Matera on a rocky outcrop in the region of Basilicata, in southern Italy. It includes the Sassi area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside.

Provinces of Basilicata

Guide to Property for Sale in Basilicata

Basilicata is still relatively undiscovered, and offers Italian beachfront villas and properties in medieval villages, providing affordable homes in Italy. The rich culture, Mediterranean cuisine and a beautiful coastline, with some of the cleanest beaches in Italy, make Basilicata well worth exploring.

Basilicata is located between Calabria and Puglia, in the southern part of Italy, "the instep" of the peninsular. The region is bathed by two seas: the Ionian to the east and the Tyrrhenian on the west. 

Matera, the stone town (Città dei Sassi), is a unique place that is an UNESCO World Heritage site and is well worth a visit.

Overview of Basilicata

Basilicata Landscape

Two national parks and two regional parks cover approximately 30% of Basilicata. Pollino National  Park is Italy’s largest park. The woods and forests that cover the mountains are dotted with charming  villages up to 1,000 meters above sea level.

Basilicata include the volcanic Monte Vulture and the seismic faults in the Melfi and Potenza areas in the north and around Pollino in the south.

Beautiful, and yet still little explored, are the Lakes of Monticchio, one of the most spectacular areas of Basilicata. The lakes: Lago Grande and Lago Piccolo have formed in two craters of the now extinct volcano Monte Vulture, and are surrounded by dense and luxuriant vegetation.

Towns in Basilicata

Matera Basilicata

Matera, the stone town (Città dei Sassi), is a unique place that is an UNESCO World Heritage site, along with its many rock churches. A walk along the streets of the Civita, the oldest part of the town, allows you to penetrate the ancient town, formed by a dense network of caves, carved into the rock by shepherds to give shelter to their family and beasts. The archaic architecture has become an attraction for millions of visitors from all over the world.

Maratea is known "the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian"  because of its beautiful scenery and coastline it has been called. The area around the town includes little beaches, a marina and a hill crowned by a giant statue of Christ.

Aliano is probably most famous for being the inspiration for the fictional town of Gagliano in Carlo Levi's book Christ Stopped at Eboli (Italian: Cristo si è fermato a Eboli).

Melfi at the foot of Mount Vulture, is an important town both as a tourist resort and economic centre.

Potenza, the regional capital,  has a wonderful cathedral, Duomo di San Gerardo, which houses the rose window and the apse from the original 12th-century structure.

Sports and Leisure in Basilicata

Matera Coastline Basilicata

Basilicata's extensive coastline allows for sailing, wind surfing and scuba diving.

The region is perfect for hiking, climbing, mountain-biking, skiing and rafting within the rugged, breathtaking landscapes of the parks.

There are many wonderful places to explore on horseback or simply on foot, along one of the many paths across the mountains.

Skiing

La Sellata-Pierfaone, 24 km from Potenza, has a stunning location and well-equipped skiing centres. The resort has ten slopes which offer 8km of runs at an altitude ranging between 1350 and 1740 metres,

Sirino is located in Lagonegro in the north of the region, 112km from Potenza. The mountain of Sirino-Papa Massif stands at 2005m and Mount Sirino at 1900m. The resort offers alpine and cross-country ski slopes for all levels of experience.

Volturino-Viggiano is 88km from Potenza in Val d’Agri and has seven runs in total, at an altitude ranging between 1400 and 1865 metres.

Pollino National Park is perfect for cross-country skiing.  

Water Sports

Mountain torrents, streams and lakes are perfect for white water rafting and canoeing.

Food and Wines of Basilicata

The typical cuisine of Basilicata is entirely based on local products, skillfully combined in typical dishes of ancient tradition.

The protagonist is the durum wheat pasta to create certain types of pasta. Typical are the 'lagane' - small rough shaped lasagne, or the rolled 'miniuch' similar to spaghetti.

Panella - large forms of bread with a mixture of flour and boiled potatoes - and the pancotto - slices of toasted bread softened in broth and enriched with eggs - are two typical dishes based on bread, another recurring ingredient in local cuisine.

Many traditional dishes are based on lamb meat, such as cazmarr, and the cutturiddi, a kind of stew.

Another well know dish is Lucanica, a sausage of lean pork, prepared in many variations, without the use of additives.

Vegetables are essential for the gastronomy of Basilicata.  Combined with chilli they offer a wide variety of tasty dishes such as ciammotta (fried potatoes, peppers and aubergines topped with tomato) and the cialledda with (broad beans, potatoes and artichokes)

A superb vegetarian dish is the 'lucana herb dish', onions, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, basil and parsley cooked together and seasoned with olive oil.

The food of Basilicata gets its taste from its strong spicy ingredients. It is rich in flavours of wild herbs, tomatoes and olives. Red peppers are popular, as our matured sheep and goat cheese.

Desserts are simple but delicious based on grain, nuts and a particular use of local cheeses

Basilicata wines are rich and strong, deep red Aglianico, and tasty whites like Asprinio, Malvasia, and Moscato.

History of Basilicata

Matapontum Basilicata Photo By Σπάρτακος

 

Starting from the late eighth century BC, the Greeks established a settlement first at Siris, founded by fugitives from Colophon. Then with the foundation of Metaponto from Achaeancolonists, they started the conquest of the whole Ionian coast. There were also indigenous Oenotrian foundations on the coast, which exploited the nearby presence of Greek settlements, such as Velia and Pyxous, for their maritime trades.

In 272 B.C. conquered by Rome. The new rulers named the region Lucania. In the 11th century, the area became part of the Duchy of Apulia, which was at the time ruled by the Normans. From the 13th century it was part of the Kingdom of Naples, though Potenza was ruled by local vassals. In 1861, the province was unified with the rest of Italy in the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Geography of Basilicata

Surface of 9,995 square kilometers

Coastline extending over 50 Km

Population of over 575,900

Bordered by Puglia to the west, Campania to the north and east, Calabria and the sea to the south.

Provinces

Potenza (Regional capital)

Matera

Airports (Distances from Matera)

Bari       66 km

Brindisi 153 km

Naples 252 km

Climate

The variable climate is influenced by three coastlines (Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian) and the complexity of the region's physical features. The climate is continental in the mountains and Mediterranean along the coasts.

Contact us for an initial call, or send us your requirements, so we can suggest the perfect Italian home for you in Basilicata.