Matera, Italy

Matera, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, features cave dwellings first occupied 9,000 years ago, carved into a canyon in Basilicata. As 2019 European Capital of Culture, it draws 20% fewer tourists than Ghent, offering a quieter experience, with a typical sassi cave hotel costing 50 euros per night—30% cheaper than the average Italian historic city.