I first went to Basilicata because I was looking for a quieter corner of Italy. I’d spent time in Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast and loved them, but I wanted somewhere that still felt a little raw, where the landscape looked like a storybook illustration and the food tasted like it came straight from someone’s grandmother’s kitchen. What I found in Basilicata was a region full of contradictions, the kind that make travel memorable.
In Matera, I wandered through cave homes that people once carved straight into the rock, some still bearing faded frescoes and smoke-blackened ceilings. A couple of days later, I was hiking across high ridges in Pollino National Park, where twisted old pine trees stood like sculptures and the air smelled of wild herbs.
Then there were the village places like Castelmezzano, perched on knife-edged cliffs, where I’d sit in a café and feel like half the town had stopped by to chat before lunch. And just when I thought Basilicata was all about rugged mountains, I drove down to Maratea, where the Tyrrhenian Sea shimmered under a giant statue of Christ that watches over the coastline.
That’s what this guide is for. I’ve pulled together the best things to do in Basilicata, not just the highlights but the practical details that make a trip smoother how to get around in a region where trains don’t always go where you want them to, which towns are worth spending the night in, and which experiences feel more special if you skip the crowds. I’ve added short itineraries too, because not everyone has a week, and I know how helpful it is to have a plan you can actually follow.
If you’re looking for Italy that feels a little off the radar, part history lesson, part outdoor escape, and part slow food discovery, Basilicata might just be the region you didn’t realize you needed.
Quick Take: Who Basilicata Is For
Basilicata isn’t the kind of region that hands itself to you on a platter. It asks for a little curiosity, a little patience, and in return it gives you moments that feel almost secret. If you’re the kind of traveler who gets more excited about stumbling into a village bakery than checking off big-ticket sights, this is your place.
History buffs will find themselves spoiled. Matera’s cave homes feel like stepping into another era, and the ruins along the Ionian coast whisper of Magna Graecia. You can literally walk into churches cut from stone, the walls painted with faded medieval frescoes, and then drive an hour and end up among Greek temples standing in fields of wheat.
If you’re more of an outdoor person, Basilicata is basically your playground. Pollino National Park, with its wild ridges and centuries-old pine trees, is the kind of place where you might walk for hours and meet only a shepherd. There are canyons to scramble through, rivers to raft, and quiet trails where the loudest thing you hear is the wind.
Couples and families often tell me they love Basilicata because of its slower rhythm. There’s no pressure to rush from attraction to attraction. Instead, you can linger in a piazza with a coffee while kids run around, or take an evening passeggiata through a village where everyone seems to know each other. It feels safe, grounded, and quietly romantic.
If you’ve got a full week, that’s when Basilicata really opens up. You can string it all together: start in Matera, loop down into Pollino for some hiking, curve back along the coast to Maratea, and finish in Venosa among vineyards and Roman ruins. It’s a journey that shows just how many layers this overlooked region has.
Practical Tips
Matera has become more popular since it was named European Capital of Culture in 2019, so timing your visit matters. Early mornings are magical, when the streets are empty except for the smell of fresh bread drifting from bakeries, and evenings bring golden light that makes the stone glow.
I’d recommend hiring a local guide, even just for a couple of hours. Walking on your own is beautiful, but a guide explains the layers of history in a way that brings the stones to life. You suddenly notice details like smoke stains from old kitchens or water channels carved into the rock.
For photographers, the best shots come from across the ravine in the Murgia Park at sunrise. The town is lit from the front, the air is still cool, and you’ll often have the lookout almost to yourself.
Hilltop Villages & the Lucanian Dolomites
Castelmezzano e Pietrapertosa
Driving into the Lucanian Dolomites feels like you’ve slipped into a different landscape altogether. The road winds up through forests and rocky ridges until the peaks suddenly sharpen into jagged stone teeth, and there, almost impossibly, are two villages perched among them: Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.
