Homes Carved from Earth: The Underground Courtyards of Matmata (2 Photos)

From the outside, you might not even realize these homes have walls. In Matmata, southern Tunisia, dwellings were traditionally excavated directly from the soft rock: first an open-air central courtyard, surrounded by rooms carved deep into the earth.





The courtyard of a former cave dwelling, now operating as Hotel Marhala.

Open to the sky, the courtyard channels light and fresh air into the living quarters, while the surrounding earth provides natural insulation against the scorching desert sun. It is a signature Berber architectural tradition of the Gabès–Matmata region, where homes are also frequently carved directly into hillsides.



Photo: Discover Tunisia.

The first photo shows the courtyard of the subterranean Hotel Marhala in Matmata, taken in May 2012. This vantage point perfectly illustrates how the structure works: doors and windows open onto the central courtyard, while the rooms themselves remain tucked beneath the rock face.