Welcome to Basilicata
Much of Basilicata is an otherworldly landscape of mountain ranges, trackless forests and villages that seem to sprout organically from the granite. Not easily penetrated, it is strategically located, and has been dominated by the Lucanians, Greeks, Romans, Germans, Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens, Normans and others. Being the plaything of such powers has not been conducive to a quiet or happy fate.
Top experiences in Basilicata
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Basilicata activities
Discover Matera Walking Tour
The tour goes around the Caveoso District of the Sassi of Matera. During the tour it's possible to visit one cave dwelling and one church. At the end of the tour you can visit the part of the historical center with Baroque churches. Approach Matera from virtually any direction and your first glimpse of its famous sassi is sure to stay in your memory forever. Haunting and beautiful, the sassi sprawl below the rim of a yawning ravine like a giant nativity scene. The old town is simply unique and warrants at least a day of exploration and aimless wandering.Although many buildings are crumbling and abandoned, others have been restored and transformed into cozy abodes, restaurants, and swish cave-hotels. On the cliff top, the new town is a lively place, with its elegant churches, palazzi and especially the pedestrianized Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Matera Caves 2-Hour Guided Tour with Food Sampling
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Chiesa rupestre di Santa Lucia alle Malve, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataThe rupestrian church of Santa Lucia alle Malve is the first female monastic settlement of the Benedictine Order, dating back to the VIII century, and the most important in the history of the city of Matera. Santa Lucia alle Malve is a church in rock of considerable size that develops in three distinct naves that despite having undergone heavy upheavals, after the abandonment by the monastic community, has left many of those signs to allow, with a hint of imagination , to reconstruct its planimetric and architectural development.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataCasa grotta is a typical dwelling of the maternal, peasant culture , is accurately furnished in the period style in which it was inhabited, to better understand the uses and customs of our ancestors.Duration: 15 minutes
Guided Tour of Italy's Sassi di Matera: Parco della Murgia Materana - Murgia Materana Park
Archaeological Historical-Natural Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera, also called Parco della Murgia Materana, is a regional park of Basilicata. Since 2007, the definition of Sassi di Matera in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites has expanded to include Sassi and the Park of the Rupester Churches of Matera.The Park, located between the towns of Matera and Montescaglioso in Basilicata, is characterized by a soft rock called "limestone," which played an essential role in the forms assumed by the landscape, drawing cliffs, gorges and caves. Just a few kilometers away from the border of Puglia, Murgia Park has 150 rock churches, different in architecture and iconography, made mostly in the Middle Ages. What's most surprising is that despite being born as places of worship, the churches have, over time, also been used as homes or places of shelter for animals.These churches now represent an important evidence of human presence, in particular relation to the Benedictine monks, Lombards and Byzantines. The Murgia plateau acts as a natural backdrop to this scenario, with many rock churches scattered along the slopes of ravines, protected by the institution of the Park Archeologico of the Rock Churches of Matera, also called Parco della Murgia Materana.The Park is very charming, engulfed by ravines with cultivated areas and some survival of the ancient Mediterranean culture. There are also fortified farms, as well as lively and fascinating paths carved into the rock to collect water in cisterns, wells and water troughs—all evidence of the centuries-old agro-pastoral development.You will walk on a paleosol of prehistoric fossil-rich rangoli that transports visitors on a journey through time and space. Return to the original departure point to the Piazza Vittorio Veneto where you can enjoy tasting of local products at your own expense.
Italian Hands-on Private Cooking Class in Matera
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productCooking class in my private homeDuration: 3 hoursLocation: Cook'n Fun at Mary's, Matera, Province of Matera, Basilicata
WALKING TOUR OF GIOVINAZZO WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE, AT THE END OF THE TOUR TASTING
walking tour with an expert guide to discover the beauties of Giovinazzo, at the end of the tour there will be a tasting of typical products based the local oil from Giovinazzo.the tour will last around 2 hours.The walk won’t be limited in the old town, but it will include the modern part of Giovinazzo, discovering beautiful, sacred and artistic corners there will beIn the old town:Santa Maria’s Church of Costantinopoli with Carlo Rosa painting – Illustration of S. Cristoforo, protector of wayfarers and pilgrims, and S. Michele Arcangelo.S. Andrea’s Church paintings of De Musso brothers and of Carlo Rosa.Carmine’s Church S. Angelo dei Greci alreadyCathedral with Crypt: there are a lot of proofs of the past of the City, inside. The icon of Madonna di Corsignano (byzantine art), the Madonna delle Grazie of Palvisino, the “table of the Saviour” by an anonymous artist of the XV century.San Giovanni Battista’s Church con annesso ex monastero di suore Benedettine.Holy Spirit Church from the 1397with the privileged title of “Colleggiata”, you can find inside an icon of new-byzantine art of “Madonna del Buon Soccorso” of the XVI century.S. Lorenzo’s Church (the smallest one existing).S. Maria degli Angeli’s Church preserves a picture of the “Eterno Padre” from venetian art of ‘500.The modern city:Vittorio Emanuele’ Square with the Tritons’ Fountain S. Domenico’s Church with an annex building which was the Dominican’s convent, with illustrations by De Musso brothers inside and a precious picture of S. Felice in Cattedra by Lorenzo Lotto.S. Agostino’s Church, majestic neoclassical church with the dome containing the wooden Holy Crucifix of Padri Cappuccini, a Christus Exspirans, having a prominent rib cage where devoted people say there is the picture of the Holy Shroud.Not to miss is a visit at the Calvary complex.
