Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

Sextantio in Matera is a beautiful property with outstanding service. I had been emailing this property to get assistance with planning this trip and each time I contacted them the response was quick and complete. Here are some of the activities that the staff executed with expertise. The property arranged for a car service, Cate Transfer, to provide transfers from the Bari Airport to the property. The company was waiting at the airport when we arrived with our name on a sign. It was seemless and an hour later we were at Sextantio. They have a young man take your luggage up the stairs to your room. He was a site as he grabbed our bags in one go and off he went up a staircase. They also had Alessio Leardi take us for a walking tour of Sassi and Matera. He is fantastic and speaks beautiful English. Alessio tells the story of Matera in a historical but fun way. He is very conversational and kind enough to leave us at our restaurant. Sextantio has the best activity in their cooking class and private dinner. The lovely women that provides both the class and dinner is extraordinary. It is a sensory experience in that the location filled with candlelight, classical music and wine. The class is fun and includes all different types of hands on pasta making. She then sends you off to your room with wine for an hour break. When you return she has fixed all the mistakes you have made in the class and serves a multi course meal. We sat in front of a roaring fire and she served course after delicious course. There was Spumanti, white and red wines as part of this delightful, romantic meal. She was so warm, a great cook and very kind. We loved her and the experience. Breakfast is also a treat. Eggs cooked to order, delicious coffee, fresh squeezed juice, so much fruit and breads and sweet treats. It’s a wonderful way to begin a day. Sextantio is a place for romance or you will be fine as a solo traveler as well. I wouldn’t recommend this property for children. If you are not in moderate shape for walking on uneven surfaces and stairs also consider asking the property to book the little white golf carts for your stay to get you around. The cave rooms are glorious. Romantic with everything you could need. Modern amenities with the feeling of long ago. This trip was fantastic in every way. All you need to do is put yourself in the hands of this expert staff and they will arrange the experience you are hoping for.

This was an amazing experience! From start to finish the service was excellent, the rooms were amazing. Unlike those who lived in the caves in the past (as we learned on Cosimo's amazing tour), we were very comfortable and had wonderful amenities. Who knew a cave could be fun? I highly recommend the experience. The candlelit dinner, cooked by Nunzia was amazing (and I have pasta making tips to bring home with me!) she was so lovely, it was a beautiful experience and the food was out of this world. I especially appreciated communicating via Whatsapp, which made things easy and convenient to arrange. The breakfast was also amazing, excellent food, all local and fresh. If you can spring for it, STAY here and learn about Matera, a beautiful city with a fascinating history.

We're in our 70's and in fairly good shape, but this place would have been much better for us 20 years ago. We didn't realize that everything was either up alot of stairs or down alot of stairs, but that was probably our fault for not checking better beforehand. We just thought the rooms looked so cute online and the idea of living in a former cave was so cool! The reception cave itself is up a long path and then our particular room was another 40 steps up beyond that. Luckily, they have very fit bellmen who cart the luggage. Our room (Palazzo Classico with View) was inside a gated area with a bare courtyard and two other rooms. Our room was mostly lit by candles which, we were told, we could leave burning all the time (because stone doesn't burn). The bed was large and comfortable with nice linens, there was no closet - just a hanging rack, a small window and table with fruit. The real challenge was the bathroom, which was down four uneven steps. The bathroom door was a curtain. The shower had no enclosure - just a showerhead coming out of the ceiling on to the floor next to the toilet. There was one sink/mirror next to a high, small window that let in a little extra light in the morning. The highlight was the breakfast buffet, which was spectacular. However, the bar - in the same cave as breakfast - was only open for drinks and light food until 6 pm. There are three tables outside so, if you get there before 6, you can stay and enjoy your food/drink a while longer, but it was disappointing in general.

This was the most unique place that we have stayed so far in all of our travels. The accommodations set into ancient caves from the past had everything you needed. The feeling you get from the moment you walk into your room takes your breath away and leaves nothing to be desired. The breakfast buffet is set up in cave church and is phenomenal. We will definitely be back someday!

We had an amazing stay at Sextantio- it was one of the coolest hotels we've ever been to. We stay as a family of four with our two kids, aged 6 & 4, who were enchanted by the property and taken care of by the staff who were amazingly kinds and accomodating. We would not hesitate to stay at this property again and are so happy we chose this for our Matera stay!