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Spread the cost, paying in instalments as often as you like up to 28 days before you travel
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.
Exciting tours and activities
From priority access for attractions, to day trips to historic sites, here’s our must see activities in Basilicata
Matera tour with cave homes and local food tasting
Matera has a lot going for it – it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, European Capital of Culture 2019 and a cave city dating back over 5,000 years. Tour its historic lanes and ancient cave dwellings, try local Basilicata food and wine, then choose to visit the cave house museum or a rupestrian church. Anna, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The cave houses of Matera were once considered a shameful place to live, best known for poverty, disease and crime. Nowadays, many caves have been transformed into chic homes, restaurants, and hotels.'Considered one of the most outstanding and intact troglodyte settlements, Matera's big draw are the ancient cave dwellings known as ‘sassi', which translates to ‘stones'. First up, we'll check out the baroque quarter, where churches and palaces are built on top of the caves. Next, we'll venture into the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso areas to see ancient sassi carved into the flanks of Gravina canyon. The dramatic setting overlooking the wild, rocky landscape is all part of the charm.You'll pause for thought in the old quarters, where inhabitants lived in squalor up until the 1950s, which was when the whole population of around 20,000 was rehoused. Wandering around today's visually arresting town, it seems hard to believe how tough life once was here. You'll also get to try typical food and wine at Lucany Restaurant, before choosing between an optional visit to the cave house museum or a rupestrian church, cut into the rock.
Free cancellation
Secrets of Alberobello Tour from Central Puglia
1 reviewA UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of the famous ‘trulli' houses, Alberobello is one fascinating place to explore. You'll see a different side to this Puglian town by visiting the district of Aia Piccola, meeting a couple who live in a ‘trullo' and tasting local food.
Free cancellation
Archaeological tour of Bari
Take a guided tour and discover the most important archaeological excavations and museums in Bari.
Free cancellation
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Easy ways to pay
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Your Basilicata questions, answered
Absolutely – there are guided tours of Matera’s caves (known as ‘sassi’), where you’ll learn more about the people who inhabited them from prehistoric times right up until the 1950s.
