Basilicata is a region of Southern Italy, which has two contrasting coasts, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian. Vine covered cliffs and coves with unspoiled beaches reaching out to the Azure Seas make the coastlines here unforgettable.
Basilicata offers a truly authentic Italian experience, with a unique sense of culture and traditions, ancient architectural ruins and spectacular landscapes.
Basilicata is one of Italy’s lesser known regions, untouched by mass tourism, the region has a unique charm that is slowly being discovered by visitors who are keen to get away from the tourist packed north and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of real Italy.
Activities
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Basilicata offers a wealth of opportunities for all kinds of activities to be enjoyed to suit every age, taste and budget.
Basilicata is the perfect destination for a walking or cycling holiday with a varied landscape, spectacular mountain scenery and protected National Parks. Skiing can be enjoyed in the winter months, and swimming, sailing and diving can be enjoyed throughout the summer months on the two idyllic coastlines.Try the exhilarating zipwire adventure of the ‘Flight of the Angel’ in the Lucanian Dolomites, or play a round of golf on one of the two championship courses. Why not try horse riding on the beach, or for the more adventurous white water rafting on the River Lao in the Pollino National Park
Cultural activities include cookery tours, wine tasting, a wealth of art, architecture and archaeology to explore, and traditional local festivals to enjoy.Walking and Hiking
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A walking tour in Basilicata will surprise you with the variety of beautiful landscapes you will encounter. From unusual excursions along ancient rock-cliff villages, the haunting moors and hills around Matera to the massive peaks of the Pollino National Park, you can walk through open praries, meadows carpeted with wildflowers in spring, and through the gentle forests and lake scenery of the smaller Gallipoli Cognato National Park.
Walking in Basilicata offers all the excitement of an adventure, but one you can enjoy at your own pace.
Basilicata offers a wealth of opportunities for all kinds of activities to be enjoyed to suit every age, taste and budget.
A walking tour in Basilicata will surprise you with the variety of beautiful landscapes you will encounter. From unusual excursions along ancient rock-cliff villages, the haunting moors and hills around Matera to the massive peaks of the Pollino National Park, you can walk through open praries, meadows carpeted with wildflowers in spring, and through the gentle forests and lake scenery of the smaller Gallipoli Cognato National Park. The National Parks and nature reserves in Basilicata offer a wide variety of hiking trails which are:
Watersports
Ionian coast
The Ionian coast is perfect for family holidays and for swimming with children, since the beaches shelve gently into the sea and the water is shallow near the shore. The coast also has facilities for wind surfing, water skiing and sailing. The 'Circolo Velico Akiris Lucano" in Policoro offers several courses from canoeing to water skiing, sailing and wind surfing.Maratea coast
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The beautiful short stretch of Tyrrhenian coast around Maratea offers excellent opportunities for swimming; snorkelling and diving can be experienced from the many rocky coves. The Centro Sub Maratea, based in Santa Caterina, offers diving courses and excursions. The Matatea coast is perfect for sailing; during the holiday season it is also possible to hire boats or go on a sailing or fishing trip. It is worth taking a boat ride to visit some of the famous sea caves along the Maratea coast.Lake Senise
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Lake Senise offers a variety of watersports including rowing, canoeing and sailing through very beautiful water courses created on the shores of this artificial lake. Lake Senise also hosts some important national rowing events, drawing in athletes from the whole of Italy.Rafting
Rafting can be experienced in Pollino National Park on the River Lao, which is just across the boarder with Calabria. Rafting is suitable for both families and individuals who want an intense experience, full of adrenaline. Experienced guides are on hand to lead the rafts down the river, passing stunning natural sights. Wetsuit, helmet and life vest are included.Water parks
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Basilicata offers three Water parks throughout the region: “Acquazzurra” in Metaponto, “Acqua Park” in the Val d'Agri and “Le Onde Venosapark”. These are suitable for all ages, with heated pools, Jacuzzis, numerous flumes and slides and a variety of children's attractions.
The beautiful short stretch of Tyrrhenian coast around Maratea offers excellent opportunities for swimming; snorkelling and diving can be experienced from the many rocky coves. The Centro Sub Maratea, based in Santa Caterina, offers diving courses and excursions. The Matatea coast is perfect for sailing; during the holiday season it is also possible to hire boats or go on a sailing or fishing trip. It is worth taking a boat ride to visit some of the famous sea caves along the Maratea coast.
Lake Senise offers a variety of watersports including rowing, canoeing and sailing through very beautiful water courses created on the shores of this artificial lake. Lake Senise also hosts some important national rowing events, drawing in athletes from the whole of Italy.
Basilicata offers three Water parks throughout the region: “Acquazzurra” in Metaponto, “Acqua Park” in the Val d'Agri and “Le Onde Venosapark”. These are suitable for all ages, with heated pools, Jacuzzis, numerous flumes and slides and a variety of children's attractions.Horse Riding
Basilicata is a fabulous place for a horse riding holiday and offers a wide variety of landscapes to explore, including beautiful countryside of mountains and lakes, cornfields, olive groves and vineyards. There are a variety of riding schools and agriturismo holidays which also offer horse riding in the towns and villages surrounding Potenza. For a day trip, why not visit the Nature reserve of Pantano Regional Forest Reserve and try horse riding on the beach.
Golf
For keen golfers there are two 18-hole championship golf courses located within 10 km of each other close to Metaponto on the Ionian Coast. The location of these courses, near the coast and also close to many places of interest including the UNESCO world heritage site of Matera, enable visitors to enjoy golfing and sightseeing in one holiday.
Mild climatic conditions make it possible to enjoy a golf vacation here all year-round, in the quiet and peaceful surroundings.
Metaponto Golf Club, described as “a green oasis for golf lovers” is situated on the Ionian coast in Metaponto. The par 72, 18 hole championship golf course is enjoys stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Less than 10km away, is the Riva dei Tessali Golf Club which is located within the beautiful secular pine-forest that borders the Ionian Sea.
Winter Sports
Skiing is becoming increasingly popular in this region; Basilicata’s high mountains transform this popular summer destination into a skier’s paradise in winter. Basilicata offers three different ski resorts which offer high quality slopes and facilities for all ages: La Sella-Pierfaone, Area Sirino and Volturino-Viggiano.
The resort of La Selle-Pierfaone situated in the town of Abriola, only 24 km from Potenza, is the most popular resort due to its stunning location with breathtaking views and its well-equipped skiing centres.
Area Sirino is located in Lagonegro in the north of the region, 112km from Potenza. The resort offers alpine and cross-country ski slopes for all levels of experience with several ski tows and a chair lift that reaches 1800 meters.
The resort of Volturino-Viggiano is situated 88km from Potenza in Val d'Agri and is located between the mountains Vulturino and Viggiano. Volturino-Viggiano is a well appreciated ski resort with seven runs in total at an altitude ranging between 1400.
