Sunrise is always the best time to explore a city and Matera — in the southern Italian region of Basilicata — is no exception. I took this shot from the Piazzetta Pascoli, a square full of boutique restaurants and gelaterie. Just to the left of the 17th-century Palazzo Lanfranchi, a balcony opens up to the city’s most beautiful viewpoint. While throughout the day it’s busy with tourists, in the morning I had the place all to myself. As the sun rose over the rooftops, I captured the caves and stone houses bathed in the morning light before heading down to explore the streets of the ancient city, one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2019. ANNAPURNA MELLOR // PHOTOGRAPHER