People all over the world live in caves

People all over the world have lived in cave dwellings for millennia, and do to this day - in China, the American Southwest, France, Spain, Turkey, and Iran (to name just a few).

And it is no wonder, since caves are cool in the summer, warm in the winter, offer great protection from the elements and have fewer building-material expenses. There are challenges too - lack of light and damp air - but these have been largely solved in the modern troglodyte lifestyle.

Here is our underground roundup of a few cave homes available for sale - plus several caves where you can simply rent a room for the night

Huescar, Spain
Dating back to before the 15th century, cave homes have been delicately dug into hillsides of southern Spain, carved out of hard clay and earth. And they are being rediscovered and refurbished in a booming Spanish cave market.

Updated 21st century Andalusian cave houses are equipped with all the comforts of the modern home, and some can be had for bargain prices. Near the city of Granada, for example, is this three-bedroom cave home with a large front garden and a stunning view of the surrounding mountains.

The owners are still finishing the renovations on this historic cave, so the asking price of 92,500 euro (or $122,951 at current rates) is rock bottom.

The spacious living room in the front area of the home – built beyond the hillside cave out of clay and earth walls -- has an open fireplace, and there are Spanish tile floors throughout the home. The cave walls are whitewashed to reflect light throughout the interior space. In addition to doors and windows, holes and reflective ducting brighten the indoors.

An external staircase leads to a complete apartment with a kitchen, bedroom and bath separate from the cave house.

Cave Palace Ranch in Utah is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 4,995-square-foot cave home set on 110 acres in Montezuma Canyon and listed for $675,000. The home was built into a red rock cave system rich in Anasazi history. The Anasazi were the ancient Pueblo people who inhabited the Four Corners region of the U.S. and are renowned for the apartment-like complexes they built in caves and carved into the sides of canyon walls. This home is built in the ancient tradition and makes for a unique and comfortable living space.

Inside, an open floor plan with high ceilings and oversized windows allow maximum interior light. As with many cave homes, the acoustics are naturally spectacular for amateur and professional musicians alike.

The home uses solar power, well water and propane and is extremely energy efficient. It’s a nature lover’s dream site, but you better like solitude – your nearest neighbor is three-quarters of a mile away.

This cave home, in a canyon in the Mule Mountains just outside the historic mining town of Bisbee, Ariz., is listed for $1.5 million. The area is a magnet for birdwatching enthusiasts, with more than 79 species in the area as well as 113 species of butterflies and a whole host of other native critters – all of whom you can admire from the grand opening of this unique cave dwelling.

This Arizona cave home is listed at $1.5 million. Photo: Mark Cline Homes That Are Built Inside Caves By Melissa Friedling, MainStreet Apr 6, 2011 Provided by: tweet199 Send