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MAGIC BASILICATA
[ Cod. 01 IT ]
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
The trip will begin in Matera, one of the
oldest settlements in the world. Afterwards we’ll
move into the heart of Basilicata, in which one can relax
among the gentle golden hills, rocky mountains and discover
the beauty of the coastline. You will encounter castles,
ruins, and small villages seemingly forgotten by time, that
will dot the landscape everywhere you look.
All this will be rendered even more charming by the hospitality
of the Lucano people and the climate you’ll encounter.
The feelings inspired by a Mediterranean sunset, or the
warmth felt after a long days walk and a simple traditional
meal washed down by good local wine will leave you with
unforgettable memories of this magical place.
Day I –
Matera: the Barisano Sasso and the historic centre
 Arrival
in Matera and getting situated in Hotel.- After lunch in a typical Sassi restaurant,
your visit in the historic centre begins: from the Vittorio
Veneto Piazza, a sign of the historic and architectural
continuity of the city, with the majestic Palazzo of the
Annunziata and the Crypt of the Spirito Santo, you continue
on to the church of San Giovanni Battista, an excellent
example of the Romanesque style with Gothic elements.
Passing through the Sasso Barisano , rich in artisan work-shops,
we climb back up the 1700’s era back-side to visit
the Piazza of the Sedile and the Cattedrale from the 13th.
Century, in Pugliese Romanesque style. Inside the church
you’ll find the Nativity scene by Alto bello Persio,
from the 1500’s.
- Dinner in the Hotel and a free evening
to explore the town on your own.
 Day
II- Matera: the Caveoso
Sasso and the Park
- After breakfast we enter the Caveoso
Sasso passing by the Porta Empia, that faces a breathtaking
panorama. Then for a visit to some Rock Churches and the
typically furnished Casa Grotta (Cave house).
- Lunch within
a fortified farm and transfer to the Rock Church Archaeological
Park of Natural History: a brief trip on the Matera
Moors to discover treasures of rupestrian civilizations
and the area’s faunistic and botanical heritage.
Easy walking with historical, natural and cultural interests.
- Return to Hotel and dinner.
Day III - Montescaglioso,
Metaponto, Miglionico, Matera
- Departure for Montescaglioso,
a lovely town that looms over the Bradano Valley with
the huge structure of the Abbazia of San Michele Arcangelo,
the most important Benedictine Monastery in the region.
- Transfer to Metaponto,
the ancient city of Magna Grecia, with a visit to the
Archaeological Park of Apollo Licio and the Palatine Tables
and the Museum.
- After lunch, return
to Matera passing by Miglionico
for a visit to the Malconsiglio Castle and the Madre Church,
where the precious polypthyc of the 16th. Century is conserved,
created by the Cima da Conegliano.
- Dinner in Hotel.
Day IV - Anglona,
Valsinni, Maratea.
- Departure for Anglona
(Tursi) for a visit to
the Church of S. Maria in Romanesque style with mediaeval
frescoes. Transfer to Valsinni. At the top of the small
ancient roads of Favale
rises the Castle of Isabella
Morra, in which the sad poetess was assassinated
by her brothers after having left unforgettable poems
dedicated to her lover. Minstrels will take you on a “sentimental
journey”.
- Departure for Maratea.
- Get situated at the Hotel and have dinner.
 Day
V - Maratea, Rivello,
Maratea
- The Maratea coastline is devastatingly
beautiful, with mountains that run up to the edge of the
sea. It’s an easy climb to the top of Mount San
Biagio, the peak upon which there is the statue of the
Redeemer and a magnificent view of the
Tyrrhenian coast.
- Pay a visit to the ancient town of Maratea
with narrow winding streets, little paths and houses built
one upon another. After lunch you’ll take a walk
in the fascinating town of Rivello
that rises above the high Noce Valley.
- Dinner and return to the Hotel.
Day VI - The
Carthusian monastery of Padula, Castelmezzano
- Departure for Padula,
in the countryside and site of the fascinating Carthusian
monastery of San Lorenzo, built in 1306 and one of the
largest in Europe. Lunch.
- Transfer to Castelmezzano
for dinner and overnight stay.
 Day
VII - Castelmezzano, Pietrapertosa,
Venosa.
- Visit the small mediaeval towns of Pietrapertosa
and Castelmezzano. The landscape is magnificent: the Lucano
Dolomites are a chain of mountains of deep depressions
carved from the Caperino river that runs through the Basento
Valley. All of this is surrounded by forests of chestnut,
oak and maple trees, from which various birds of prey
take flight. In addition, one can admire Saracen castle
ruins and the houses from historic towns built out of
and upon the rock walls of the mountains. Tasting of olive
oil produced by local makers in the area.
- Departure for Venosa,
get situated at the Hotel, then dinner.
VIII giorno - Venosa,
Melfi, Venosa.
- Venosa, the city that takes us back to
the Roman domination thanks to the vestiges of the thermal
baths, the amphitheatre and the habitation of the celebrated
poet Quinto Orazio Flacco, the Latin poet of Carpe Diem.
Here you’ll admire the Paleo-Christian Abbey of
the Trinity which shows a rich historic and stylistic
stratification (Roman – Paleo-Christian - Norman),
the fascinating Incompiuta (a church never finished),
the Baptistery, the Cathedral (1470), the Public Baths
(1313) and finally the Aragonese Castle, the current site
of the Archaeological Museum.
- After lunch the visit continues on to
Melfi: here, the Baroque Cathedral dedicated to Saint
Alessandro, of which the original building dates back
to the Norman period, and the Castle from which the Melfi
Constitution was promulgated, the first collection of
laws that regulated was supposed to regulate life during
the reign of Federico II. The Castle is currently the
site of the National Museum of Archaeology.
- Return to Venosa and have dinner.
Day IX
- Breakfast and departure for return home.
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