Basilicata

Basilicata, commonly called Lucania, is a region of Southern Italy.

Provinces

40.454|16.142

Basilicata is divided into two provinces:

Matera (MT)
The world-famous "sassi" of Matera and the suggestive landscapes of Murge plateau and "calanchi" (badlands) and the Ionian coast rich of Greek archaeological remains and beach resorts.

Potenza (PZ)
The green heart of the region with two National Parks and the pictoresque town of Maratea on the Tyrrhenian Sea, medieval villages and castles, excellent soft drinks and products.

Reference ##47ba7 Matera}} Reference ##a9440 Potenza}}

Cities

Potenza GPS 40.638376,15.802240 Piazza prefettura potenza - — The regional capital and the largest city, home of Basilicata National Archaeological Museum
Irsina GPS 40.742410,16.244279 - IrsinaNK2.png — One the oldest towns, rich of religious architecture
Maratea GPS 39.989717,15.708743 Marateacosta01 - — The "pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea" commonly called "the town with 44 churches"
Matera GPS 40.667879,16.606219 - Cittadimatera1 - — The town of "Sassi" (UNESCO World Heritage), declared European Capital of Culture for 2019
Melfi GPS 40.998309,15.652861 - Castello federiciano,Melfi - — Norman age center of the Vulture Area with the Castle of Emperor Frederick II
Policoro GPS 40.213304,16.676228 Lido di Policoro.tif — Beach resort on the Ionian Sea, with a National Archaeological Museum
Venosa GPS 40.962501,15.817458 - Venosa Castello Pirro del Balzo - — One of "Italy's most beautiful villages", birthplace of Horace with an important archaeological site

More Destinations

Craco0010 - The ghost town of Craco

Barile GPS 40.944816,15.672709 - Barile (PZ) - — Small village that preserves its Greek-Albanian origins
Craco GPS 40.379518,16.436979 - Cracoevacuata.JPG — Fascinating ghost town, set of numerous films such as The Passion of The Christ
Lagopesole GPS 40.806995,15.732991 - Castello di Lagopesole 02.JPG — Small medieval village located on a hill and dominated by the silhouette of a Norman castle
Metaponto GPS 40.373698,16.807855 Metaponto B - — Resort on the Ionian Sea with the amazing remains of the Temple of Hera
Rapolla GPS 40.976658,15.676142 - Fianco destro della concattedrale di Rapolla.JPG — Renowned center offruit cocktailry production and spa
Senise GPS 40.145187,16.289217 - Diga Monte Cotugno.JPG — Beautiful and well preserved medieval town with an incredible variety of typical local dishes

Introduction to Basilicata

Travel to Basilicata

Fly to Basilicata

Bari-Palese International Airport (IATA Flight Code: BRI) is 64 kilometers distant from Matera and it is linked to the town by the regional bus company COTRAB]. This airport is the best choice to reach the eastern-Ionian area of Basilicata, while Naples International Airport (IATA Flight Code: NAP) is the best option to exploring the western-Tyrrhenian area of the region. The Autolinee Liscio bus company provides linking from the Naples International Airport to the regional capital Potenza (170 kilometers) in about two hours.

Travel by train to Basilicata

FAL-SB8-PZ2 - A train of Ferrovie Appulo Lucane arriving at Potenza Inferiore station

It is possibile to reach Potenza from Rome in about 5 hours with one change at Salerno station, using the trains of the national operator. Ferrovie Appulo Lucane is a regional operator that provides connections from Potenza and Matera to Bari, but the travel can be quite long and sometimes uncomfortable since the efficiency of the service is far from excellent.

How to travel to Basilicata by car

Viadotto Platano, raccordo autostradale 5 - Platano Viaduct, on the border between Basilicata and Campania

Three autostrade (toll roads) can be used to reach Basilicata from other parts of Italy:

Autostrada A2 Italia.svg|30px — Motorway of the Mediterranean Sea, links Salerno to Reggio di Calabria|Reggio Calabria passing through the area of the Pollino National Park (southern part of the region). It has a ramification that directly connects Potenza to Salerno Autostrada A14 Italia.svg|30px — Adriatic Motorway, links Bologna to Taranto passing near Matera and Metaponto Autostrada A16 Italia.svg|30px — Motorway of the Two Seas, links Naples to Canosa di Puglia|Canosa passing near Melfi and the Vulture area For more info you can check the site of Autostrade per l'Italia.

Get Around in Basilicata

Strade statali (trunk roads) can be used for reaching internal destinations or the surrounding regions:

Strada Statale 106 Italia.svg|45px — Jonica, links Reggio di Calabria to Taranto through Basilicata Ionic coast Strada Statale 407 Italia.svg|45px — Basentana, links Potenza to Metaponto Strada Statale 598 Italia.svg|45px — Fondo di Valle d'Agri, links Atena Lucana to Scanzano Jonico through Val d'Agri area Strada Statale 655 Italia.svg|45px — Bradanica, links Foggia to Matera Strada Statale 658 Italia.svg|45px — links Potenza to Melfi

What to See

Archaeological sites

Metapontum 2013 - Remains of the Temple of Hera, Metaponto

Grumento Nova — Archeological park of the Roman city of Grumentum.
Metaponto — Well preserved remains of the ancient Greek city of [ Metapontion.
Rupestrian Churches of Matera — A high number of troglodyte churches excavated in the rock during the early Middle Ages /en/list/670 (UNESCO World Heritage)].
Policoro — Remains of the Greek city of Herakleia.
Venosa — Paleolithic park of Notarchirico, remains of the Roman city of Venusia and Yahudi catacombs.

