The Sassi of Matera, the Christ the Redeemer of Maratea, the city of Potenza, the Lucanian Dolomites are just some of the attractions that Basilicata offers to those who decide to visit it.
Basilicata is a land that has been very undervalued, on the tourism side, for many years. And perhaps this is his great fortune: a trip to Basilicata will allow you to see still unspoiled places, sleepy and silent villages, enchanting beaches. A place to relax 100% and rediscover ancestral uses, customs and landscapes.
What is there to see in Basilicata? It is incredible how such a small region can have such an incredible variety of landscapes: here you will find mountains that cross the entire region up to the Pollino, unspoiled nature, immense expanses of land, national parks, fairy woods, beaches and landscapes that seem lunar.
Local art, cuisine and folklore are rich in different influences, due to the numerous dominations that this region has endured: from the Greeks, to the Normans up to the Aragonese. But what is most striking about Basilicata is the beauty of its luxuriant, luxuriant and in some areas truly uncontaminated nature. The small villages on the hills seem perfectly in tune with the landscape, so much so that at times it feels like looking at a painting. It may be for the lights, it may be because people here are hospitable and overwhelming, but you fall in love with Basilicata.
What to visit in Basilicata: 5 places not to be missed
1) The Sassi of Matera
Thousands of huts superimposed on each other create a labyrinth of narrow streets and stairways carved into the rock. Two districts, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, dug into the rock of the Murgia of Matera inhabited by prehistoric times. The huts among monasteries, rock churches, frescoes and baroque palaces, give life to one of the masterpieces of this fantastic land. Elected in 2019 European Capital of Culture, it offers a landscape rich in Paleolithic testimonies. Definitely suggestive to see at least once in a lifetime.
2) The village of Venosa
Homeland of the poet Orazio Flacco, it is a real deposit of history starting from the house that is said to have belonged to the Latin poet. The archaeological area is one of the most precious remains of the Roman age, with the baths embellished with an imposing mosaic floor, the amphitheater and the basilica. Also worth visiting is the Jewish necropolis, the Aragonese Castle, which houses the Archaeological Museum, and the Complex of the Holy Trinity, with the tombs of illustrious Norman nobles.
3) Maratea
Erroneously, many believe that Maratea is in Calabria. Well no! Maratea is the only town in Basilicata to which a stretch of coast overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea belongs. Now, no doubt it would be interesting to go there when the warm season arrives. In fact, the coast of Maratea is truly wonderful: the sandy beaches alternate with stretches of rocky coast, where the waters are deep and transparent. The ideal would be to take a canoe or pedal boat ride to explore the caves.
4) Il santuario della madonna del Pollino
The Pollino National Park is the largest natural park in Italy and an unmissable stop on this journey to discover what to see in Basilicata. As a matter of fact, Lucania shares it with Calabria. Being very large, it is clear that there are numerous locations, peaks, trails.
But we suggest you tackle a few curves to reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pollino, which is located in San Severino Lucano.
5) Craco: the ghost town
Surrounded by gullies and centuries-old olive trees, Craco is an abandoned town on a hill. Also called “ghost town”, it was abandoned as early as the 1960s due to continuous landslides and tremors that forced the inhabitants to leave the village. A surreal and mysterious landscape, which attracts travelers and directors in search of suggestive sets, from Neorealism to Mel Gibson. Thanks to the guided tours, it is possible to safely explore the old streets and learn all the secrets of the constructions made entirely of tuff, such as the Norman tower and the 13th century castle.
