10 Most Scenic Villages of Italy

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8Matera

In the Basilicata, one of Italy’s driest regions, Matera stands out as a medieval “stone city” – aptly nicknamed “Sassi” (‘stones’ in Italian). It’s picturesque from afar, with a series of stone buildings carved out of the rocky mountain.

From up close, as you walk along the stone paths and stairways that connect one level to another, you may come across stone towers – they’re actually chimneys of houses that are underneath your feet! While beautiful, this is a barren city. Living conditions were poor and it was finally evacuated in 1952.