From a distance, they look like eagle’s nests clinging to the cliffs. Up close, they feel even more improbable, with houses wedged into rock crevices and staircases that disappear into archways.
Castelmezzano is my favorite to wander at a slower pace. The piazza has just a handful of cafés, and on a sunny morning you’ll likely find locals sipping coffee and chatting as if nothing about living halfway up a mountain is unusual.
The streets are narrow and steep, and sometimes they open suddenly onto views that take your breath away: a sweep of peaks and valleys rolling into the distance, with clouds casting shadows that move like waves.
Just across the valley is Pietrapertosa, equally striking but with a slightly different feel, quieter, a little more tucked into the rocks. The two towns are joined not just by a winding road but by the famous Flight of the Angel. It’s not just a zipline; it’s an experience that makes you feel like you’re suspended between earth and sky.
You get strapped into a harness, face forward, and then launched off the cliff. In seconds you’re flying across the valley, the wind rushing against your face, the rooftops far below shrinking into dots.
If you listen closely, you might even hear church bells echoing from one village to the other. It’s exhilarating and just a bit terrifying, but unforgettable. The zipline only runs in the warmer months, and tickets should be booked ahead if you’re traveling in peak season.
Even if you skip the zipline, simply walking between these villages, exploring little lanes and pausing for a glass of local wine, gives you a sense of why people call this one of the most beautiful corners of southern Italy.
Craco, the Ghost Town
Craco is the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave. It’s a crumbling hilltop village that was abandoned in the 1960s after landslides made it unsafe. Since then, the houses and churches have been left to weather in the sun and wind, creating a frozen-in-time atmosphere that feels almost too cinematic to be real.
In fact, filmmakers noticed scenes from movies like The Passion of the Christ and Quantum of Solace were shot here.
Walking through Craco with a guide is like stepping into a set where the actors never showed up. Narrow streets are half-blocked by fallen stones, staircases climb to doorways that open onto empty rooms, and windows frame views of the surrounding hills. It’s haunting, but in a strangely peaceful way.
Without context, it might just feel eerie, but a guide explains what life was like here before the exodus: families farming the land, festivals filling the piazza, children running through the alleys. That history turns the silence into something more meaningful, almost like the town itself is telling its story.
Tours are mandatory for safety reasons; parts of the town remain unstable but that structure also ensures you don’t miss details you might overlook on your own. Craco isn’t a long stop, but it adds a layer to Basilicata that you won’t find anywhere else: the reminder that not every Italian hill town is polished and thriving. Some are beautiful precisely because they’re broken.
Pollino National Park & Outdoor Adventures
Pollino isn’t just another national park, it’s Italy’s largest, stretching across both Basilicata and Calabria. The landscape feels wild and unpolished: ridges that roll into the distance, canyons carved by fast rivers, and those unmistakable Bosnian pines twisted into strange shapes by centuries of wind.
When you’re standing on one of the high plateaus, the silence is almost complete, broken only by cowbells or the rush of air through the trees.
If you love hiking, you’ll find trails for every mood. Some are gentle ridge walks where you can picnic with sweeping views, others are steep treks up to peaks that demand a good pair of boots and some stamina. One of the most rewarding is the path to Serra di Crispo, a moderate hike that takes four to five hours.
The trail winds through shady pine forests before opening up to a summit where, on a clear day, you can see both the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, a reminder of how narrow this part of Italy really is.
Pollino isn’t only about hiking, though. Local guides run canyoning trips, where you wade, scramble, and sometimes slide your way through river gorges. It’s messy and exhilarating, perfect if you’re craving a bit of adrenaline. Horseback riding is another way to experience the park at a slower pace.
Small ranches offer half-day rides through meadows and along ridges, often ending with a picnic spread of local cheese and bread. It’s one of those experiences that reminds you this part of Italy isn’t overrun by tourists; you can still feel like you have the landscape to yourself.
