While many tourists flock to Italy’s more famous destinations, this enchanting region remains a well-kept secret and a window into the southern European country's fascinating past. From ancient cave dwellings to medieval villages frozen in time, travellers looking for something truly different can find just that in Basilicate - all while staying away from the crowds.

Joanne Lynn, head of European products at Riviera Travel, described the region as "mysteriously enchanting," with ancient towns and villages that take over the imagination. One of its crown jewels is Matera, famously known as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with prehistoric cave homes carved into limestone rock. These ancient buildings, some dating back thousands of years, have been transformed into boutique hotels, restaurants, and museums, offering tourists a chance to stay and fully appreciate what feels like living history.

Exploring Matera's narrow, winding streets and caves feels like stepping back in time, and the town’s UNESCO World Heritage status only enhances its ancient charm.

For those who prefer a more remote and mountainous adventure, Castelmezzano is not to be missed.

Located high in the Dolomiti Lucane mountains, this medieval village looks like it has been carved directly into the cliffs.

“The buildings in this medieval village look like they’re carved into the cliffs, connected by a network of steps, intricate alleys and shady passages,” said Lynn.

The village is surrounded by dramatic, untouched landscapes, making it feel like a hidden world.

Castelmezzano remains largely undiscovered by mass tourism, offering visitors a rare chance to explore a place seemingly suspended in time.

Perhaps the most striking and eerie of all Basilicata’s towns is Craco, a once-thriving medieval hub that froze in time after suffering devastating landslides in the 1960s.

Today, it stands as an open-air museum and has become the backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, including The Passion of the Christ and Quantum of Solace.

“Step into the past by visiting the medieval ghost town of Craco,” Lynn suggested.

"While it's only partially open to the public, on a guided tour, peer through the windows of the abandoned houses and you'll see tables and chairs still left in the same position as they have been for over 60 years - the entire town feels frozen in time."