One of Italy’s most underrated cities is also one of the world’s oldest and packed full of historical gems. Named as a "Second Bethlehem", the underrated but beautiful city of Matera can be explored without being jostled by crowds. Located in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, this place keeps surprising visitors with its unique structure and charm.
Renowned as one of the most authentic Italian places to soak in, it holds the reputation of possibly being one of the world's oldest continually inhabited settlements. Its roots trace back to the Palaeolithic era, or Old Stone Age, around the 10th millennium BC. Evidence of its rich history is also found in pottery vessels dating back to the Early Neolithic period, unearthed from caves around the area.
Matera boasts of ancient cave dwellings, stunning churches, pizzas, and quaint alleyways with cobbled streets. At the centre is the high ground - the acropolis, home to the city's cathedral and administrative structures, known fondly as Civita. Scaling down cliffs and burrowing into the sheer rock faces beneath are settlements, called Sassi di Matera.
It was this feature that fetched Matera the status of a World Heritage Site in December 1993 thus bolstering tourism and leading towards the reclamation of the site, reports the Express . In 2014, it was acknowledged as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Connected by a network of paths, stairways, and courtyards, these 12 levels provide a breathtaking view at a height .
