THE CALANCHI, THE VALSINNI AND THE METAPONTINO AREA

The southern part of Basilicata offers areas where nature has created fantastic sceneries, with landscapes from western movies or recalling Cappadocia. The deep canyons of the Calanchi Lucani, with arid white dunes have inspired poets, painters and directors. The Ionian coast, with its golden sand is a place rich in history of the Magno-Greek civity. Going back towards Valsinni, nature returns to its lush green, set among the Pollino villages of incredible beauty.

WINERY:

BATTIFARANO - 600 CAVES - TAVERN - TENUTE MARINO - CANTINA DEI SIRITI

TO VISIT:

Tursi: birthplace of Albino Pierro, a two-time Nobel candidate, is dominated by Rabatana. Of Saracen origin, it is a tangle of houses, alleys, arches, stairways that lead to deep precipices or mysterious caves. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rabatana (11th century) and the Marian shrine of Santa Maria Regina di Anglona (construction in tuff and travertine of the 11th century considered a masterpiece of medieval sacred art) are among the main monuments to visit.

Valsinni: It is historically considered the place where the ancient city of Magna Grecia Lagaria stood, it was the scene of the tragic fate of the poet Isabella Morra to whom the country's literary park is dedicated, which allows visitors to retrace the story through its poems. Enchanting historic center, characterized by passages covered by barrel vaults called "gafi".

Senise: Homeland of Pepper Crusco, located near the lake of Monte Cutugno (one of the greatest works in beaten earth in Europe, theater of international rowing competitions and the impressive Magna Grecia the myth of the Origins).

Aliano: Perched on a clay hill at 555 meters above sea level dominates valleys with numerous gullies. The town is linked to the figure of Carlo Levi, confined for 8 months during the fascist period, where he set the book "Christ stopped at Eboli". To visit the literary park, the museum obtained from the house in which he stayed, and the cemetery where he was buried, according to his last wishes "among his peasants".

Craco: The ghost town. Abandoned in 1969 following continuous landslides, there is a ban on access to the town if not with a guide, due to possible collapses. The glance from the outside is truly exceptional, a unique scenario of the village where many directors have set some scenes of their films (not least La Passione by Mel Gibson). Craco is also a village linked to the Templars and included in the World Monument Fund for its preservation.