In Matera, history is impossible to keep at a distance. It rises from the limestone streets, disappears into the rock and reveals itself in the homes, churches and winding passageways of the Sassi. Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita is immersed in this landscape, with ancient cave dwellings reimagined as quietly beautiful rooms while retaining the rawness of their original architecture. There is very little here that feels new – and that is precisely the point.
For Diana Sun (@dianasooon), a stay here offered the chance to experience Matera from within its oldest layers. Days unfolded slowly between the cave church, handmade ceramics and local produce, while evenings were spent watching the Sassi shift from sunlight into shadow. But it was the history beneath the beauty that stayed with her most: the generations who once lived inside these caves, and the resilience embedded in the stone.
Here, she shares postcards from her stay with RUSSH.
Place: Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Matera, Italy.
Address: Via Civita, 28, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
Phone: +39 0835 332744
Designed and curated by... Daniele Kihlgren. His vision transformed ancient cave dwellings into a remarkable heritage hotel, preserving their raw, original soul.
I stayed here because... I've always been drawn to places with a strong sense of history. Spending nights inside a centuries-old cave allowed me to experience Matera in a way that felt quiet, timeless, and deeply connected to its past.
My last visit was... June 2026.
What I loved about the room... The room was never designed to impress; it was designed to preserve. An oversized palazzo bed, original stone walls, and aged timber allowed history to speak quietly for itself. It felt beautifully restrained.
Amenities worth a mention... Breakfast inside the 13th-century cave church. Wildflowers, organic local produce, handmade ceramics, and the glow of beeswax candles.
It's the details that count... One story shared by the hotel stayed with me long after I left. Before the Sassi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they were once known as Italy's "national shame." Families, and often their animals, lived together inside these limestone dwellings for generations. Knowing that history changed the way I experienced Matera. Every stone carried a story of resilience, and every beautifully preserved space felt like a quiet act of remembrance.
Room service order... A pot of hot lemon and mint herbal tea. Simple, comforting, and the perfect way to end a quiet evening in Matera.
Places nearby... Bottega dell'Artigianato Domestico, where traditional weaving survives on antique wooden looms. A beautiful reminder that Matera’s heritage lives in craftsmanship as much as architecture. I also loved simply wandering through the quiet streets of the Sassi without a destination.
The one thing I always return home with... A vintage handwoven linen tablecloth from the Bottega dell'Artigianato Domestico.
Galleries in the area... Matera taught me that artistry isn't always found inside galleries. Beyond traditional weaving, a 20-minute drive to Altamura (Caseificio Dicecca and Caseificio Stella Dicecca) reveals living heritage: watching treccia being tied and warm ricotta crafted entirely by hand.
Sunset dinner with a view... Madame Giulia. Watch the Sassi transition from golden hour to blue hour. Order the handmade orecchiette and the signature toast with burrata and crispy peperoni cruschi.
Night... Vitantonio Lombardo. A Michelin-starred, elegant interpretation of Basilicata’s regional cuisine, just steps away from the hotel.
