Grand Tour of the Basilicata 5D/4N

The Vulture valley - photo courtesy of Basilicata Tourist BoardStart in Melfi, the city of Emperor Frederick II where his formidable castle still stands, and travel along the Vulture, where the Aglianico grape is made into an excellent unique wine and finsih the day strolling in Venosa, the town of Horace full of Roman archaeological remains. As you travel you will witness the signs of different civilizations and be able to taste the excellent quality of the local products, especially the pecorino cheese. In Matera you will spend the entire day visiting the famous Sassi, perched on the edge of a deep ravine where people once lived in dwellings scooped out of the limestone rock. The outskirts of Matera reserve for us many treasures: Montescaglioso hosts a magnificent Benedictine abbey, Miglionico is overshadowed by the austere castle of the Malconsiglio and Ferrandina discloses, through the care of a few olive presses, the organoletticis secrets of the Majatica olive. The Ionic Sea beckons us with its coast recalling the splendor of its ancient Greek colonies, while driving up the crest between the Agri and Sinni River, in a landscape dominated by the calanchi, arises the beautiful Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Anglona.

Sassi in Matera - photo courtesy of Basilicata Tourist BoardThe Sassi of Matera - This is the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem. The first inhabited zone dates from the Palaeolithic, while later settlements illustrate a number of significant stages in human history. The Sassi are houses dug into the tuff rock itself, which is characteritic of Basilicata and Puglia. Many of these “houses” are really only caverns, and the streets in some parts of the Sassi often are located on the rooftops of other houses. The ancient town grew in height on one slope of the ravine created by a river that is now a small stream. In the 1950s, the government of Italy forcefully relocated most of the population of the Sassi to areas of the developing modern city. However, people continued to live in the Sassi, and according to Fodor’s guide: “ Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago. ”

Until the late 1980s this was considered an area of poverty, since these houses were, and in most areas still are, mostly unlivable. Current local administration, however, has become more tourism-oriented, and has promoted the re-generation of the Sassi with the aid of the European Union, the government, UNESCO, and Hollywood. Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels. One of the benefits of the ancient city, is that there is a great similarity in the look of the Sassi with that of ancient sites in and around Jerusalem. This has caught the eye of film directors and movie studios.

Tour Operation

The bay at Maratea - photo courtesy of Basilicata Tourist BoardTransportation:

  • Self Drive - For those wanting to explore this region at their own pace as it allows you to be mobile at all times, to stop whenever you want, to visit to your heart’s content. It is also the Best Value available as to cost

  • Chauffeur Driven - When only the best will suffice, an exclusive chauffeur-driven limousine will provide the ultimate in service and luxury. Our English-speaking experienced drivers still know what it means to give polite and reliable service, you will find them responsible, caring, discreet and completely dedicated to your enjoyment.

Accommodation: A great variety of properties are available, from quaint small hotels to deluxe accommodation including boutique properties and castles, to suit every taste and budget. Our experts will suggest the best properties for you in each region as required by your itinerary.

Visits: You will have the opportunity to visit local companies and producers where the most distinguished regional specialties are produced and see where the most famous grapes have been grown, with the opportunity to walk among the vineyards - local producers and wineries will be suggested depending on your itinerary

Restaurants: We have carefully selected regional restaurants where you will have the opportunity to experience and taste the very best of the cuisine specific to each region.

Possible Visits on the program: Vini Paternoster, Vini Cantine del Notaio, Caseificio Piano della Spina, Frantoio Oleario La Certosa

Suggested Daily Itinerary by Area:

    Aglianico del Vulture wine - photo courtesy of Basilicata Tourist Board
  • On the traces of Frederick II and Horace - Melfi is the city of Emperor Frederick II; his formidable castle is famous because it was there that he proclaimed his Constitutiones Augustales, a code that unified his kingdom as a state. Following the routes bordering Vulture, you arrive at Barile that with Rionero, constitute the heart of the district of the local Aglianico. There we will stop in a wine cellar to taste this excellent unique wine. After lunch, Venosa will reveal to us its Roman archaeological remains as well as the medieval past of its famous Latin poet, Horace. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

  • Aglianico and pecorino - Our visit to a wine cellar located in Rionero in Vulturewill provides us with a closer look at Aglianico’s art of wine making. Farther south, in Lagopesole, another castle on top of a hill returns us to the epoch of the Swabian domination. The plateau of Filiano is not far, and is known for its excellent quality of pecorino cheese production.This is a compact and peppery cheese, produced from ewe’s milk. We will stop in a dairy and have a guided tasting. In the afternoon a tortuous road guides us to the small but enchanting geological district of the Lucano Dolomites of Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano, where sharp peaks and crests embrace small villages. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

  • Sassi di Matera - The entire day will be spent visiting Matera and the famous Sassi, currently under the protection of Unesco. Perched on the edge of a deep ravine, Matera consists of the bustling upper district and the silent lower Sassi (cave) district, divided into the Sasso Barisano and the more picturesque Sasso Caveoso. The people of Matera once lived here in dwellings scooped out of the limestone rock. The two parts are odd neighbors, making Matera one of the most fascinating cities in Southern Italy. The town is embellished by the elegant buildings in its town center, the amazing rock-perched churches, and its elegant Cathedral. Lunch will be based on the savory regional specialties. We suggest you try the various breads, ricotta and fresh cheeses, pasta or fried vegetables. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

    • Typical spicy sausage - photo courtesy of Basilicata Tourist Board

  • Ancient conspiracies and savory olives - The outskirts of Matera reserve for us many treasures. Montescaglioso hosts a magnificent Benedictine abbey. The modestly inhabited area of Miglionico is overshadowed by the austere castle of the Malconsiglio, made famous by the conspiracy of the barons against the Spanish crown. Then there is Ferrandina that discloses, through the care of a few olive presses, the organoletticis secrets of the Majatica olive. This particular olive is an ideal cultivar for both gastronomical preparation as well as excellent extra virgin olive oil. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

  • Magna Graecia lucana - The Ionic Sea beckons us with its coast recalling the splendor of its ancient Greek colonies. Resting among orchards, in the archaeological site of Metaponto, are columns belonging to the temple of Hera. Farther into the hinterland of Policoro are the ruins of cities such as Siris-Heraclea. Nearby is the small museum of the Sirìtide. Driving up the crest between the Agri and Sinni River, in a landscape dominated by the calanchi, arises the beautiful Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Anglona. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.


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Also tagged with: Independent Journeys, Europe, Italy, Archaeology, Self Drive, Educational, Cultural, Special Interest, Art / Architecture, Culinary / Wine Discoveries, Join-In Tour, Customized Programs, Private Tour, Intriguing Getaway, Region, Basilicata


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