Pirro del Balzo Castle and Archaeological Museum

In the heart of Venosa, the town of Horace, this imposing 15th-century castle, with its round towers and moat, houses the “Mario Torelli” National Archaeological Museum, whose finds tell the story of ancient Venusia.

Venosa, in the province of Potenza, is one of the most fascinating towns in Basilicata, rich in history, art, culture and traditions. Set in the Vulture area, it is best known as the birthplace, in 65 BC, of the great Latin poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, one of the most important authors of Roman literature.

The town holds traces of many eras, from Roman Venusia to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Walking through its lanes, squares and historic buildings you discover an extraordinary cultural heritage in a calm, evocative atmosphere. Venosa is also famous for its food and wine traditions and for Aglianico del Vulture, one of Basilicata’s most iconic wines.