travel42 Hotel Review: Sextantio Grotte Della Civita

Sextantio Grotte Della Civita travel42 Professional Hotel Review

Location and History

On the northern edge of this famed UNESCO city, eying the sassi (Matera's spooky cave-pocked landscape), the Gravina gorge and the river below, this hotel exploits its mix of ancient tufa homes and prehistoric cave dwellings for a well-heeled and adventurous clientele hellbent on living like Matera's inhabitants did more than 9,000 years ago.

With no cars allowed—the historic city is pedestrian-only—walking is a way of life here, and steps, stairs,...