Basilicata Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

Castles and Fortresses of Basilicata

Basilicata’s defensive landscape features a strategic network of Norman-Swabian strongholds and coastal watchtowers. This selection includes the Castle of Melfi, a primary seat of Norman power, and the unfinished 16th-century Castello Tramontano in Matera. Architectural highlights range from the Aragonese fortress in Venosa, now housing an archaeological museum, to the anti-Saracen Torre Mattoni. These structures illustrate the region's military history, spanning from ancient Lucanian settlements to late medieval and Renaissance fortifications built to withstand internal revolts and external invasions.

6 places

AlexanderVanLoon / CC BY-SA 3.0

Archaeological Sites of Basilicata

Basilicata’s archaeological landscape spans from the Doric columns of Magna Graecia to medieval rock-cut settlements. This collection features the well-preserved Greek temples of Metapontum and the Roman urban layout of Grumentum, complete with its amphitheater. Notable highlights include the 8th-century frescoes of the Crypt of Original Sin, often called the 'Sistine Chapel of rupestrian art,' and the abandoned hilltop ruins of Craco. These sites reveal the region’s strategic importance for Lucanians, Greeks, and Romans alike.

14 places

Ggia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Religious Heritage of Basilicata

Basilicata’s religious landscape is defined by the rupestrian architecture of the Sassi di Matera and the monumental cathedrals of the interior. This collection spans from the 8th-century rock-cut frescoes of Santa Lucia alle Malve to the 18th-century Baroque facade of Chiesa del Purgatorio. Key sites include the Romanesque Cattedrale di Acerenza, the subterranean mummification rooms of San Pietro Barisano, and the 13th-century Matera Cathedral, illustrating the region's transition from Byzantine monasticism to Latin ecclesiastical dominance.

15 places

Luke18389 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Museums and Monuments

Basilicata’s cultural heritage spans from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Sassi di Matera to the Magna Graecia ruins of Metaponto and Heraclea. This selection features the region’s most significant archaeological collections, including the prehistoric findings at the Ridola Museum and the medieval treasures within Melfi Castle. Highlights include the 21-meter Carrara marble Christ the Redeemer in Maratea and Matera’s 17th-century Palazzo Lanfranchi, which showcases sacred art alongside contemporary sculpture integrated into ancient rock-cut settings.

11 places

Leandro Catelli / CC-BY-SA

Nature and Views in Basilicata

Basilicata’s landscape is defined by the prehistoric cave dwellings of Matera and the rugged peaks of the Southern Apennines. This list features the panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Sassi districts, the 586-meter-long Tibetan bridge at Castelsaraceno, and the extinct volcanic slopes of Monte Vulture. High-altitude highlights include Monte Pollino and Serra del Prete within Italy’s largest national park, alongside the historical San Fele waterfalls and the ancient Lucanian sanctuary at Rossano di Vaglio.

10 places

Luke18389

Best Beaches in Maratea

Maratea’s 32-kilometer Tyrrhenian coastline is defined by dark volcanic sand, steep limestone cliffs, and hidden sea caves. This selection spans from the northern coves of Acquafredda to the southern plains of Castrocucco. It features accessible family-friendly stretches like Fiumicello, secluded inlets like Spiaggia dei Crivi accessible only by boat, and organized beach clubs equipped with solariums built directly into the rocky shoreline of the Gulf of Policastro.

9 places