4. The Cave Homes of Matera, Italy Matera, a city in southern Italy, is famous for its ancient cave dwellings, some of which have been inhabited for over 9,000 years. These homes, carved directly ...

Now home to 60,000 people, Matera dates back thousands of years to the Palaeolithic period when the first people arrived and dug out homes in caves from the relatively soft rock formation.

Nestled in Italy lies a true natural and architectural wonder that is considered to be the oldest urban settlement in Europe. The city was built above a ravine, named Gravina of Matera, and is ...