Olive Oil Harvest and FarmStay in Puglia
ItineraryDay 1: Transfer from Bari Airport to Lucera Stop At: Torre Normanna, Pietramontecorvino, Province of Foggia, PugliaWe begin with a group transfer from Bari Airport to our masseria (a local organic farm offering elegant accommodation and food) set into the tranquil countryside and surrounded by the Dauni Mountains. We chat with the owner of the masseria and set off on foot to explore the area, with him as our guide. Along the way, you taste locally-made wines. We punctuate the day enjoying Pugliese recipes in Pietramontecorvino, uno dei Borghi piú Belli d’Italia (one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy in English). We'll dine in a town landmark, overlooking the spectacular vista of Puglia's rolling hills, your home for the next three days. This is a project that promotes the great heritage of history, art, culture, environment and traditions found in small Italian towns off the beaten paths.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Masseria Day 2: Lucera OIive Oil Harvest & Tasting Stop At: Anfiteatro Romano di Lucera, Lucera, Province of Foggia, PugliaToday we have the extraordinary opportunity to be a part of an olive harvest. During a visit with one of the Especially Puglia local producers and tasting of their organic olive oils, we participate in the timeless magic of the harvest. Over a delicious lunch with the producer’s family, we learn how this magnificent product is made and share the stories of Pugliese recipes and traditions.Other highlights of the day include: a visit to the local mill for a tasting of the oil from just-picked olives; a mozzarella demonstration and tasting; and a hands-on cooking class and dinner at our masseria featuring zero-miles Pugliesi ingredients.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Masseria Day 3: Seaside Visit to Peschici Stop At: Peschici centro storico, Peschici, Province of Foggia, PugliaToday we visit the seaside town of Peschici and a Trabucco, for an aperitif in a traditional fishing rock- anchored wooden platform. We are in the Gargano National Park that we’ll enjoy on a stroll after lunch in an agriturismo. (Agriturismi are a unique type of accommodation in Italy,featuring room and board in a farmhouse. In Puglia they are called masseria when the original structure was a fortified farm.) This place features also a Slow Food Presidium (Slow Food Presidia are worldwide initiatives to support quality production methods that are at risk of extinction) of the Gargano Podolica cow, which has been bred here for centuries and that we’ll discover on an informative visit during lunch.After a visit to the quaint town of Lucera and its castle, dinner tonight is on your own. Please ask us for suggestions.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 4: Troia & Visit to Food Artisans with Cooking Demo Stop At: Cattedrale di Troia, Troia, Province of Foggia, PugliaWe start our day meeting another Especially Puglia food artisan, a producer of tapenade and preserved veggies to learn the secrets behind tomato sauce and canning in this area of Puglia, that we’ll savor tonight at dinner. Then we transfer to the small village of Troia for a walk and visit to its Romanesque cathedral, followed by lunch on own.Our last dinner is at our masseria and it features the local orecchiette (hand-made short pasta shaped like small ears) made by Michele’s mamma and aunt during a cooking demo, in addition to focaccia and other typical foodstuffs to complete the delicious menu.How could we top this off? Why not with some local folk music for a fun night of dancing and listening to a local band? Welcome to Puglia!Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 5: Visit Trani & UNESCO Castel de Monte Stop At: Castel del Monte, Andria, Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, PugliaWe say “arrivederci” to the northern part of Puglia and head south into the Murge Plateau, a rugged landscape not often visited by tourists that offers extensive views of farmlands. Before we reach our masseria (elegant and eco-friendly countryside accommodation) for the night, we stop by Trani for a nice amble through this quaint sea town.After lunch on your own we visit the UNESCO site of Castel del Monte, a 13th-century castle built by Frederick II, originally used as an hunting lodge and now one of the most fascinating castles built by the Swabian emperor.On reaching our masseria, the owner gladly shows us around and explains what sustainability means for them in this organic farm before we enjoy an exquisite dinner of traditional recipes, washed down with locally-made wines.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 6: Visit UNESCO site in Matera & Ancient Flour Mill in Altamura Stop At: Cattedrale di Matera, Matera, Province of Matera, BasilicataOur final full day begins with a border crossing into Basilicata and visit to the UNESCO site of Matera. Originally founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, this area is suspected to be one of the first pre-historic settlements in Italy. Our local guide curates our learning experience around this enchanting city famous for “I Sassi” (houses dug into the calcareous rock). You may recall this unique setting as it was chosen as the backdrop for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ.”Lunch is on your own today. Discover the local cuisine and unique delicacies of Basilicata (we are happy to make suggestions!) before we return to Puglia.Stopping by Altamura, we visit an Especially Puglia pasta maker and a bread maker. Altamura boasts the only bread D.O.P. (Denomination of Protected Origin) in all of Italy, which makes this product distinctive in quality and specific characteristics that you can only find here. It is also a Slow Food Presidia, protecting food at risk of extinction.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.Day 7: Transfer to Bari Airport Stop At: Citta Vecchia - Bari, Bari, Province of Bari, PugliaOn the morning of Day 7, after breakfast at 8:30am we offer one 1-hour group transfer to Bari airport to meet your departing flight. Or, feel free to extend your stay in the area. Don’t hesitate to ask us, we are glad to help you with your travel plans.Duration: 1 dayNo meals included on this day.No accommodation included on this day.