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The Gallipoli Cognato Lucanian Dolomites Park covers 27,027 hectares (66,785 acres) in the municipalities of Accettura, Calciano, Oliveto Lucano in the province of Matera, and Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa in the province of Potenza. The Park encloses and protects a large area in the center of Basilicata that has important natural, historical and...

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Considered one of the oldest cities in the world - right after Aleppo and Jericho - and home to not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, both recognized in 1993 — Matera is a place that feels like it belongs more to the realm of dreams than reality. It’s where the mind drifts off, breaking fr...

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There is a new idea of tourism that is gaining popularity, related to the pursuit of wellbeing. This pursuit is not only about the tourist experience but also about everyday life. From this perspective, the small towns of Basilicata guarantee a high standard of wellbeing linked to a good quality of life and slower rhythms compared to life in big ci...

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Venice has trialled an entry fee, Florence has banned new Airbnbs and Rome’s public transport is unbearably crowded. Overtourism is hitting Italy’s cities hard and the result is a stressful experience for those who holiday there. The good news is, for masterful artworks, excellent food and a dynamic cultural scene, you don’t have to stick to the ci...

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Always present in the rural tradition of the Mercure Valley, white beans have played a major role in the agricultural history of the local populations. An 1852 publication by the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies speaks of the cultivation in the area of “graminaceous, leguminous and filierous plants” and specifically mentions the "bean, and this is sever...

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An underrated city in Europe is not only among the best places to visit, it is also one of the oldest in the world. The beautiful city of Matera in Italy is a hidden gem that offers several historical gems that can be explored without too many tourists. Situated in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, this destination continually amazes visitor...

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In early July, the southern Italian town of Scorrano is transformed into a kaleidoscopic light display. To celebrate the patron saint Santa Domenica, giant architectural structures studded with lightbulbs known as luminarie are erected. There are castellated entrance gates, arched tunnels, rose windows and domes decorated in multicoloured lights so...

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Known for its wonderful "sassi", ancient rock settlements carved into the rock, Matera has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and gained notoriety as the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Matera has experienced immense fortune, in fact, in recent years, not only for its "stones": the city offers unique experiences of its kind. Looking...

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When Carlo Levi penned his acclaimed Italian novel, Christ Stopped at Eboli, he could surely never have conceived that the impoverished town once labelled as “the shame of Italy” would one day become a subject of pride for Italians. Indeed, should Christ ever visit this near biblical part of Italy, he would be well-advised to bypass Eboli and ventu...

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When exploring Maratea and its coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the increasingly buzzy southern Italian region of Basilicata, you can’t help but wonder if this was what Portofino and Positano were like before they became the high-wattage resorts they are today. Here, locals, not visitors, determine the rhythms of the town; own the one-off shops and b...

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