Basilicata
Basilicata is a mountainous region in southern Italy known for Matera's cave churches, two national parks and towns with few visitors.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Basilicata is an administrative region in southern Italy, also called Lucania, with Potenza as its regional capital. It borders Campania, Apulia and Calabria. It is the most mountainous region in southern Italy, and the Pollino and Sirino massifs are its highest peaks. It has a short coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea and a longer, low, sandy coast on the Ionian. Matera is the best-known city. Its Sassi, the old cave-dwelling quarter, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Matera's rock churches pair well with a national park or the Ionian coast, and Craco, an abandoned hill town, and the Greek site at Metaponto add history. Basilicata has no airport of its own, so travellers usually fly into Bari, Lamezia Terme or Naples and rent a car. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking in the parks and the Sassi. Summer is hot and dry, and mountain winters bring snow. Plan at least three days for Matera and one other area, since mountain roads are slow.
Basilicata in five
- Fly into Bari, Naples or Lamezia TermeBasilicata has no commercial airport, so travellers usually land at Bari, Naples or Lamezia Terme and continue by car or train. The only landing strip is a small aviosuperficie at Pisticci, not an airport for scheduled flights.
- Rent a car for the interiorThe mountains make the region slow to cross, and the Sicignano degli Alburni to Lagonegro railway has been out of service since 1987. Craco, Aliano and the Pollino area are much easier with a car. The A2 runs along the Tyrrhenian side and the SS106 along the Ionian coast.Getting around
- Download offline maps before the driveRoads inland follow the river valleys, so save the routes to your phone before you leave Matera or the coast.Phones and eSIM
- Plan around the Madonna della Bruna on 2 JulyMatera's patron feast, the Madonna della Bruna, takes place on 2 July with a procession through the city. Plan your Matera nights around it if you want to see it.Festivals
- Wear grippy shoes on the Sassi stepsThe Sassi sit on steep ravine slopes, and landslides are common across the region because of weak rock and soil. Stay off unstable ground and check the path before you walk down.Matera
Things to do in Basilicata
See all attractions in Basilicata
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules; many passports visa-free, check the Italian visa portal Read more
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency, 118 ambulance, 113 police
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up at cafes and restaurants is common
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow inland
- FebruaryCold, snow inland
- MarchMild, quiet
- AprilWalking weather
- MayWalking weather
- JuneWarm, dry
- JulyHot, Madonna della Bruna feast
- AugustHot, dry
- SeptemberWarm, walking
- OctoberAutumn walking
- NovemberCooling, snow in hills
- DecemberCold, snow inland
Right now in Basilicata
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 58%
Basilicata
01:51 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today11°5°58%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 58%.
- Wed12°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°6°15%Thursday: Fog. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri11°6°42%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 42%.
- Sat14°7°43%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sun15°5°28%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 28%.
Updated 09:43 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Metapontoabout 40 minutes by carGreek ruins at Metapontum and the Tavole Palatine temple on the Ionian coast.
- Cracoabout 1 hour by carA ghost town abandoned after natural disasters, now one of the best-known in the world.
- Alianoabout 1.5 hours by carThe village where Carlo Levi was exiled, set among the Calanchi clay ravines.
Before you go to Basilicata
Rules for Basilicata, checked
- Check whether your passport allows visa-free entry to Italy under the Schengen rules, using the official Italian visa portal before you book.Source
- Protected species are covered by law. The Pollino pine and the Primula palinuri on the Gulf of Policastro coast must not be picked or damaged.
- Keep to marked paths in Pollino National Park and follow park rules, since the area is a protected national park and UNESCO geopark.
- Heed closure signs on mountain roads and stay off unstable slopes, because landslides are common where the rock and soil are weak.
Plan around Basilicata
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for an Italy trip
Read the guideMateraThe Sassi, the rock churches and the region's best-known city
Read the guideGetting around BasilicataFlights, trains, buses and rental cars for a mountain region
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Italy and how to check your passport
Read the guideMoney and costsTypical prices for beds, meals, transport and sights
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare bases in Matera and along the coast before you book
Read the guideBasilicata FAQ
Where is Basilicata and what is it known for?
Basilicata is a mountainous region in southern Italy, between Campania, Apulia and Calabria. It is best known for Matera's cave-dwelling quarter, the Sassi, and its rock churches.
Is Basilicata worth visiting?
Yes, if you want hill towns, archaeology and cave churches more than crowds. Outside Matera and the coasts, visitors are few and accommodation is limited, so book early.
How many days do you need in Basilicata?
Three days covers Matera and one interior day trip, such as Craco or Aliano. Add a coast day if you want the sea, because travel between places is slow.
Which airport should I use for Basilicata?
Fly into Bari, Naples or Lamezia Terme, since Basilicata has no commercial airport of its own. Most visitors then drive or take a train into the region.
When is the best time to visit Basilicata?
Spring and autumn are best for walking in the parks and visiting the Sassi. Summer is hot and dry on the coasts and inland, and the mountains are cold with snow from November to March.
Is Matera worth a visit?
Yes. The Sassi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and the rock churches and the National Archaeological Museum Domenico Ridola are in the city.