Italy is full of beautiful cities, but visitors to the southern European country only ever seem to visit its most popular areas, namely Rome, Florence and Pisa.  But, found in the Basilicata region of southern Italy lies Matera - which has been described as one of the most authentic cities to visit. The city is full of unusual places to discover, and they say that Rome was not built in a day - but neither was Matera.

It is potentially one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world, having had continuous occupation since the Paleolithic - or Old Stone Age - in 10,000 BC. Indeed, pottery vessels dating back to the Early Neolithic period found in caves in the area.