Things to see · Villages and old towns
The Arab Quarters of Tricarico: Ràbata and Saracena
Tricarico (Matera)
The Arab Quarters of Tricarico: Ràbata and Saracena is in Tricarico, province of Matera. Opening hours: Always accessible. Admission: Free.
- Free.
- Always accessible.
About this place
The Ràbata and the Saracena are the two quarters of Arab origin in Tricarico, among the best-preserved historic centres in Basilicata. They date back to between the 9th and 10th centuries, when the town was an Arab stronghold before passing to the Byzantines.
What to see
• The maze-like alleyways, with low houses, arches and staircases.
• The terraced gardens and orchards created in the Arab period and still cultivated today.
• The city gates: Porta della Ràbata, Porta della Saracena, Porta delle Beccarie, with the niches where lanterns were once placed, the 13th-century Porta Fontana and Porta del Monte.
• The Saracen tower and the remains of the city walls.
Useful information
• The quarters are best explored on foot: there are steep slopes and steps.
• On 17 January, for Sant’Antonio Abate (Saint Anthony the Abbot), the «vacche» (cows) and «tori» (bulls) masks parade through the town; they return to the streets on the last Sunday of Carnival.
• From here you can reach the Norman tower and the Cathedral.
