BASILICATABASILICATA

AN ITALY’S AN ITALY’S REGIONREGION

Italy is divided in 20 regions and Italy is divided in 20 regions and 110 provinces. Basilicata region, 110 provinces. Basilicata region,

the red one, is in the south.the red one, is in the south.

Basilicata region is Basilicata region is about 617.000 about 617.000 inhabitants.inhabitants.

Basilicata, also called Basilicata, also called Lucania, covers 9992 Lucania, covers 9992 km2 .km2 .

The region is divided in The region is divided in two provinces Potenza two provinces Potenza and Matera.and Matera.

The regional capital is The regional capital is Potenza.Potenza.

Basilicata has got two coastlines Basilicata has got two coastlines along the Tyrrhenian Sea and the along the Tyrrhenian Sea and the

Ionic Sea.Ionic Sea.

Maratea Tyrrhenian Sea POLICORO Ionic Sea

Her main rivers Her main rivers are Basento, are Basento, Bradano, Agri Bradano, Agri and Sinni.and Sinni.

They rising in They rising in the Appennine the Appennine and flowing into and flowing into the Ionic Sea.the Ionic Sea.

AGRI RIVER , 136 km

Basilicata has very remote Basilicata has very remote origins.origins.

Paleolithic finds have Paleolithic finds have been found near Venosa. been found near Venosa. Mesolithic are the rocky Mesolithic are the rocky paintings found not far paintings found not far from Filiano. Neolithic are from Filiano. Neolithic are the tombs near Matera.the tombs near Matera.

Greek and Roman Greek and Roman civilizations have left civilizations have left important traces, such important traces, such as Metaponto and as Metaponto and Eraclea, Venosa, Matera, Eraclea, Venosa, Matera, Melfi and Grumento.Melfi and Grumento.

Metaponto

In the VII-XI century, Basilian In the VII-XI century, Basilian monks come in Basilicatamonks come in Basilicata

They use the many They use the many caves of this territory caves of this territory as their own as their own habitations or churches habitations or churches (lauree basiliane). (lauree basiliane).

These cave churches, These cave churches, called “Chiese called “Chiese rupestri” contain rupestri” contain precious mural precious mural paintings.paintings.

Afterwards Normans build Afterwards Normans build Romanesque cathedralsRomanesque cathedrals

Swabians and Swabians and Angevins leave Angevins leave Gothic and Gothic and Renaissance Renaissance castles: the castle castles: the castle of Lagopesole, the of Lagopesole, the castle of Melfi, castle of Melfi, the castle of the castle of Miglionico and the Miglionico and the castle of Venosa. castle of Venosa.

LAGOPESOLE CASTLE ( XIII century)Hunter mansion of Frederick II

Basilicata's capital is Potenza, Basilicata's capital is Potenza, situated on a mountain 819 situated on a mountain 819

metres high.metres high.

The true history of PotenzaThe true history of Potenza lies within the old city centre. lies within the old city centre.

The main street (Via The main street (Via Pretoria), the squares (Piazza Pretoria), the squares (Piazza Mario Pagano, Piazza Mario Pagano, Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Duca Matteotti and Piazza Duca della Verdura), the cathedral della Verdura), the cathedral (St. Gerardo's cathedral - XII (St. Gerardo's cathedral - XII century), the churches (the century), the churches (the Trinity church, St. Francis Trinity church, St. Francis church ) the heritage sites, church ) the heritage sites, the Guevara tower, the the Guevara tower, the aristocratic palaces, the aristocratic palaces, the remains of a Roman villa and remains of a Roman villa and the archeological museums the archeological museums tell of its heritage and culture tell of its heritage and culture throught the centuries. throught the centuries.

St. Gerardo's cathedralSt. Gerardo's cathedral

Another important town in Basilicata is Another important town in Basilicata is MateraMatera

declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in

1993.1993. It is famous as the “città It is famous as the “città

dei Sassi” because of the dei Sassi” because of the ancient dwellings carved ancient dwellings carved out of the tuff rock of two out of the tuff rock of two ravines inhabited until ravines inhabited until the XX century.the XX century.

In the Sassi there are In the Sassi there are over 150 cave churches over 150 cave churches with frescoes in the Latin with frescoes in the Latin and Byzantine style and Byzantine style evidence of the monastic evidence of the monastic civilization which civilization which converged here over the converged here over the centuries.centuries.

Basilicata is also known to being a Basilicata is also known to being a wild region with her wild region with her

uncontaminated lanscape full of uncontaminated lanscape full of woods and mountains.woods and mountains.

Among them the Among them the Pollino National Pollino National Park. Park. It takes its name It takes its name from the Pollino from the Pollino Massif (highest Massif (highest peak 2,267 m). peak 2,267 m). The park's symbol The park's symbol is the Bosnian is the Bosnian PinePine

St.Martin celebrationSt.Martin celebration

LE GLORIELE GLORIEScannoScanno

Scanno is a nice village in the province of Scanno is a nice village in the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.Italy.

During the so During the so called “estate di called “estate di S.Martino” all the S.Martino” all the people of Scanno people of Scanno celebrated celebrated St.Martin and all St.Martin and all the men of the the men of the village prepare “ le village prepare “ le glorie”.glorie”.

““Le glorie “are huge wood piles, very high, thatLe glorie “are huge wood piles, very high, that

people of Scanno build to celebrate St. Martin people of Scanno build to celebrate St. Martin

Le glorie are tower made of leaves, Le glorie are tower made of leaves, bushes,dead wood. The four tall poles that bushes,dead wood. The four tall poles that supported the structure are called supported the structure are called “palanconi”“palanconi”

Scanno is divided in three quarters San Scanno is divided in three quarters San Martino,Plaia and Cardella and three are the glorie Martino,Plaia and Cardella and three are the glorie that are built on the hills surrounding the village. that are built on the hills surrounding the village.

Groups of 70, 80 men of every quarter work for the whole week before St. Martin to prepare wood towers

Children too build “le glorie” …Children too build “le glorie” …but not very tall indeed.but not very tall indeed.

During the night of During the night of St. Martin the St. Martin the leaders of Scanno leaders of Scanno quarters set fire to quarters set fire to the” glorie” and the” glorie” and wood towers burn wood towers burn all night long.all night long.

People eat a traditional food called “pizza coi People eat a traditional food called “pizza coi quattrini”a cake made of maize flour,walnut, dried quattrini”a cake made of maize flour,walnut, dried figs, honey with a coin symbol of plenty and wealth.figs, honey with a coin symbol of plenty and wealth.

People drink the new wine (novello) and the People drink the new wine (novello) and the bonfires floodlight all Scannobonfires floodlight all Scanno