Sextantio
Sextantio is an Italian Albergo Diffuso hospitality brand operating two boutique heritage properties — Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo and Le Grotte della Civita in Matera's UNESCO Sassi district — serving cultural tourists, couples, and event clients through conservative restoration of medieval villages and cave dwellings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSpoltore, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sextantio does
Sextantio is an Italian hospitality operator built around the Albergo Diffuso ("scattered hotel") concept, in which guest rooms are distributed across multiple historic buildings within a village rather than consolidated in a single structure. The company was founded by Daniele Kihlgren and operates through two main legal entities: SEXTANTIO OSPITALITÀ DIFFUSA Srl (incorporated 29 December 2008 in Pescara, €100,000 share capital) and DOM Srl (incorporated 23 January 2003 in Matera, €12,500 share capital), which respectively oversee the group's operations and the Le Grotte della Civita property. The portfolio is anchored by two flagship properties: Albergo Diffuso Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a restored medieval fortified village in Abruzzo at over 1,250 meters altitude within the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, and Le Grotte della Civita in Matera's Sassi district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 comprising 18 cave rooms, a rupestrian church common space, six rooms in an 18th-century palace, and an artisan boutique. Room categories span Classic, Superior, Suite, and Executive Suite tiers across cave rooms and palazzo rooms, with pricing on a quote-based, per-stay model (parking at Matera is €40 per night through a partner).
Sextantio's underlying technology is primarily methodological rather than digital: a conservative restoration approach developed in coordination with local authorities and the National Park, which preserves original architectural use, conceals modern infrastructure, and uses only recovered materials; rooms are further styled around 1920s photographic references by Swiss linguist Paul Scheuermeier. The commercial technology stack is limited to a Blastness booking platform integration for online reservations and availability checking across both properties, supplemented by organic and earned-media distribution channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TripAdvisor, and an "Our Stone" documentary) rather than any proprietary software or data platform.
The business model is direct-to-consumer boutique hospitality combined with on-property monetization. Primary revenue streams are accommodation across the four room tiers, traditional Abruzzese gastronomy and wine experiences (Sextantio Cucina and Cantina), venue hire and organization for weddings, meetings, and corporate retreats, and retail through the on-site Bottega artisan boutique. The customer base is segmented into cultural heritage enthusiasts, romance and wellness travelers, destination event clients, and corporate event organizers, with distribution handled via the direct website, the Blastness platform, and OTAs. Beyond the two flagships, the group has extended the concept through the Case di Famiglia collection of exclusive-use historic properties, a heritage real estate listing line, the Sextantio Onlus non-profit for heritage protection, and the Progetto Capanne humanitarian project in Rwanda. Sextantio remains privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company.
Sextantio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sextantio
- Legal name
- SEXTANTIO OSPITALITÀ DIFFUSA Srl
- Website
- https://sextantio.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sextantio is an Italian Albergo Diffuso hospitality brand operating two boutique heritage properties — Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo and Le Grotte della Civita in Matera's UNESCO Sassi district — serving cultural tourists, couples, and event clients through conservative restoration of medieval villages and cave dwellings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sextantio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Boutique Heritage Hospitality
- NAICS
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), Accommodation (721)
- SIC
- Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Heritage & Palace Luxury Hotels (THAGACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ultra-Luxury Villas & Estates (THAMAEAA), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)
Keywords
Where Sextantio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spoltore
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sextantio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Accommodation Services: Sextantio operates two primary properties offering lodging in historic cave dwellings (Matera) and restored medieval village buildings (Santo Stefano di Sessanio). Room categories include Classic, Superior, Suite, and Executive Suite options across cave rooms and palace rooms.
- Food and Beverage Services: On-site dining at both properties featuring traditional Abruzzese cuisine (Santo Stefano) and exclusive dinners (Matera), along with wine cellars (Cantina) and herbal tea service (Tisaneria).
- Events and Weddings: Both properties host events including meetings, conferences, and weddings, providing venue rental and event organization services.
- Artisan Crafts (Bottega): Sale of traditional artisan products through on-site boutiques featuring locally produced crafts and domestic artisan products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Grotte Classic rooms in cave dwellings |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Grotte Superior cave accommodations |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Suite accommodations in caves or palace |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Executive Suite luxury accommodations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sextantio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sextantio operates Albergo Diffuso (scattered hotel) accommodations in restored historic Italian properties: Le Grotte della Civita in Matera's UNESCO-listed Sassi district and a medieval fortified village in Santo Stefano di Sessanio within the Gran Sasso National Park. The company also runs the Progetto Capanne humanitarian project in Rwanda, a Case di Famiglia collection of exclusive historic property rentals, and on-site gastronomy, wine tasting, and artisan craft offerings tied to each property.
