Matera, the area's stone masterpiece, rises tall and proud above the surrounding greenery as a precious asset of the Basilicata region. Its famed "Sassi" buildings, each of which is one of a kind, led to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. These can be found in two distinct regions known as "Caveoso" and "Barisano," both of which provide stunning vistas and are worth exploring on account of their rich history and distinctive architecture dating back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. As part of your tour, you'll get the opportunity to explore a Cave House and a Rock Crypt carved into the rock on three distinct levels.

From Central Square, where you can get a great look at the Sassi, you may ascend to the Civita and the Cathedral, which towers above the city and experience a growing crescendo of sights and emotions along the way. The trip culminates at the center of the Sasso Caveoso, whose stunning caverns have offered venues for several film projects, including Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" and 007: No Time to Die, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond.