8Matera, Basilicata

In the past few years, the mysterious village of Matera in off-the-beaten-path Basilicata has undergone a bit of a renaissance.

But these fascinating structures are now being renovated and transformed into boutique hotels like Sextantio Le Grotte della Civiltà, where the original stone walls are accentuated by rustic furniture and candlelight and you can dine in a 13th-century church carved into the hillside.

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