Italian villages
Aliano, the Lucanian Badlands of Carlo Levi's Exile
Aliano, a Lucanian village amid the clay badlands, holds the memory of Carlo Levi's exile and an authentic, silent Basilicata.
Almost deserted Jun 21, 2026Tourism in the province of Matera
The province of Matera (Basilicata) is moderately touristy: 10,0 tourist arrivals per inhabitant per year (25th out of 107 Italian provinces, Eurostat data 2023).
Little-known destinations in the province of Matera
Churches and cathedrals
The rock-hewn Sistine Chapel: the Crypt of Original Sin
A few kilometres from the crowded Sassi of Matera, a cave painted by an anonymous Lombard master guards extraordinary frescoes that almost no one sees.
Very quiet Jun 21, 2026
City corners
Sasso Caveoso: the neighbourhoods where Matera still lives
In the less-trodden districts of the Sasso Caveoso a still-inhabited Matera survives, made of communal courtyards, steep stairways and silence.
Very quiet Jun 21, 2026
Archaeological sites
The Tavole Palatine of Metaponto: a Greek temple standing alone in the Lucanian countryside
Near the sea of Metaponto, fifteen Doric columns have stood for 25 centuries among the fields: the Magna Graecia temple that few come looking for.
Very quiet Jun 23, 2026
Italian villages
Craco: Inside Basilicata's Most Famous Ghost Town
A guide to visiting Craco, the Lucanian ghost town perched above the calanchi badlands and beloved by filmmakers. Guided routes, history and practical tips.
Almost deserted Jul 5, 2026
Italian villages
Tursi and the Rabatana: the Arab Quarter Suspended over the Calanchi
Tursi hides the Rabatana, an ancient Arab quarter perched on a spur above the Lucanian calanchi: a journey through time just a step away.
Almost deserted Jul 5, 2026
Even less crowded nearby:
Potenza (1,8).