historical authenticity over modern comfort. My intention in writing this review is simply to help future travelers understand what the experience is really like. The rooms are primarily lit with candles and very low lighting. In practical terms, the amount of light felt like perhaps 10–20% of normal hotel lighting. Our room, which was a top-category room, also had no windows, just a door. Although the hotel itself faces an amazing view, it was not visible from our room. The furnishings were extremely minimal. Despite being a large suite, there were no comfortable chairs or sofa — only two very hard chairs. This meant that if you wanted to spend any time in the room, the only realistic option was to lie on the bed. The biggest issue for me was the temperature. The room was about 24°C, which is far too warm for me to sleep comfortably. I normally sleep at around 20°C. Although there were two thermostats in the room, during winter the system operates only in heating mode, so it was not possible to cool the room. Opening the door did not help because the cave walls retain heat. I am convinced that one of the thermostats was not operating correctly. I could not turn it off nor adjust the temperature. The room also used a VMC ventilation system. These systems exchange air but does not cool it. Normally they operate very quietly (around 25–30 dB), but this one was quite loud. I measured about 45 dB with a decibel meter on my phone. The staff member who checked the room told us the heating was not running and that the sound was coming from the ventilation unit. The staff kindly showed us two other rooms, but unfortunately both had safety concerns for us. One room had a very high bed that required stepping on a stool to get in and out. I considered this unsafe, especially during the night when someone might need to get up to use the bathroom. The other room had a bathroom that required going down three stone steps, which again seemed risky, especially in low light. At that point we concluded that the hotel simply was not a good fit for us, so we decided to leave. To their credit, the hotel did offer us a 40% discount even though we did not stay. We appreciated that gesture. I am sure the hotel will read this review and I request that they make an effort to do a better job of describing the potential issues the arise from trying to be so authentic.

We chose Matera to Celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary & it was truly amazing ! We stayed for 4 nights in our Cave suite and celebrated our wedding anniversary with a fantastic local produce breakfast in our special room, it really was very special eating our breakfast looking out at the fabulous views. The surroundings and food were outstanding. The wonderful bathtub in the room was a real treat, and the absence of TV is perfect to enjoy the area. The staff were wonderful, always accommodating and the hotel was so unique, the history of this incredibly special place is breathtaking. This is a unique hotel; the atmosphere is unique: you really have the feeling of being in another world. A wonderful experience we will never forget, this hotel is amazing!

This is an exceptional and truly unique place to stay. The location is stunning, with beautiful views over Matera, and the hotel perfectly preserves the authenticity and spirit of the ancient caves while still offering comfort. The staff were extremely kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout our stay. Breakfast was excellent, featuring high quality local products that added to the authentic experience. The organized transfer for guests arriving by car is a very thoughtful service and makes everything easy despite the historic location. This is not just a hotel, but a real experience that allows you to feel the history and atmosphere of Matera. I highly recommend it.

The hotel is amazing! Took us back centuries with an authentic, perfectly curated experience. All details were perfection. All the modern features you need in a room/hotel, were seamlessly included; great wifi, beautiful bathroom, electrical outlets were plentiful, lovely linens. The restaurant and dining experience was exceptional, and the staff there and at the front desk were outstanding. I couldn’t have been happier with our stay. A hidden gem for now .. as word gets out, hopefully it won’t be spoiled by too many visitors.

Staying in Matera was made especially great when I chose this hotel. It's located near the only road through the town and so we were taken directly there from the car park outside the pedestrian area by shuttle bus, a very stress-free option. Every staff member was so friendly and kind, going out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible. The rooms were so cool....I have seen nothing like them anywhere else.....and they have been renovated in such a way as to ensure total comfort without losing their old world charm. Totally reccomended.