Basilicata Review
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Basilicata Review is a guide to the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The site aims to bring some of the region's hidden gems to life with photos and descriptions that will hopefully inspire people to visit this relatively forgotten region which is just waiting to be discovered.
The number one visitor destination in Basilicata is without a doubt the city of Matera. Celebrated in the world of film and also by UNESCO, its Rupestrian churches and Sassi now draw visitors from all over the world. Matera is quite a unique sight and largely atypical of Basilicata but it does share some traits with the evocative ghost town of Craco which has also featured on the big screen. In terms of sightseeing, Basilicata scores most heavily with its Hill Towns and slightly smaller Borghi. Among the most famous hill towns are Melfi with its medieval centre and Venosa with its Aragonese Castle in the town centre. Another charming feature of Basilicata's landscape is the proliferation of quirky hillside villages such as Pietrapertsosa, Rivello and Muro Lucano. |
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Basilicata's slightly unusual geographic layout means that it has two coastlines; the first and longest of those is the Ionian Coast where you'll find a series of beach resorts, while over on the Tyrrhenian Coast there's the town of Maratea which is the region's best-known seaside resort. Maratea can also boast the imposing Statua del Cristo Redentore, not quite as large or famous as its counterpart in Rio de Janeiro but situated at the top of a seemingly impossible road and affording some of the best views the region can offer.
The locations mentioned above just give a slight taste of what to expect from Basilicata but there's much more to find and be fascinated by with some further investigation. I've packed as many of the most interesting sights in the region throughout the site and I hope you find Basilicata Review to be a useful resource when planning a trip here.
Dion Protani: founder of Basilicata Review.
The locations mentioned above just give a slight taste of what to expect from Basilicata but there's much more to find and be fascinated by with some further investigation. I've packed as many of the most interesting sights in the region throughout the site and I hope you find Basilicata Review to be a useful resource when planning a trip here.
Dion Protani: founder of Basilicata Review.
Basilicata Highlights
Basilicata In - FocusThe town of Maratea is situated on the Tyrrhenian Coast in the Province of Potenza. It has a population of 5,045 inhabitants and is located around 127 kilometres south of Potenza, the regional capital of Basilicata.
Maratea offers a quite unique range of sites; the main residential area is a hill town, a few kilometres in from the coast, while it can also boast a beautiful port area as well as one of the most iconic sights in the region, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer which sits on a hill top overlooking the town. |
Maratea
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The centrepiece of the colourful centro storico (historic centre) is Piazza Buraglia with its open-air cafes, restaurants and gelaterias, while the remainder of the hill town area consists of narrow streets concealing fascinating churches and a good variety of shops. Fans of contemporary Italian cinema should keep an eye out for the 2010 film Basilicata Coast to Coast; the story follows a rag-tag group of friends who decide to traverse the region from the Tyrrhenian Coast to the Ionian Coast, and their starting point is indeed Piazza Buraglia which appears in numerous of the film's scenes.
The most instantly-recognisable sight in Maratea is La Statua del Cristo Redentore, ("Statue of Christ the Redeemer" in English). It's more than a mere statue however; it's located around a 6 kilometre drive from the historic centre, a journey which takes around 13 minutes climbing the numerous hairpin bends that lead to the mountain-top. The final stretch of road is not for the faint-hearted; a modern structure of curving road that seems almost suspended in mid-air but is obviously more than up to the task. Once you scale this final part of the road you reach a car parking area from which it's a 5 minute walk to the statue itself; passing a mini-village area with a church, souvenir shops and refreshment vendors. The views once you reach the statue are some of the best you can find in Basilicata; looking down on to the picturesque coastline on one side and to the rugged interior on the other.
Another important part of Maratea is its port area. This is roughly the same distance and journey time from the hill town as it is to the statue area: 6 kilometres and 13 minutes by car. The port area glistens with azure water in its marina which is full of elegant yachts. The area is home to a number of great restaurants which all enjoy the beautiful seaside views. A good amount of car-parking spaces are available at the port although charges can be quite high and spaces are at a premium during the summer.
Aside from the hill town, the port and the area around La Statua del Cristo Redentore, Maratea is home to a number of beaches. The beaches are to be found either side of the hill town and include one area called Marina di Maratea which has its own train station, and is not to be confused with the port which is slightly further north along the coastal road. The main train station for the town, simply called "Stazione di Maratea", occupies the area between Maratea Port and the hill town.
The most instantly-recognisable sight in Maratea is La Statua del Cristo Redentore, ("Statue of Christ the Redeemer" in English). It's more than a mere statue however; it's located around a 6 kilometre drive from the historic centre, a journey which takes around 13 minutes climbing the numerous hairpin bends that lead to the mountain-top. The final stretch of road is not for the faint-hearted; a modern structure of curving road that seems almost suspended in mid-air but is obviously more than up to the task. Once you scale this final part of the road you reach a car parking area from which it's a 5 minute walk to the statue itself; passing a mini-village area with a church, souvenir shops and refreshment vendors. The views once you reach the statue are some of the best you can find in Basilicata; looking down on to the picturesque coastline on one side and to the rugged interior on the other.
Another important part of Maratea is its port area. This is roughly the same distance and journey time from the hill town as it is to the statue area: 6 kilometres and 13 minutes by car. The port area glistens with azure water in its marina which is full of elegant yachts. The area is home to a number of great restaurants which all enjoy the beautiful seaside views. A good amount of car-parking spaces are available at the port although charges can be quite high and spaces are at a premium during the summer.
Aside from the hill town, the port and the area around La Statua del Cristo Redentore, Maratea is home to a number of beaches. The beaches are to be found either side of the hill town and include one area called Marina di Maratea which has its own train station, and is not to be confused with the port which is slightly further north along the coastal road. The main train station for the town, simply called "Stazione di Maratea", occupies the area between Maratea Port and the hill town.
THINGS TO SEE IN BASILICATAThis is the section where I've showcased the very best of Basilicata, featuring hill towns such as Melfi, seaside towns like Maratea, the region's parks and archaeological sites including Metaponto.
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Basilicata HotelsIf you've decided to visit Basilicata you'll probably need a place to stay. You can use the Booking.com search engine for Basilicata Hotels with a wide variety of accommodation to choose from.
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