Basilicata: travel guides

Adventures on the beach. Beaches, lakes and abbeys

Washed by both the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, Basilicata is a region of Southern Italy whose capital is Potenza, a beautiful city located in the high Basento valley, in the Apennine Mountains. A charming place with historic gems such as the tower of the old Lombard castle, the cathedral of San Gerardo, the National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata and the beautiful Romanesque-style churches of Santa Maria del Sepolcro and San Michele Arcangelo. Other places of interest in the province of Potenza include Maratea, with beautiful churches and A 'Gnola and Cala Jannita beaches, the latter renowned for its black sand. The towns of Monte San Biagio, Melfi and Venosa – where Horace, the Roman lyric poet, author of “carpe diem” was born – are also worth visiting. Other recommended destinations include the Pollino National Park, the beautiful Romanesque-style cathedral of Acerenza, Monticchio Bagni, Mount Vulture, San Michele Abbey and the many natural reserves in the area.

Woods and rupestrian churches

The city of Matera has a nice historic centre, ideal to walk up to the Sassi di Matera, the prehistoric houses dug into the rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its cathedral and rupestrian churches of San Pietro Barisano and Santa Lucia alle Malve and the Cripta del Peccato Originale (Crypt of the Original Sin), the church of Santa Maria di Idris, the Romanesque church of San Giovanni Battista and the convent of Sant’Agostino, are also of great historic and artistic value. In the province of Matera, other popular tourist destinations include Policoro, near the ruins of Eracla, the Greek ruins of Metaponto, Valsinni, where visitors can learn about the life of Isabella Morra, the palace of Melidoro and the Chiesa Madre (Mother Church), the precious sanctuary of Santa Maria Regina di Anglona, in Tursi, and the ghost city of Craco. Recommended summer holiday destinations include the beaches of Terzo Cavone in Scanzano Jonico, Metaponto Lido, Nova Siri and Policoro.

Camping sites in Basilicata

The province of Matera is the area preferred by camping enthusiasts and Mataponto is one of the most popular en plein air tourist destinations. It is worth mentioning that the majority of the camping sites and holiday villages in Basilicata are located either on the Tyrrhenian or the Ionian coast.