Product overview
Sextantio is a hospitality company operating 'Albergo Diffuso' (scattered hotel) accommodations in historic Italian properties. The core offering consists of two main properties: Albergo Diffuso Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo (medieval fortified village at 1250m altitude) and Le Grotte della Civita in Matera (UNESCO World Heritage cave hotel with 18 cave rooms and 6 palace rooms). Additional offerings include Case di Famiglia (exclusive historic property rentals), gastronomic experiences (Sextantio Cucina and Cantina), and the Progetto Capanne Rwanda humanitarian project. The portfolio is unified by a philosophy of conservative restoration and preservation of minor historical heritage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Progetto Capanne (Rwanda): International humanitarian project in Rwanda focused on constructing traditional huts
Products and services
- Albergo Diffuso Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Companies that use Sextantio
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sextantio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Sextantio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Palazzo MilesiminorHistoric palace property in Erbusco (BS), Franciacorta region listed under 'Case di Famiglia' (Family Houses) collection. Appears to be a related historic property available for experiences or stays.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sextantio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Il Pellicano: Iconic Italian luxury cliffside hotel in Porto Ercole, part of the Pellicano Hotels group. Comparable boutique-scale Italian luxury positioning with strong culinary identity and high-net-worth international clientele.
- Borgo Egnazia: Luxury resort in Puglia built as a reconstructed traditional village. Most directly comparable to Sextantio's Albergo Diffuso model, offering high-end accommodation in an authentic-feeling historic Italian setting with strong culinary and event verticals.
- Castel Monastero: Restored 11th-century hamlet in Tuscany operating as a luxury hotel and residences. Comparable restored-village heritage luxury model with event and culinary offerings similar to Sextantio's portfolio.
- Castello di Casole: 10th-century castle estate in Tuscany operating as a luxury hotel under Belmond. Comparable heritage luxury positioning with restored historic architecture and Italian countryside experience similar to Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
- Borgo San Felice: Relais & Châteaux medieval hamlet hotel in Chianti Classico. Comparable Albergo Diffuso-style heritage luxury accommodation with strong wine, gastronomy, and event verticals in restored Italian village setting.
- Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco: Luxury estate hotel in a restored Tuscan borgo within a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Val d'Orcia). Directly comparable heritage-village luxury model, though operating under a larger international brand.
- Masseria San Domenico: Luxury masseria (fortified farmhouse) hotel in Puglia. Comparable Italian heritage property restoration model with similar rural-luxury positioning, spa, and culinary focus.
Broad incumbents
- Aman Resorts: Ultra-luxury resort brand with multiple Italian properties (Amano Veneto, Aman Rosa Alpina). Comparable premium pricing and design-led heritage positioning, but with much broader global footprint and ultra-high-net-worth clientele.
- Belmond: Global luxury hospitality group operating heritage hotels, trains, and river cruises. Comparable because Belmond competes for the same cultural-heritage luxury traveler in iconic Italian and European locations, but with broader portfolio and brand scale.
- Rocco Forte Hotels: Family-owned collection of luxury hotels across Italy and Europe. Competes for the same Italian luxury heritage traveler but with broader portfolio, brand recognition, and corporate infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sextantio social profiles
Digital presenceSextantio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sextantio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sextantio subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sextantio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sextantio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sextantio
What does Sextantio do?
Sextantio operates Albergo Diffuso (scattered hotel) accommodations in restored historic Italian properties: Le Grotte della Civita in Matera's UNESCO-listed Sassi district and a medieval fortified village in Santo Stefano di Sessanio within the Gran Sasso National Park. The company also runs the Progetto Capanne humanitarian project in Rwanda, a Case di Famiglia collection of exclusive historic property rentals, and on-site gastronomy, wine tasting, and artisan craft offerings tied to each property.
Is Sextantio a public or private company?
Sextantio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sextantio founded?
Sextantio was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sextantio based?
Sextantio is headquartered in Spoltore, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Sextantio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Accommodation Services are the primary driver. The others are food and Beverage Services, events and Weddings and artisan Crafts (Bottega).
Who are Sextantio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Il Pellicano, Borgo Egnazia, Castel Monastero, Castello di Casole, Borgo San Felice, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco and Masseria San Domenico. Broad incumbents are Aman Resorts, Belmond and Rocco Forte Hotels.
Does Sextantio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sextantio.
What industry is Sextantio in?
Sextantio's product category is Boutique Heritage Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGACAF, Heritage & Palace Luxury Hotels, with a secondary code of THAMAEAA, Ultra-Luxury Villas & Estates. Its NAICS code is 72111 and its SIC code is 7011.