Valle del Basento

The middle Basento valley, in the province of Matera, is a land of hills covered with olive trees and wheat that climbs towards the woods of the Gallipoli Cognato and Lucanian Little Dolomites Park. Ferrandina, founded in the 15th century and overlooking the valley, is known for its majatica olive, oven-dried here into a local speciality, and for the convent of San Domenico.

Salandra has the convent of Sant’Antonio and a compact old town, Garaguso is known for the finds from its Greek sanctuary, including the small marble temple now in the Potenza museum. Oliveto Lucano and Calciano are small villages at the edge of the Gallipoli Cognato forest, good starting points for walks and bike rides.

It is a crossing area between Matera and Potenza worth driving through slowly, stopping at olive mills and village food festivals.