The Most Beautiful Spots in Basilicata

Basilicata is one of the few regions in southern Italy where you can experience the true, authentic Italy. It may be one of the poorer regions, but it is rich in nature, history, and culture. Discover why you’ll want to explore this region and its fascinating natural beauty.

The Lucanian Dolomites

Mountain lovers and fans of authentic villages will be in heaven in Basilicata. That’s because it’s home to the “Lucanian Dolomites.” They’re called that because they so closely resemble the famous Triveneto Dolomites in northern Italy. You’ll find many hiking trails and cultural attractions in these mountains, which are part of the Lucanian Apennines.

In this mountainous region, you’ll find the following four beautiful, authentic villages:

• Castelmezzano: named one of Italy’s 100 most beautiful villages, located near the Gallipoli Cognato Nature Park. The village, with just 800 residents, seems to cling to the mountainside. In addition to being a beautiful village, it is known for the“Volo dell’Angelo,” the “Flight of the Angel,” in which you glide on your stomach along a steel cable for 1.5 minutes between the valleys of the villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.
• Pietrapertosa: closely linked to Arab culture, with a neighborhood even named Arabata. The Path of the Seven Stones connects Pietrapertosa to Castelmezzano via a Roman bridge. It consists of seven stages, with legends from the Lucanian region carved into the rocks.
• Albano di Lucania: Rocca del Capello is a monolith about 10 meters high topped by a horizontal stone, reminiscent of a large hat. Here you’ll also find the “Devil’s Chair,” a seat carved by nature into a monolith featuring a creature with a demonic appearance.
• Campomaggiore: the smallest village in Basilicata, but with a beautiful sculpture park.

Nature Parks in Basilicata

Basilicata is home to beautiful protected nature reserves:

• the Parco della Murgia
• Pollino National Park
• the Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park
• the Apennini Lucano Val d’Agri Lagonegrese National Park and
• the Pollino National Park

Murgia Materana Park, cave dwellings, and birdwatching

The protected Parco Regionale della Murgia Materana is located on the outskirts of Matera. You can reach it from Matera or from Montescaglioso. It is about 18 km from Matera. The park features a spectacular rocky landscape with cliffs, ravines, and caves that have been inhabited since prehistoric times. The “Gravina di Matera” is a massive limestone gorge approximately 20 kilometers long that cuts through the terrain. A stream flows at the bottom of the gorge, heading south toward the Bradano River.

The park appears uninhabited but reveals natural treasures and reminders of inhabitants from a distant past. Matera lies on the eastern side of the park; on the other, uninhabited side, you’ll find bare limestone cliffs and traces of prehistoric humans, rock-cut churches, and quarries used to build the Sassi houses in Matera. The park is unique because of the centuries-old relationship between humans and nature. It features many rare, protected shrubs and flowers, but no trees. In the spring, you’ll find more than a thousand species of flowers there.

Birdwatching in the Parco Regionale della Murgia

The park is home to species such as the short-toed snake eagle, the red kite, and the Egyptian vulture. The little kestrel nests, among other places, under the roofs of abandoned houses in the Sassi of Matera. In addition to birds, you’ll also find porcupines, martens, foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs there.

Hiking in Parco Murgia

The park has 6 different hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, most of which are easy to complete with good hiking shoes. The shortest trail takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the longest takes 4.5 hours. The best starting point is the Jazzo Gattini Visitor Center.

Admission to the park is free, and you can visit it on your own. However, the best way to experience this impressive park is with a local guide. Here you’ll find more information about Parco Murgia.

The Pollino National Park

Italy’s largest protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful park is located just a few kilometers from Maratea and is characterized by breathtaking natural scenery. Pollino and Orsomarso have peaks over 2,000 meters high. It is a magnificent area for hiking and mountain biking.

The Ghost Town of Craco

Craco is an abandoned town in the province of Matera, about 40 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Taranto. The town is built on a 400-meter-high cliff. It was once inhabited by the ancient Greeks. Tombs dating back to the^8th century B.C. have been discovered there. The city experienced periods of great prosperity, but after the unification of Italy in 1861, Craco fell under the control of gangs, agricultural conditions deteriorated, and many Crachesi emigrated to America. In 1963, Craco was evacuated due to landslides caused by poor drainage and water systems. After a flood and an earthquake in the 1980s, Craco was completely abandoned. The town is a tourist attraction and is often used as a film location, such as for *The Passion of the Christ* in 2004.

Beautiful Lakes in Basilicata

Although it’s located in the south and is a somewhat drier region, Basilicata also has several beautiful lakes. Click here to see the most beautiful lakes in Italy.

The Monticchio Lakes

These are two lakes surrounded by beautiful nature. It’s best to visit them outside of peak season to experience the tranquility of nature. From the lakes, you can hike to Abbazia di San Michele, where you’ll have a stunning view of the lakes. In the spring, it’s still very quiet there, and there are no amenities. During the high season, you can rent pedal boats or take a small boat out onto the lake.

Lake Pietra del Pertusillo

This man-made lake in the province of Potenza is located in the beautiful “Parco Nazionale dell’Appennino Lucano Val d’Agri Lagonegrese” and is part of the Natura 2000 network. It is a wonderful area for hiking and biking, and many species of birds can be spotted in several places.

