10 Best Things to Do in Basilicata

Sassi di Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata, where you can find many businesses, homes, hotels and rupestrian churches that are set within limestone caves. This hillside town has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era, making it one of the world’s longest-occupied cave systems. If you’re visiting Sassi di Matera in early July, check out its annual Festa della Bruna which commemorates patron saint Madonna della Bruna. This week-long celebration starts on 2nd July, with colourful parades, market stalls, and marching bands filling the streets of Matera from dawn until midnight.

Melfi is a quaint town that was once the Norman Capital of Southern Italy. Surrounded by a Norman city wall, it’s set within the province of Potenza and has some of the most beautiful cave cathedrals and Roman structures in Basilicata. Melfi Castle is a medieval-style structure that was built during the reign of Roman Emperor Federico II of Svevia. It houses the National Archaeological Museum of Melfi, where you can see exhibits of valuable artefacts, including a sarcophagus dating back to the 2nd century. 

Cristo Redentor (The Statue of Christ the Redeemer) is located in the coastal town of Maratea in Basilicata. The statue is set on Monte San Biagio and stands at over 21 metres tall, making it one of the tallest sculptures of Jesus Christ in Europe. It’s the work of Florentine sculptor Bruno Innocenti, who used a mix of Cararra marble and cement. There’s a viewpoint at the base of Cristo Redentor, which gives you a beautiful view of Maratea and the Tyrrenhian Coastline. 

Basilicata is the producer of Aglianico del Vulture, a tannic, full bodied red wine that is famed throughout Italy. Set between Apulia and Calabria, the wine region of Vulture – Melfese is filled with expansive grape vines and reputable wine cellars that are worth visiting if you’re looking to enjoy a day of wine-tasting during your holiday. Basilicata also has an annual festival dedicated to Aglianico wine which takes place every September in several castles within the region. One of the region’s most popular wine estates, Cantine del Notaio has thriving vineyards spanning 263,000 sq m and 17th-century wine cellars.

Il Borgo is Maratea’s historical district, where you can find more than 40 churches and buildings dating back to the 13th century. Set on the slopes of Monte San Biagio, this charming town has 2 main squares called Piazza Vitolo and Piazza Buragli. Its narrow alleyways are lined with plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as shops selling souvenirs and regional specialities. If you’re in Basilicata between late July and early August, the city’s prestigious Maratea Film Festival offers a week of movie screenings, premieres, debates, and award ceremonies celebrating prominent filmmakers and actors. 

Volo dell’Angelo (Ange Flightl) is a thrilling ride in Basilicata, where you get to glide across 2 mountain peaks at high speed. Set in Potenza, it’s popular amongst those craving for an adrenaline rush, as they’re suspended on a steel cable at altitudes of up to 400 metres above sea level. Offering breathtaking views of the Lucanian Dolomites, departure stations for Volo dell’Angelo are located in the hilltop villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. Ticket prices start from €35 for solo riders and €60 for couples. Note that solo rides are permitted only if you’re over the age of 16. 

Pollino National Park is the largest in Italy, giving you plenty of opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, sightseeing, and exploring charming towns dating back between 15th and the 17th centuries. Officially recognised in 1993, the national park is known for housing a variety of wildlife such as wildcats, otters, wolves, boars, and roe deer. Experienced hikers can enjoy panoramic views of Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts when climbing the Monte Pollino summit, which stands at over 2,200 metres above sea level. Quaint towns can be found here, including San Paolo and San Constantino Albanese. Both house Albanian communities practising daily lifestyles and traditions dating back to the 16th century.

The Metaponto Archaeological Park & Museum is where you can explore various monuments, temples, and artefacts of the ancient Greek colony of Metaponto. Its archaeological site features ruins of buildings such as Doric Greek temples constructed between 570BC and 530BC which are dedicated to Athena, Apolo, Aphrodite, Hera, and Demeter. The museum displays weapons, jewellery, and shields that are made during the Bronze Age, as well as beautiful handicrafts and Italian-Mycenaean ceramics. 

The Ionian Coast is a 30-km-long stretch of beach facing the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the historical districts of Metaponto and Policoro. Both feature seaside promenades and expansive beaches with clean waters, attracting travellers from all over the world in the summer. Some of the most popular things to do on the Ionian Coast include sunbathing, snorkelling, wind surfing, and jet skiing. There are also plenty of notable landmarks in each district. Metaponto is home to the Metaponto Archaeological Park, while Policoro has a turtle sanctuary and the WWF Nature Reserve.

The Crypt of the Original Sin is deep within a Palaeolithic-era cave on Basilicata’s Murgia Plateau. Its walls are decorated with frescos depicting biblical icons such as God the Creator, Light and Darkness, Adam and Eve, the Archangels, Apostles John, Peter and Andrew, and the Virgin Mary. Also called The Sistine Chapel of Rupestrian Art, the cave paintings date back to the early 8th century, featuring a mix of Byzantine and Late-Romanesque art. You can only visit the Crypt of Original Sin by guided tour, which costs about €10 and includes a 20-minute audio guide in English, Italian, German, and French.