The Caves of Civita in Matera: Returned to their Original Roots

Le Grotte della Civita in the Sassi of Matera of the receptive field a project was created to offer an experience and hospitality. It is unique, not classifiable in the “star” and far from any traditional concept of luxury, so much so that, the New York Times has judged it to be one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world. The Times and the guide Tatler ranked it as one of the ten most beautiful hotels on the international scene. Condé Nast has included it among the hundred most beautiful hotels on the planet.

In 1993 Unesco declared the Sassi of Matera world heritage, thus enhancing the uniqueness and the uniqueness of these places, where the houses blend with the rock or are open in large caves. Christian monks of the middle Ages built the Rock-hewn Churches monuments that still today, standing the time of centuries, to restore their beauty.

In the city, the oldest part of Sassi, the caves overlook the river Gravina facing the dramatic scenery of the Murgia Park and its Rupestrian Churches. Sextantio has made Le Grotte della Civita, a unique hotel structure with eighteen rooms on the inside of giant caves, characterized by a extreme restoration using only the material, secular recovery, from the floors to the furnishings and down to the linens.

The project bears the signature of Daniel Khilgren and Margareta Isabel Berg, artistic directors, with the collaboration of the study Spa-projects of Matera.

The structure, which has a total capacity of forty guests, is spread over three levels and connected by a staircase and a system of terraces from which they can access independently to individual rooms. All the external environments, including the wide of entrance terrace, a garden with plants and flowers typical of the environment of the Murgia and a vegetable garden, overlook the gorge excavated by the river Gravina, facing the dramatic scenery of the Murgia Park and its Rupestrian Churches.

The caves have been restored and furnished taking the philosophy of the restoration to the extreme. The furniture, with clean lines and without decoration is made with the wood secular recovery following the ancient craft techniques; the linen comes from the beginning of the Twentieth century and has been entirely hand-stitched. For consistency with the principles that have inspired the project, the rooms are not provided with television or mini-bar. Each cave is equipped with modern heating systems with floor radiant panels, a cooling system and a connection to the internet.

The guests in the cave, always have fresh water, fruit in season, dozens of lit candles, and essential oils of the Murge that perfume the environment. In the morning in the ancient and evocative Rock-hewn Church of the XIII Century, breakfast is served with cakes, biscuits, jams, cheeses and cold meat products from an organic farm in the territory. In the evening, in front of the enormous fireplace carved into the stone, it is possible to make tastings of products and wines, lucan.

Source: Le Grotte della Civita

The Caves of Civita in Matera: Returned to their Original Roots
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