5Matera, Italy
Matera was once one of Italy’s most overlooked destinations. Today, its extraordinary ancient cave dwellings have transformed it into one of the country’s most intriguing places to visit.
The famous Sassi districts are carved directly into the rock, creating a maze of caves, stairways, churches and stone houses. Some caves that were once humble homes have been transformed into boutique hotels and restaurants.
Matera feels completely different from Rome, Florence or Venice. Its appeal lies precisely in that difference, offering visitors a glimpse of an Italy shaped by rock, history and centuries of adaptation.