Coastline & Maratea
After days of mountains and villages, the first glimpse of Maratea can be startling. Whitewashed houses tumble down towards the Tyrrhenian Sea, and high above it all stands the Christ the Redeemer statue, arms outstretched as if guarding the town. It’s smaller than Rio’s famous version, but the setting is spectacular, with the sea glittering below and cliffs wrapping protectively around the coast.
The beaches here are more intimate than in other parts of Italy. If you just want easy access, head to Fiumicello, which has calm water and space to spread out a towel. But the real magic lies in the hidden coves that you can reach by boat.
Hiring a small boat for a few hours lets you explore tucked-away beaches where the water glows turquoise and the only sound is the lap of the waves against the rocks.
For a view you won’t forget, drive up to Monte San Biagio, where the Christ statue stands. From there you can see the town, the curve of the coast, and on a clear day even the mountains far inland. It’s especially dramatic at sunset when the sky turns pink and the sea seems to mirror it.
Food, Wine & Local Specialities
Food in Basilicata is rustic, bold, and full of character, exactly the kind of cooking that tells you about a place without needing words.
One dish you’ll find everywhere is peperoni cruschi: sun-dried Senise peppers that are quickly fried until crisp. They’re addictive, sweet, crunchy, and just a little smoky. They show up on pasta, meat dishes, or simply as a snack with wine.
Speaking of pasta, don’t miss pasta con mollica, which is pasta tossed with toasted breadcrumbs, garlic, and sometimes anchovies. It’s the definition of simple done well, and it’s as comforting as it gets. Markets often sell pecorino di Filiano, a sharp sheep’s cheese that pairs perfectly with a glass of red.
And that brings us to wine. Basilicata is home to Aglianico del Vulture, a deep, structured red grown on the volcanic slopes of Mount Vulture. If you’re a wine lover, set aside time for a visit to a winery.
Elena Fucci and Cantine del Notaio are two that welcome visitors, and tasting their wines while standing on volcanic soil gives you a sense of how deeply connected the land and the glass in your hand really are.
One of my favorite food memories from Basilicata, though, didn’t come from a restaurant at all. It was lunch at an agriturismo, a family-run farm where we sat outside under a pergola, eating homemade pasta and local cheese while chickens scratched in the yard. Meals like that aren’t just about the food, they’re about being folded into the rhythm of local life, even if just for an afternoon.
Practical Planning: Getting There & Around
One thing you need to know about Basilicata: it’s not the easiest region to get around, but that’s part of why it feels so untouched.
The nearest airports are Bari and Naples, both a couple of hours’ drive from Matera or Potenza. Trains do run into the region, but they don’t connect all the places you’ll want to see. If you really want to explore the villages, the national park, and the coast, renting a car is almost essential.
The drives can be long; Matera to Maratea takes about three and a half hours, and Matera to Pollino about two and a half but the roads wind through landscapes that make the journey part of the experience.
As for timing, spring (April to June) is ideal if you want wildflowers and hiking weather that won’t leave you drenched in sweat. Summer brings energy to the coast, though inland towns can be hot and quiet. Autumn is a wonderful time if you love food and wine, with harvest festivals and vineyard visits. Winter is peaceful but subdued; some villages go almost dormant, though Matera stays lively enough.
In terms of costs, Basilicata is more affordable than Italy’s big-name regions. Meals are reasonably priced, B&Bs offer great value, and the main splurges tend to be cave hotels in Matera or seaside resorts in Maratea. If you plan a mix of mid-range stays and the occasional agriturismo, you’ll get both comfort and authenticity without blowing your budget.
Sample Itineraries
24 Hours in Basilicata
If you only have a single day, don’t spread yourself thin. Make Matera your focus. Start in the morning by diving straight into the Sassi. The Sasso Caveoso is quieter and still feels raw, with homes carved right into the rock face. Spend time wandering the alleys, climbing staircases that twist up and down, and ducking into cave churches where faded frescoes peek out of the shadows.
