Basilicata: cave churches, ancient cities and mountain landscapes

The UNESCO World Heritage Site The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera is located in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. It comprises houses, churches, monasteries and hermitages built into the natural caves of the Murgia.

The direct destinations of Basilicata are Matera and Potenza.

Culture

The Venosa Archaeological Park preserves the monumental remains of ancient Venusia, founded in 291 BC. Its visitor trail covers more than a millennium of history, from the Republican era to the Middle Ages.

The Venosa Archaeological Park includes a Roman thermal complex built in the 1st century AD and renovated until the beginning of the 4th century AD.

The Metaponto Archaeological Park preserves the monumental remains of a city founded by the Achaeans in the second half of the 7th century BC and is one of the important archaeological sites of Magna Graecia. Its sanctuary area contains the remains of altars, small sanctuaries and important temples from the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The theatre is considered unique in Magna Graecia because it was built on an artificial embankment.

The „Massimo Pallottino“ National Archaeological Museum presents a topographically and chronologically structured tour through the history of the area, from the first traces of settlement in the Archaic period to the modern age. The museum is accessible for wheelchair users via a ramp, a lift and internal ramps. The Venosa Archaeological Park also offers a digital aid with interactive maps, audio content and information on the most important monuments to help visitors find their way around and explore the history of the site in greater depth.

Nature

The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera extends across the Murgia, a limestone plateau with deep ravines, rocks, caves, rock churches, shepherds’ paths lined with wells and fortified farmsteads.

Pollino National Park lies between Basilicata and Calabria and covers almost 200,000 hectares. Its peaks reach 2,200 metres above sea level; the natural area includes dolomite rock, rock faces, cliffs, deep ravines, plateaus, meadows and high-altitude pastures.

The Basilicata Coast-to-Coast Route leads from the rocky Tyrrhenian coast to the dunes of the Ionian coast.

In the vicinity of Basilicata is Monte Costa la Rossa, a mountain. Monte dell'Impiso, a mountain, and Monte Malerba, a mountain, are also nearby. Torre dell'Acquedotto - punto di osservazione, a viewpoint, is located in the area around Basilicata.

Experiences

The Lao is considered a preferred destination for rafting and canoeing because of its clear water and long gorge section. During the Volo dell'Angelo, visitors are secured with a special harness and attached to a steel cable to experience a flight over the landscape.

Tempa del Monte, an ancient site, is located in the vicinity of Basilicata. Pantaleno is also an ancient site near Basilicata. Tempa della Ginestra is likewise located there as an ancient site. Platola is also in the vicinity of Basilicata and is an ancient site.

Food and drink

The Basilicata Enotour offers walks through vineyards and the opportunity to learn about the history and wines of Basilicata in conjunction with the welcoming wineries of Movimento Turismo del Vino.

At the August festival Le giornate del Peperone di Senise. U Strittul ru Zafaran, visitors can sample Peperoni cruschi prepared in various culinary ways.

Routes

FrecciaLink connects Salerno and Matera with a single train-and-bus ticket; along the way, there are intermediate stops at Potenza Centrale and Ferrandina-Scalo Matera.

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More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Sicily, South Tyrol, Marche, Umbria, Lombardy, Piedmont.