Little jewel between Puglia and Calabria, Basilicata it is a casket. It contains treasures and wonders and cradles ancestral stories and mysteries in its womb. Pride of the Lucanians, it is the Ionian coast, where the sea invites you to a stop on its golden and hidden beaches, when the green is lost on the rocks. A rare pearl, where the concrete still does not suffocate this one luxuriant and uncontaminated nature. Among the most famous tourist destinations, we find Maratea, an ancient fishing village, with the statue of the Redeemer 21 meters high, the third in the world, located on a peak of Monte San Biagio. A privileged point to explore the design of the coast in all its charm, where the lush mountains rush in transparent waters. And it is on the silent and pristine beaches, among the sea caves of Policoro e Metaponto, that the loggerhead turtles go to lay their eggs.
The hinterland
Going inland the scenario changes. Arid ridges draw rugged landscapes, along which they are arranged medieval villages. Remained motionless in time, tight around fortresses and churches, perched on the rocks and surrounded by woods. At the gates of the Pollino National Park you meet an imposing construction. The Senise dam. One of the largest clay water works in Europe. In fact, Basilicata is the only region of the South to be rich in springs and streams. Its mineral waters, which flow from karst rocks, enriched with calcium, constitute an immense resource for the whole territory. Thanks to them they have been able to develop crops.
The flora
Thanks to the presence of water, green is the dominant color on the valleys. The park, a protected area since the early nineties, is one of the lungs of Italy, with peaks that exceed 2000 meters. The landscape ranges from the typical Mediterranean scrub, fir trees, beech trees and Bosnian pine, the true emblem of the Park, at the highest altitudes. Up to the lush grasslands used for grazing, the oldest activity in the area. Not by chance the cheeses of Pollino, are renowned all over the world, because they still retain the ancient flavor of tradition intact.
The cities
Potenza, capital of Basilicata is an ancient city with a modern face, which, despite the whims of nature, preserves a history rich in culture, art and landscapes. Do not miss the splendid theater named after the Lucanian musician Francis Stable. Unmissable stop in this intricate region is the mysterious, romantic, ancient "city of stones": Matera. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, with its intricate labyrinth of houses dug into the tuff, superimposed on each other, joined by large stairways and winding streets, which create a unique and suggestive landscape, where time has stopped and the visitor is enchanted. Even Pierpaolo Pasolini fell in love with this city, filming "The Gospel according to Matthew".