By early afternoon, cross the ravine into Murgia Park. The short hike up to the Belvedere lookout is worth every step; it’s the postcard view of Matera, with the honey-colored caves glowing in the light. Bring water; the sun can be relentless even in spring.
As evening falls, find a trattoria tucked into the rock. Candlelight bounces off stone walls, and plates of pasta come with bold flavors like peperoni cruschi or hearty ragù. Staying overnight in a cave hotel completes the experience. Waking up to soft light filtering into a stone room is unlike any hotel stay you’ve had before.
3-Day Loop
With three days in Basilicata, you can balance history, mountains, and sea without feeling too rushed. It’s just enough time to get a real sense of how varied this region is.
Day 1: Matera
Start where most people do: Matera. Give yourself the whole day to wander through the Sassi. Don’t try to cram in everything at once. Matera isn’t a city you “do,” it’s a city you soak up. Spend the morning in Sasso Caveoso, where many of the cave houses still feel raw and untouched, and make time for at least one rupestrian church to see the frescoes that have survived for centuries.
In the afternoon, cross into Sasso Barisano, where some caves have been restored into little shops and B&Bs. The best thing you can do here is get a little lost: the alleys twist and double back, staircases lead to unexpected piazzas, and every corner seems to offer a new angle of the honey-colored stone.
As the day winds down, book dinner at a cave trattoria something simple like orecchiette with tomato and basil or pasta tossed with crispy Senise peppers. Spending the night in a cave hotel turns the whole experience from a day trip into a memory. Waking up in a stone room to the smell of coffee drifting in from the piazza is something you won’t forget.
Day 2: Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
The drive into the Lucanian Dolomites will test your nerves if you’re not used to mountain roads, but it’s worth every hairpin bend. The moment those jagged peaks appear on the horizon, you’ll understand why people make the trip.
Castelmezzano is the kind of village that looks like it’s been glued to the cliffs. Spend the morning meandering up and down its steep streets, pausing in the piazza for a coffee while you watch life unfold at an unhurried pace.
If you’re up for an adventure, the Flight of the Angel zipline is unforgettable. Being strapped into a harness and launched face-forward across a valley may sound terrifying, but it’s also one of those rare travel experiences that really does make you feel like you’re flying.
Even if you skip it, the combination of stone lanes, terracotta rooftops, and endless views make this one of Basilicata’s most enchanting corners. Spend the night nearby in a guesthouse or, even better, an agriturismo, where you’ll end the day with a family-style dinner of hearty mountain dishes.
Day 3: Maratea
On your final day, leave the mountains behind and drive down to the coast. After days of rock and ridges, the first glimpse of the sea feels almost like a revelation. Maratea is a cluster of whitewashed houses tumbling toward the Tyrrhenian, with the giant Christ the Redeemer statue keeping watch from above.
Spend your afternoon either exploring the narrow lanes of the old town or taking a boat to discover hidden coves along the coastline.
If you’d rather stay on land, Fiumicello beach is a good spot to spread out a towel and dip into the calm water. For lunch, order seafood spaghetti alle vongole if you want something classic, or grilled calamari for something lighter. End the day with a drive up to Monte San Biagio. From the base of the Christ statue, the view sweeps from the rooftops below to the horizon of the sea, a perfect farewell to your short but rich journey through Basilicata.
7-Day Road Trip
A week in Basilicata gives you the chance to really stretch out caves, mountains, sea, wine, ruins and still have time for those little pauses that make a trip memorable.
Days 1–2: Matera
Begin with two nights in Matera so you’re not racing through it. Spend your first day exploring Sassi and Murgia Park, with time to simply sit on a terrace and watch the town shift in the light.
On your second day, dive deeper: visit a museum or two, step inside a few cave churches, and maybe book a guided tour to understand the history that lies behind the stone walls. Evenings are best spent with long dinners of pasta with ragù, roasted lamb, or whatever’s on the seasonal menu followed by a passeggiata through the softly lit streets.
