Basilicata - Italy's Off-beat, Unspoilt And Adventurous Land
By : Rodney Ritchie    29 or more times read

The relatively small, mountainous region of Basilicata in Southern Italy has growing potential as a travel destination, with it stunning scenery, ancient rural villages and regional delicacies. It has two coastlines, one in the centre of the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea, plus a small frontage to the Thyrrenian Sea. The region is economically poor, and agricultural pursuits dominate: olives, plums, and cereals are grown, sheep and goats are raised, and there is also some fishing.

The north is forested especially around Monte Vulture, a large extinct volcano that has shaped the region’s geography – the arid and craggy Lucanian Dolomites in the Apennines are especially spectacular. Basilicatans are friendly and helpful to travellers and there is much to be seen, if you are prepared to venture off the beaten tourist track in this unspoilt part of Italy. In fact, time appears to have stood still in many of the inland villages.

Potenza
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The capital, Potenza is known for the church of San Francesco, which contains a Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna del Terremoto as well as an intricate sixteenth-century tomb. You will find that the entire province is dotted with small churches and medieval castles.

During May, many of the small towns in Basilicata take part in the Sagra del Maggio, where a large oak tree is felled and dragged into the town square. This older tree is "married" to a younger tree (often a holly) in a ceremony with much celebration. Southern Italian cuisine can be spicy and specialties include sausages and fresh game.

The village of Metaponto has extraordinary Roman ruins, and the coastal town of Maratea has crystal-clear water, uncrowded beaches and many caves and grottoes suitable for diving. You can take a walk up to the hill to the 17th-century convent of San Francesco and enjoy the panoramic view out to sea. Frederick II built a castle at Melfi, although it was only his hunting lodge, as well as the unfinished Abbazia della Trinita in Venosa, with its 13th-century cathedral.
Also worth visiting are the archaeological remains of Eraclea and Metaponto, on the Ionian coast at Grumentum, on the shores of Pietra del Pertusillo, and the ruins of a 4th-century BC acropolis, at Mount La Croccia, near Oliveto Lucano.

Matera
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This town has many religious buildings. Its main cathedral, built in the elegant and simple Romanesque style, with locally quarried white stone, is dedicated to Santa Maria della Bruna, and dates from the 13th century. Most interesting, however, are the many simple caves, each with a single altar and sometimes a fresco. There are also complex networks of caves, with large underground chambers, once used by monks for meditation.
The best-known local attraction is the World Heritage-listed Matera of the ‘Sassi’, a city carved out of the rock, where caves and underground architectures are interconnected by steps carved out of the cliffs.

Fans of the film, ‘The Passion of the Christ’ will enjoy walking the interconnected laneways that were used as the film location for the graphic sequences of Christ's last hours.

If you are planning a holiday in Italy and want to experience a part of the country that is still unspoilt and not overcrowded with tourists then Basilicata is the ideal choice for you.
Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Cottages to Castles offer a range of high quality vacation rentals in Italy including the Basilicata region. Visit Cottages to Castles at http://www.cottagestocastles.com.

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Submitted on: 2008-11-02