Shida Kartli, monastery at Bronze Age settlement of Uplistsikhe, ancient cave city, near Gori, Georgia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia

Shida Kartli, monastery at Bronze Age settlement of Uplistsikhe, ancient cave city, near Gori, Georgia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia

Shida Kartli, monastery at Bronze Age settlement of Uplistsikhe, ancient cave city, near Gori, Georgia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia

Buddha statues, Khao Luang Cave, Petburi City, Petchaburi, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Shida Kartli, monastery at Bronze Age settlement of Uplistsikhe, ancient cave city, near Gori, Georgia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Effigies of dead people (Tau Tau) buried at Londa caves, near Rantepao city, Londa, Rantepao, Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Effigies of dead people (Tau Tau) buried at Londa caves, near Rantepao city, Londa, Rantepao, Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Coffins hung high up for more status at Londa caves, south of Rantepao city, Londa, Rantepao, Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Coffins hung high up for more status at Londa caves, south of Rantepao city, Londa, Rantepao, Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Aerial of Sassi di Matera in fog, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Wide view of the ancient cave city of Matera at sunset, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

A view of the island of Deserta Grande, in the Ilhas Desertas, near the city of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Ancient cave city of Vardzia, Georgia, Central Asia, Asia

Tourists exploring ancient cave city of Vardzia, Georgia, Central Asia, Asia

Willoughby House cave, probably a folly that was a gentlemen's drinking room in the 1700s, one of the many caves cut in the sandstone beneath the city centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Entrance to Mortimer's Hole, a medieval passageway beneath the Castle, one of the many caves cut in the sandstone beneath the city centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Mortimer's Hole, a medieval passageway beneath the Castle, one of the many caves cut in the sandstone beneath the city centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gila Cliff dwellings, Gila National Monument, Silver City, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Gila Cliff dwellings, Gila National Monument, Silver City, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Gila Cliff dwellings, Gila National Monument, Silver City, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Gila Cliff dwellings, Gila National Monument, Silver City, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Gila Cliff dwellings, Gila National Monument, Silver City, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

12/04/2009. United Kingdom, City of Gibraltar, Rock of Gibraltar, entering harbour of Gibraltar, ships, cargo ships . City Of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Gibraltar Strait . UK, United Kingdom

12/04/2009. United Kingdom, City of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Stalactites and lime scale formations on cave roof. . City Of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Gibraltar Strait . UK, United Kingdom

12/04/2009. United Kingdom, City of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Stalactites and lime scale formations on cave roof. . City Of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Gibraltar Strait . UK, United Kingdom

12/04/2009. United Kingdom, City of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Stalactites and lime scale formations on cave roof. . City Of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Gibraltar Strait . UK, United Kingdom

12/04/2009. United Kingdom, City of Gibraltar, Rock of Gibraltar, entering harbour of Gibraltar, ships, cargo ships . City Of Gibraltar, St Michalel's Cave, Gibraltar Strait . UK, United Kingdom

Inside Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Our Lady of Covadonga. The Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Marian shrine devoted to her at Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Uchisar, Cappadocia, Turkey

Medieval historic centre at dusk, Sassi di Matera, at back cathedral, cultural capital 2019, Matera, province of Basilicata, Italy, Europe

An evening view of the buildings of the old town called Sassi, panoramic view, Matera, Italy, Europe

Stairs leading to 10th century Christian Prince's basilica, Uplistsikhe cave city known as Lord's fortress, Gori, Shida Kartli district, Georgia, Asia

cufut Qale, Chufut-Kale, cave city, Jewish fortress, Crimea, Ukraine, Eastern Europe

Medieval Old Town, Sassi di Matera, UNESCO Cultural Capital 2019, Matera, Province of Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Old dwellings cut into the rocks near the historic city centre of Dubrovnik, Ragusa, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Bronze figure in Matera, Matera Province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

View across the town from the viewpoint at Piazzetta Pascoli, dusk, Sassi di Matera, cave dwellings, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Bronze figure in Matera, Matera Province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Cave houses of Sasso Caveoso at dusk, Sassi di Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

City view, Matera at night, Matera province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Bronze figures in Matera, Matera province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Cityscape, Matera, Province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Bronze figure in Matera, Matera Province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

City view, Matera at night, Matera province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

cufut Qale, Chufut-Kale, cave city, Jewish fortress, Crimea, Ukraine, Eastern Europe

City view, Matera at night, Matera province, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

cufut Qale, Chufut-Kale, cave city, Jewish fortress, Crimea, Ukraine, Eastern Europe

Cityscape, Matera, Province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Virgin Mary statue in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) Vietnam

Historic and Cultural Museum, built into a cave. Mount Suleiman-Too (Sulaimain-Too, Sulayman-Too), a UNESCO World Heritage site. City Osh in the Fergana Valley close to the border to Uzbekistan. Asia, central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Historic and Cultural Museum, built into a cave. Mount Suleiman-Too (Sulaimain-Too, Sulayman-Too), a UNESCO World Heritage site. City Osh in the Fergana Valley close to the border to Uzbekistan. Asia, central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

The Roman gate view from the interior of the site, Perge, Turkey,Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Ancient entrance gates to the cave houses in Matera into the Sassi. The Sassi di Matera are ancient cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano. Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Ancient entrance gates to the cave houses in Matera into the Sassi. The Sassi di Matera are ancient cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano. Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

A votive aedicule depicting the Madonna in one of the main streets of the Sassi in Matera. The Sassi di Matera are ancient cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano. Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Dining rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, It is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio", Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Ancient entrance gates to the cave houses in Matera into the Sassi. The Sassi di Matera are ancient cave dwellings in the Italian city of Matera, Basilicata. Situated in the old town, they are composed of the Sasso Caveoso and the later Sasso Barisano. Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Detail of the ancient pavement inside one of the rooms of the hotel Le Grotte della Civita, it is a hotel housed in ancient cave houses by the projects of "Sextantio" Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Aerial photograph of the Cave of Machpelah in the modern city of Hevron Judea, Israel

Aerial photograph of the Cave of Machpelah in the modern city of Hevron Judea, Israel

Scuba diver swims through lava arches with sun rays, Cathedrals dive site, Lanai City, Lanai, Hawaii, United States of America

Kaymakli Underground City, Kaymakli, Cappadocia, Turkey

Tunnels And Caves In The Kaymakli Underground City, Kaymakli, Turkey

Tunnels And Caves In The Kaymakli Underground City, Kaymakli, Turkey

Bell Caves At Bet Guvrin, Maresha National Park, Israel

Main square in ancient city of Sassi di Matera or the Stones of Matera originating from a prehistoric cave settlement, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cafe bar with outside seating overlooked by church and bell tower, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Interior of Schlossberg Caves in Homburg, Saarland, Germany

Tourist at castle mountain caves, Homburg, Saarland, Germany