Events, food, experiences for an unforgettable trip to Italy

Basilicata

Basilicata is maybe the less known region of Southern Italy. It is bordered by Apulia, Campania and Calabria and overlooks the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian Sea.
Basilicata provinces are Potenza, which is also the Region Capital, and Matera. Main cities are also Melfi (rally del Vulture takes place there), Pisticci, Policoro and Lavello.

Matera is the most famous city of Basilicata and has been European Capital of Culture in 2019.
It is furrowed by Gravina di Matera, a deep crevasse that divides the valley in two parts. Matera is well known thanks to its Rocks, houses built in limestone rock (here comes the typical whitish colour) and they made up the heart of the old city. People lived there during centuries, from the Paleolithic to the 60s, when they were officially abandoned due to sanitary conditions. Caves, old hermitages and rock churches may be seen along the Gravina di Matera. The Cathedral and San Giovanni Battista Church is an example of Romanic architecture.
Although if it was already used more than once, the Sassi of Matera have become very famous as a movie set thanks to Mel Gibson who chose “Sassi” in 2004 as the set of his “The Passion of the Christ.“

Visiting Murgia Archelogical Historical Natural Park and the Rock Churches (8.000 hectares in the area of Matera) may offer a better knowledge of history, prehistory and nature. In the park there are some very ancient settlements like Grotta del Pipistrello (Bat’s Cave) and impressive worship places.

Potenza is the second highest Capital Region of Italy (820mt). Its historical past may be discovered in the Cathedral (XII century), Torre Guevara (which was part of the same name castle), Porte di San Giovanni, San Luca and San Gerardo, which allow the entrance inside the city walls.


UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN BASILICATA
The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera

ART TOWNS IN BASILICATA
Matera

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES OF ITALY IN BASILICATA
In the Province of Potenza:
Acerenza (the cathedral town)
Castelmezzano (the amphitheater of Dolomiti Lucane)
Guardia Perticara (the village of the stone houses)
Irsina (Secret Mantegna)
Pietrapertosa (between the rocks and the sky)
Venosa (Horace’s town)
Viggianello (the town of genisteae)

AUTHENTIC VILLAGES OF ITALY IN BASILICATA
In the Province of Matera:
Accettura
Aliano
Garaguso
Grottole
Rotondella
San Mauro Forte
Tursi

In the Province of Potenza:
Moliterno
Rotonda
Satriano di Lucania

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