Things to see · Archaeological sites
Monte Croccia: Croccia Cognato and Petre de la Mola
Accettura (Matera)
Monte Croccia: Croccia Cognato and Petre de la Mola is in Accettura, province of Matera. Opening hours: Open-air area, always accessible; information points may be closed out of season. Admission: Free.
- Free.
- Open-air area, always accessible; information points may be closed out of season.
About this place
On the summit of Monte Croccia, over 1,000 metres high between Accettura and Oliveto Lucano, lie two of the oldest sites in Basilicata: the fortified town of Croccia Cognato and the megalithic complex of Petre de la Mola, set in the oak woods of the Gallipoli Cognato Park.
Croccia Cognato
This is a fortified settlement of the Italic peoples of the area, inhabited between the 8th and 4th centuries BC. Two circuits of walls built from large blocks of squared stone survive: the outer one, the older of the two, is about 1,340 metres long, and the inner one, dating from the 4th century BC, is about 680 metres long and enclosed the acropolis. The inner wall has five entrances, including a well-preserved monumental gate. Quarry marks in Greek letters can still be seen on some of the blocks. Excavations, begun at the end of the 19th century, also uncovered a sanctuary and a necropolis.
Petre de la Mola
About two hundred metres east of the main gate stands a group of huge boulders. According to scholars, their position made it possible to observe the sunrise at the equinoxes, which is why the complex is also known as the “stone calendar”.
Trail 705
The best way to visit the site is along the Park’s trail 705: an easy loop of about 5.8 km, taking around 3 hours. It climbs to Petre de la Mola, reaches the gate of the acropolis, follows the walls to the Belvedere overlooking the Basento valley and descends through the woods. Visitors short on time can just walk the short marked stretch that climbs from the road to the walls.
How to get there
Monte Croccia can be reached by car along the road linking Accettura and Oliveto Lucano; from the road, a short trail leads to the walls. The Gallipoli Cognato forest and the locality of Palazzo are a short distance away.
Useful information
• Trekking shoes are needed, as the ground is uneven.
• Information points and services may be closed outside the season: bring water.
• From the summit you can see Accettura, Albano di Lucania and the Basento valley.
