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Basilicata
Located in the south of Italy, the region of Basilicata is divided into two provinces, Matera and Potenza, with the latter being the regional capital.
One of the most rugged regions in the country, the mountainous peak is famous, with the highest point being Monte Pollino in the Apennines. Its rivers Bradano, Basento, Cavone, Agri and Sinni travel towards the Gulf of Taranto. Charming lakes in the create of the Vulture and Lake Sirino area in the Sirino mountains abound.
With the two bodies of water to hug the region’s coasts there are distinctive landscapes that result when comparing the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts. The Ionian seaside has sandy beaches with small resorts like Lido di Metaponto and its famed archeological ruins, the Marina di Pisticci, Lido di Scanzano while the rockier coasts at the Lido di Policoro, where Maratea, with its charming outlying hamlets, is one of the most beautiful resorts of the south Tyrrhenian Sea.
In the capital of Potenza, visitors are enjoined to go to the Rivello at the Noce River Valley, to the Lagonegro at the foot of Mount Sirino, the Castles of Lagopesole, with the town of Melfi’s Norman castle, among others.
While the province of Matera houses such Rennaisance and medieval wonders like the Abbey of San Angelo at Montescaglioso, Norman castle at Miglionico, crypts at the San Franciscan monastery at Irsina, the pure white homes in Pisticci.
A typical regional table will carry a host of delicious robust dishes such as tortiglioni pasta (tomatoe puree, rucola, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese) lagane and ceci (wholemeal flour, chick peas, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, salt) a simple rustic lamb dish called agnello alla contadina (lamb, potatoes, onion, parsley, garlic, origano, rosemary, olive oil, salt) with meals put to a close with walnut liqueur.