Lake Sirino

A beautiful lake at the foot of Monte Sirino in the Val d’Agri region. The lake is surrounded by forest and, of course, Mount Sirino. It’s a wonderful area for hiking or mountain biking. According to legend, the lake was formed by a “divine tear” from the Madonna di Sirino. The lake is surrounded by many benches from which you can admire the beautiful, serene water. Micromondo is an interactive museum about geology located near Lago Sirino.

Beautiful Waterfall in Basilicata: Cascate di San Fele

There are several routes to the waterfalls; the shortest is just a 300-meter walk, while the longest, Il Ponte, is about 4.5 kilometers.

Tricarico: An Arab-Norwegian town in Basilicata

Tricarico is a relatively unknown but very interesting little town in the heart of Basilicata. It is easily accessible via the highway. The town offers a mix of old Arab neighborhoods with narrow alleys and Norman ruins, such as the tower. During the Renaissance, Tricarico experienced a flourishing artistic period, as evidenced by the^16th-century frescoes in the cathedral.

Lunar Landscape of the Calanchi di Montalbano Jonico

Less than an hour’s drive from Matera, you’ll find this unique lunar landscape. In reality, this reserve is a seabed dating back about 1.8 million years. These are clay hills that are still rich in marine fossils. You can explore the clay hills along mule trails.

Melfi and Melfi Castle

An enchanting, predominantly medieval village with a long and fascinating history. The surrounding area is mainly industrial, with factories, but the historic center stands in stark contrast to this. Melfi Castle, which houses the National Archaeological Museum, has eight towers and was built in the 12th century by the Normans.

The world’s longest Tibetan bridge: the Tibetan Bridge of Castelsaraceno

This bridge, which spans the two parks—Pollino National Park and the Lucanian Apennines—is a whopping 586 meters long. Castelsaraceno is one of the most picturesque villages in Basilicata. The bridge offers a spectacular experience surrounded by nature. If you’re planning a nature-focused vacation in Basilicata, this is a must-do! Halfway between Maratea on the coast and Matera, you’ll find breathtaking views of Basilicata’s wild and unspoiled landscape. The bridge is open every day and remains stable in virtually all weather conditions thanks to its ingenious engineering design (from June through September).

Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

We’re all familiar with the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sassi di Matera,” of course, from the James Bond movie and *The Passion of the Christ*. You can visit the cave dwelling on Vico Solitario, which still features its original furnishings, but it’s a very popular spot during the summer months, so you may have to wait in line. Visiting with a guide is much faster and easier.

The Palombaro Lungo is a massive underground water reservoir that you can visit. Matera also has several very picturesque churches that are well worth a visit.

Maratea, a beautiful seaside town near a nature park

The “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea” is easily accessible by train. In addition to its historic center, you’ll find beautiful beaches, a fantastic sea, and hiking trails with stunning views. And let’s not forget the enormous statue of Christ that dominates the entire bay of Policastro. The statue is visible from every corner of the coast; after the statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this is the second-largest statue of Christ in the world. The Pollino National Park is located just a few kilometers from Maratea.

The Most Beautiful Hiking Trails in Basilicata

• The Path of the Seven Stones from Castelmezzano to Pietrapertosa. It’s the leisurely alternative to the “Flight of the Angel.” It’s a route of about 2 kilometers that passes by the Witches’ Cave, crosses the Roman bridge, and winds through a cool forest to Pietrapertosa. It consists of 7 stages along the cliffs of the Lucanian Dolomites.
• The Pisticci Fossil Trail. A route of about 2 kilometers along the remnants of a long “marine past.”
• Hike to Monte Sacro in Viggiano. This route leads to the shrine of the Black Madonna on the sacred mountain of Viggiano. In May, believers undertake this route as a pilgrimage, carrying the statue of the Black Madonna to Monte Sacro; in September, the statue is brought back to Viggiano. You can complete this 8-kilometer journey on foot, but you can also reach Piana di Bonocore by bike or car. From there, the most beautiful part of the journey—a 40-minute walk—is accessible only on foot. There’s a stunning view of Basilicata from the summit.
• In the Lucano Val’dAgri Lagonegrese National Park in the Apennines: a 5-kilometer hike in the Abetina di Laurenzana. An easily accessible trail from Acqua della Pietra to Acqua del Porosciutto, winding through centuries-old silver firs.

Basilicata by Bike

You might not expect it, but Basilicata is also known as a cycling destination. With a 114-kilometer cycling route connecting Matera to the peaks of the Lucanian Dolomites, Basilicata’s breathtaking landscapes are wonderful to explore by bike, especially for cyclists who enjoy a challenge. In 2021, the region was awarded an Italian Green Road Award for the route, which winds through nature reserves and hilltop villages, featuring sights along the way such as the Vulture Melfese region, the fascinating archaeological remains of the Murgia Materana National Park, the regional capital Potenza, the vast Val D’Agri National Park, and the church-filled coastal town of Maratea, known as “the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea.”

When is the best time to visit Basilicata?

The best times to visit Basilicata and the Murgia Park are in the spring and fall. In the summer, it’s hot there, and Matera gets crowded. Starting in October, the region enters its rainy season, but the weather can remain pleasant well into November—especially for hiking.

Our recommendation for a place to stay in Basilicata

• Tenuta Donna Maria: an authentic agriturismo located a short distance from Matera, near the San Giuliano Nature Reserve, featuring rooms and apartments, a restaurant, a sauna, and a jacuzzi.

Highlights of Basilicata on a map