Potenza e dintorni

Potenza, at over 800 metres, is one of Italy’s highest regional capitals. The old town is best explored on foot along via Pretoria, between the cathedral of San Gerardo, the Guevara tower and the churches of San Francesco and San Michele; the National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata is in Palazzo Loffredo. In late May the city celebrates the Parata dei Turchi, one of the region’s most heartfelt festivals.

Around it, Pignola has its lake and nature reserve, Tito and Picerno their old towns, Vaglio Basilicata the archaeological area of Serra di Vaglio and the Lucanian sanctuary of Rossano. Avigliano has the castle of Lagopesole, one of Frederick II’s residences, while Ruoti and Filiano are villages among woods and hills, with the rock paintings of Tuppo dei Sassi at Filiano.

It is a good base for exploring the province, with roads to every area of the region.