Travel guide · Basilicata
The castles of Basilicata
Castles to visit in Basilicata: Melfi, Lagopesole, Venosa, Miglionico, Valsinni, Muro Lucano, Brienza and Pietrapertosa, with their history.
Normans, Swabians and Angevins left dozens of castles and towers in Basilicata: some are museums, others evocative ruins above the villages. Here are the most important ones to visit.
Castles not to miss
- Melfi: the Norman-Swabian castle where Frederick II issued the Constitutions of Melfi in 1231; today it houses the National Archaeological Museum of the Melfese
- Lagopesole (Avigliano): the last great castle built for Frederick II, on a hill overlooking the valley
- Venosa: the 15th-century Pirro del Balzo castle, home of the National Archaeological Museum
- Miglionico: the Castle of Malconsiglio, where the rebel barons met against King Ferrante of Aragon in 1485
- Valsinni: the castle linked to the poet Isabella Morra, who lived and was killed here in the 16th century
- Muro Lucano: the castle where Queen Joanna I of Anjou died in 1382
- Brienza: the Caracciolo castle, an imposing ruin above the village
- Pietrapertosa: the fortress built on the rock, in the heart of the Lucanian Dolomites
A two-day itinerary
Day one in the Vulture: Melfi and Venosa, with a stop at the Monticchio lakes. Day two, head towards Potenza via Lagopesole, then on to the Lucanian Dolomites for the fortress of Pietrapertosa.
Opening hours and tickets of the castle museums change with the seasons: check the place page before you go. To build the route on the map use Plan your trip.
