
Matera, Italy —
Matera, in Italy's deepest south, has been picked as the 2019 European Capital of Culture.

Grotte della Civita —
Grotte della Civita in Matera is a resort created from caves that were a refuge for monks, nuns and hermits fleeing persecution in the Middle Ages

Spiritual retreat —
The basic but upscale rooms at Grotte della Civita are ideal for anyone looking to do some soul searching.

Movie set —
Matera's ancient religious structures were used as backdrops in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

'Troglodyte' outcasts —
For centuries, Matera's 156 rock crypts and maze of grottoes were home to "troglodyte" outcasts living in inhuman conditions.

Murgia Park —
Matera overlooks the deep gorge of Murgia Park, cut by a dark river and overlooked by holes carved into the mountain on the other side.

Eremito Hotelito del Alma —
Eremito Hotelito del Alma is a "modern ashram" built by former jeans designer Marcello Murzilli. It's set in a 3,000-hectare park in Umbria.

La Palazzetta del Vescovo —
A summer residence in the 1700s, La Palazzetta del Vescovo, close to Perugia, is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.