Basilicata, a region in southern Italy, bordering Campania, Apulia and Calabria. It’s also called Lucania, probably after the ancient people Lucani that emigrated from Anatolia. The territory mainly consists of mountains and hills, only 8% are plains.
It’s one of Italy’s poorest regions, neglected for years and without investments. Only recently occurred changes and Basilicata abandoned backwardness, mainly in the broadly understood infrastructure. However, it should be appreciated, as there are many evidences of ancient culture in this region. The famous Roman poet and philosopher, Oratio, was born in Venosa, a charming city in the province of Potenza. In his Odes praised the vite and wine (that he never denied himself). Above all, he was delighted by the local wine made already by the inhabitants of Venosa and its surroundings.
Another famous city of Basilicata is Matera which was appointed the European City of Culture 2019. This historic city inscribed on the Unesco’s World Heritage List attracts tourists from all over the world. There is no other place where you can see the city carved in the rock, where people lived from ancient times. The last dwellers of these cave apartments were compelled to leave their modest dwellings only in the 1950s. This city was a kind of remorse of modern Italy. Today Matera delights, it can be described, it must be seen. Carlo Levi wrote the book Christ stopped at Eboli adapted into a film about Matera. It’s worth watching, sad and suggestive, but fully depicting nostalgia of this city.
If you are a lover of archeology, you don’t necessarily have to go to Rome or Pompei, you can visit Basilicata. The surroundings of Melfi, Lavelo and Venosa have numerous evidence of ancient human activity. Especially worth visiting is a castle in Melfi, boasting an archeological museum.
The famous wine of this small region with only 5000 ha of vineyards is, above all, an excellent red, Aglianico del Vulture. There are four DOCs: Aglianico del Vulture, Matera, Terre dell’Alta Val’d’Agri, Grottina di Roccanova and one DOCG: Aglianico del Vulture Superiore.
The extinct volcano, Vulture, in the province of Potenza along with 15 towns forms a kind of volcanic massif. The volcano craters were filled with water, this way were formed Lakes Monticchio. The local mineral waters are clear and gently sparkling. A mineral water labelled „Gaudainello” is considered one of the finest in Italy. The surroundings of the volcano are planted with vineyards alternating with olive groves and chestnuts. The vineyard sites situated high between 200 and 650 meters above sea level and fertile soils (of volcanic origin) provide perfect conditions for Aglianico. The grapes ripen late, the harvest lasts from mid-October until November. The best cru is the zone of San Saviano between Rionero in Vulture and Ripacandida and the surroundings of the towns: Barile, Macarico, Gorizza, Venosa and Maschito. It’s said that great brother of Aglianico, Barolo from Piedmont, took his hat off to its cousin, is other recommendation necessary?
Basilicata, rarely visited by tourists, means above all wonderful people, hospitable, warm and open-minded. The small, local restaurants, serving beautifully plain and delicious dishes, give the idea how does Italian cuisine taste in a non-commercial atmosphere. Delicious cured meats, cheeses and a lot of vegetables accompanied with excellent extra virgin olive oil will be suitable for a feast. This is not a place for everybody, because to return to Lucania, it’s necessary to take its simplicity and modesty as it is.
