The Cave City That Time Almost Forgot

Why Matera, Italy Belongs on Your Bucket List

Some places make you feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard. Matera makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Tucked into the sun-bleached hills of southern Italy, Matera looks like something out of a dream. Stone dwellings are stacked atop one another, ancient caves are carved into cliffs, and alleyways twist and turn like a labyrinth. It feels otherworldly. But Matera is very real, and it just might be the most unforgettable place you’ve never heard of.

Why Matera?

I first came across Matera in a travel magazine at a used book store. One photo stopped me cold. It was a twilight shot of the Sassi, the ancient cave dwellings, glowing gold under a full moon.

The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. Matera isn’t just old, it’s ancient. But it’s quietly reinventing itself, mixing prehistoric roots with modern charm.

Most travelers head straight for Rome, Venice, or Florence. But Matera? It still flies under the radar. And that’s exactly what makes it so special.

A City Carved from Stone