A rich and alluring Italian region
Dramatically beautiful Basilicata is a region of rugged mountain ranges and towns perched above deep-green forests, dizzying gorges and sparkling sea. And it’s the location of one of Italy’s most extraordinary towns: Unesco-listed Matera, whose houses are built into and above natural caves at the edge of a gorge.
Basilicata holidays can be about beaches, too, as the region has some ridiculously charming coastline close to the town of Maratea, edged by a twisting road with views to rival those on the Amalfi Coast. The beaches here are black sand, lapped by a dark-blue Tyrrhenian Sea, and the towns sit on wooded hills, with buildings the colours of pale sherbet. Near Metaponto there are more lovely beaches, as well as spectacular ancient ruins. To discover a part of Italy that feels like a well-kept secret (loved by those in the know), holidays to Basilicata are a wonderful choice.
Explore our map of Basilicata