Hotel Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita

This enclave of cave buildings is not what most travelers envision for accommodation when planning their Italian hill town escape.

But although the architecture may bring to mind Fred Flintstone, the décor is all about rustically sophisticated charm.

The eighteen guest rooms are spread throughout a complex of ancient cave dwellings in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

Each features simple furnishings influenced by traditional designs (a local museum was consulted during the reclamation process) and made by area craftspeople.

The caves have been modernized for comfort (running water, electricity, etc.), but the focus is on conservation and historical integrity, ensuring a memorably authentic experience.