Days 3–4: Pollino National Park
Leave the city and head south into Pollino, Italy’s largest national park. Spend two nights here surrounded by high ridges and forests of ancient Bosnian pine. One day could be dedicated to a long hike; the trail to Serra di Crispo is a favorite for its sweeping views while the other could be a canyoning adventure with a local guide.
The evenings in Pollino are best enjoyed simply: hearty mountain food, a bottle of local wine, and the kind of quiet where you can hear your own footsteps on the gravel.
Days 5–6: Maratea
From the mountains, drop down to the Tyrrhenian coast. Maratea is the reward at the end of the winding roads. Spend your days mixing beach time with little excursions: hire a boat to discover secret coves, or climb up to the Christ statue for views that seem to stretch forever.
The evenings belong to the old town: a plate of seafood pasta, a glass of crisp white wine, and a stroll through lantern-lit streets. Two nights here give you the balance of activity and relaxation that every road trip needs.
Day 7: Venosa & the Vineyards of Mount Vulture
On your last day, drive inland toward Venosa, where Roman ruins and medieval abbeys sit side by side. It’s a gentle reminder of Basilicata’s long history before you head north. From there, continue to the Aglianico del Vulture vineyards.
Spending your final night among rolling volcanic hills, with a glass of inky red wine in hand, feels like a fitting conclusion. It’s not just about the taste of the wine though it’s excellent but about the sense of being rooted in the land that shaped it.
Finally, circle back to Matera for your departure. By then, you’ll have pieced together a region that most travelers skip and realized that Basilicata isn’t quiet because it lacks stories, but because its stories are waiting for those who take the time to listen.
Where to Stay
One of the joys of traveling through Basilicata is that where you stay becomes part of the experience, not just a place to crash.
If you’re looking for luxury, it’s hard to beat Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda, a restored 19th-century palazzo owned by Francis Ford Coppola. It’s all frescoed ceilings, lush courtyards, and old-world glamour, the kind of place where you feel like you’ve stepped into a film.
Staying here isn’t about being in the thick of Matera’s Sassi but about experiencing a slower, elegant slice of Basilicata in a small town that still feels very local.
For a mid-range stay, Matera’s cave hotels are unforgettable. Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita is one of the best known, and for good reason each room feels like a sanctuary carved from stone, lit with flickering candles and decorated in a minimalist style that lets the cave walls speak for themselves. It’s atmospheric without being stuffy, and waking up in a cave room is something you won’t forget.
If you’re traveling on a budget, don’t worry. The B&Bs in Sasso Barisano offer a simpler way to stay inside the Sassi. They might not have dramatic vaulted ceilings or luxury linens, but they’re cozy, family-run, and usually come with warm hospitality and that, in many ways, feels truer to Matera’s spirit than any fancy hotel could.
For me, those are the places where Basilicata really gets under your skin where you feel welcomed not just as a guest but as a temporary part of local life.
Conclusion
Basilicata wasn’t on my original list when I first planned trips through Italy, but it’s the region that ended up surprising me the most. I came for Matera, curious about the cave dwellings I’d seen in photographs, and found so much more. I stayed for the ghostly silence of Craco, the thrill of flying between mountain peaks in Castelmezzano, the bold reds of Aglianico wine sipped in volcanic vineyards, and the coastline at Maratea where cliffs plunge straight into turquoise water.
What I loved most, though, was the pace. Life here feels slower, less polished, more grounded. In many villages you’ll still see locals chatting in the piazza at dusk, children playing soccer in alleys, and trattorias serving dishes that taste like they haven’t changed in decades. Italy stripped back to its essentials food, family, land, history.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the country’s better-known regions, Basilicata rewards you with depth rather than spectacle. It’s a place that doesn’t try to impress you at first glance but leaves you with stories you’ll carry long after you leave.