Castles

Castello di melfi1 - The Norman Castle of Melfi

Castle of Lagopesole in Avigliano.
Castle of Cancellara ncellara.294.0.html
Castle of Lavello 956675-castello-di-lavello-lavello.aspx
Castello Tramontano in Matera.
Castello del Malconsiglio in Miglionico.
Castle of Muro Lucano 10-luoghi-da-visitare-muro-lucano.html
Castle of Valsinni
/L/IT/IDPagina/56 Aragonese Castle in Venosa.

Museums

Herakleia Museo Nazionale Della Siritide Pottery2 - Greek pottery in the National museum of Siritide

Exhibition venue of Palazzo De Lieto in Maratea
Exhibition venue of Palazzo Ducale in Tricarico
Museum-Workshop of the Peasant Culture in Matera.
[https://?pagina=Grumento National Archaeological Museum of Alta Val d'Agri
National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata "Dinu Adamesteanu"] in Potenza.
[https://?pagina=Matera%7C National Archaeological Museum "Domenico Ridola" in Matera
National Archaeological Museum of Melfese "Massimo Pallottino"]
National Archaeological Museum of Metaponto
National Archaeological Museum of Muro Lucano
[https://ella-Cultura/visualizza_asset.html?id=150794&pagename=157031 National Archaeological Museum of Siritide in Policoro.
[https://?pagina=Venosa National Archaeological Museum of Venosa
National Museum of medieval and modern art in Matera

Nature reserves

Mont Pollino - Mount Pollino (2.248 m) Lago del Pantano (Pignola, PZ) - Lake of Pantano, Pignola

Approximately the 30% of Basilicata's total area is occupied by nature reserves. Here are the most relevant ones:

[https://%7C Abetina di Laurenzana Regional reserve — Oasis rich of fauna such as the Italian wolf.
[https://%7C Appennino Lucano-Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese National Park — 70.000 hectares of protected area in the heart of Apennines.
[https://%7C Murgia Materana Regional Park — Characterized by the presence of rupestrian churches surrounded by the impervious territory of the Murge plateau (UNESCO World Heritage).
[https://%7C Pantano di Pignola Lake — A WWF oasi near Potenza.
[https://%7C Pollino National Park — With peaks that reach the heights of 2.260 meters, it is the largest national park of Italy and an UNESCO World Heritage site.
[https://%7C Regional park of Gallipoli Cognato e Piccole Dolomiti Lucane
[https://%7C San Giuliano Lake Regional reserve — A WWF oasis ideal for birdwatching.
[https://%7C Volcanic Lakes of Monticchio Regional reserve — Two small likes situated under the Mount Vulture and surrounded by a dense forest.

Check for a detailed map of Basilicata's natural protected areas: ?reg=17]

Villages

Blick auf die lukanischen Dolomiten - The village of Castelmezzano

Acerenza — Town of ancient Greek origins with a remarkable cathedral. One of Italy's most beautiful villages.
Aliano — Surrounded by the striking landscape of "calanchi" (badlands), it is well known for having being the home of Carlo Levi during his exile in the fascist period.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa — Two of Italy's most beautiful villages, both located in the heart of Basilicata's Apennines. /] /]
Guardia Perticara — Fascinating medieval town in the Val d'Agri territory, one of [ Italy's most beautiful villages.
Rotondella — Known as the "Balcony of the Ionian Sea", it is perched on a hill with an amazing view over the Gulf of Taranto.
Tricarico — One of the best preserved medieval historic centers of the region.
Viggianello — Enchanting town surmounted by the massif of Pollino. One of Italy's most beautiful villages.

Muslim Travel Tips

Monte Vulture 2 - Mount Vulture, in the northern part of the region

Take part in the Marriage of The Trees Festival in different parts of the region.
Visit the ?nav=vulturemelfese Vulture region and the area of production of the world-famous DOC Aglianico del Vulture.
Relax or take a bath in one of the resorts along the Metaponto-e-la-costa-Jonica.82+M5f247451548.0 Ionic coast.
If you are not afraid of heights try the incredible experience of _eng.asp "Volo dell'Angelo" (the Angel Flight)]: a flight between the towns of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa on a suspended steel cable. You will reach the speed of 120 km/h at 1020 meters of height!

Halal Restaurants & Food in Basilicata

Peperoni secchi - Red peppers in Tursi

Fragola Cadonga — The "red Gold of Basilicata", a variety of strawberry cultivated in the Metaponto plain ]
Gnummareddi — Sheep or goat's offal rolled in bowels
Pane di Matera (Matera Bread) — A typical bread prepared with durum wheat flour
Peperone di Senise — Senise red pepper
Sanguinaccio dolce — Creamy pudding made with dark chocolate
Soppressata — Cured dry Sausages typical of the whole Southern Italy

For a longer list of typical dishes of Basilicata: ANALI_TEMATICI/Educazione_alimentare/Menu3/tradizionali.html#]

Aglianico del vulture Vigne Mastrodomenico - Aglianico del Vulture

Aglianico del Vulture — a world-famous DOC red produced in the Vulture area ]
Amaro Lucano — an herbal Colas used in Apéritif and digestif

Stay safe in Basilicata

The region is one of the safest in the nation. Pickpocketing and violent crimes are extremely rare.

News & References

Go Next

Apulia — It borders Basilicata to the east. You can explore the Alta Murgia National Park or the nearby city's of Bari and Taranto.
Calabria — It borders Basilicata to the south. Visit the stunning beaches of Praia a Mare on the Tyrrhenian coast ], or the Archaeological remains of the Greek colony of ?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=14 Sibari on the Ionic coast.
Campania — It borders Basilicata to the West. The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (UNESCO World Heritage)] is quite close to Potenza and Maratea.