BasilicataPopulation: 610.330
Surface (Kmq): 9992
Density (Inhabitants/Kmq.): 61
Main city: Potenza (PZ)
Other towns: Matera (MT).
Washed by two seas, the Ionian to the south east and the Tyrrhenian to the south-west, mountainous in the centre with peaks rising above 2000m, hilly to the east and with flatlands to the south east, Basilicata offers the excitement of the discovery of its natural beauty, of its history and prehistory, and of its traditions which in some areas conserve the ancestral memories of the origin of man. Basilicata is a place of breathtaking and unusual panoramas, of cities packed with history, of untouched seaside towns with never-ending beaches of fine, golden sand. Here are the tops of post-modern skyscrapers and bridges built to challenge the laws of gravity, like the one in Potenza. There are natural spas in Rapolla, Terme di Ala and Latronico, and Terme La Calda; and the wonders of nature in the Pollino National Park, the regional Natural Park of Gallipoli Cognato and the Lucanian Dolomites. Culture and tradition abound with the folk festivals in Matera and the art of Maratea, while the beauty of the seaside is always evident in the clear seawaters.
Aglianico del Vulture is the most well-known of the region's wines - the quality of it is such that it ranks amongst the most appreciated of Italian reds. Aglianico, the name of the original grape, is a corruption of the word "Hellenic", or Greek. In fact, as there are no native grapes in this region, the plant was brought over by the Greeks when they settled here in pre-Roman times. The result is that this grape was made into wine long before many native varieties in the northern regions. The Greeks planted many vines in the zones around Mount Vulture from which some of the best Aglianico still comes today.
DOC wines:
Aglianico del Vulture
Matera
Terre dell'Alta Val d'Agri