Basilicata on the road

On Basilicata we have already dedicated articles to Matera and alle Dolomiti Lucane , but to complete a magnificent travel itinerary in the region You must also visit the destinations described on this page. Let's start with the ghost town of Craco.

Located about an hour's drive from Matera (and equally, in the opposite direction, from Castelmezzano), this abandoned town is truly scenic. To visit it, you need to participate in a guided tour (15 euros each, in 2020, with receipt from 5 euros (maybe there is a reason, I don't know)). The unsafe riversomed houses were evacuated in the 1980s due to the hillside movement.

The history of Craco is actually really very interesting, a history of errors, greed and waste of public money. The beautiful and panoramic citadel, in fact, in the twentieth century had extended too much; In addition, an aqueduct had been built and, moreover, in an attempt to remedy the first landslide movements, a gigantic concrete contemporary walls had been installed that had cracked a few days after the inauguration. All this had led to the coaled evacuation of the city.

The abandoned houses (only a few mulo live) had also been a victim of looting, and leave the city for the popular houses built at the foot of the hill must have been truly unpleasant for the inhabitants ...

Today, however, Craco is a spectacular tourist destination, because walking between houses and ruins and feeling the history of the city is really an exciting experience.

From Craco Country it is possible to see the flat brugs of the interior of the Basilicata and above all a series of interesting gullies, that is, of the prohnings franthous walls that give life to so many small canyons. The most fascinating place to admire these calanches is probably the little distant Montalbano Jonico. The village, really characteristic, has a historic center in the hills made of white houses.

Here too, some of the houses closest to the limit of the hill, where there are the gullies, have been evacuated for the landslide risk (while others supported by a gigantic containing concrete wall, in this case well built). Calanchi can be admired from above and crossed with signposted trails.

Montalbano Jonico is quite close to the ionic coast of Basilicata (as an intuitable from the name!). To continue this travel itinerary in the region, you can then get to Policoro.

If you want very long beach sections for you, Policoro, and in particular the area of the WWF Bosco Pantano reserve, it is the right place. Here the beach is infinite (just walk a little, you are alone, even in August), ideal for being at peace, walking and playing.

Behind the long beach of Policoro there is a special vegetation protected by the Pantano Forest Reserve, which in the rainfall period becomes marshy and allows you to admire particular flora and fauna (at the WWF center you can also explain everything about the birth of turtles).
If the ionic coast is flat, the Tyrrhenian one, in Basilicata, is instead made of cliffs to which beaches from crystal clear water are interfained. The main town of the short section of Tyrrhenian coast Lucano is obviously Maratea.

Maratea country and its historic center are actually in the hills, while on the sea there is Maratea marina. The historic center with its alleys and its churches is really fascinating and high, at a vantage point, stands out the enormous statue of the Redeemer Christ, on the model of that of Rio de Janeiro.
Not far from Maratea, always in Interior, there is another scenographic country, Rivello.

Other interesting destinations for a travel itinerary on the road (and even a bit coast to coast) in Basilicata are, further north, the lakes of Monticchio and the valleys of the Vulture, rich in vineyards and countries perched in the hills, and more To the south the Pollino Park, shared with Calabria, with mountains, rivers and canyons.
In short, always remembering the already mentioned Matera and Castelmezzano , the basilicata deserves several days of vacation and gives you immeasurable joys, so ... good trips !!

click Here for other trips in Basilicata and travel information on the region.
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