2. Italy is divided in 20 regions and 110Italy is divided in 20 regions and 110
provinces. Basilicata region, the redprovinces. Basilicata region, the red
one, is in the south.one, is in the south.
3. Basilicata region is aboutBasilicata region is about
617.000 inhabitants.617.000 inhabitants.
Basilicata, also calledBasilicata, also called
Lucania, covers 9992 km2Lucania, covers 9992 km2
..
The region is divided inThe region is divided in
two provinces Potenzatwo provinces Potenza
and Matera.and Matera.
The regional capital isThe regional capital is
Potenza.Potenza.
4. Basilicata has got two coastlinesBasilicata has got two coastlines
along the Tyrrhenian Sea and thealong the Tyrrhenian Sea and the
Ionic Sea.Ionic Sea.
Maratea Tyrrhenian Sea POLICORO Ionic Sea
5. Her main riversHer main rivers
are Basento,are Basento,
Bradano, Agri andBradano, Agri and
Sinni.Sinni.
They rising in theThey rising in the
Appennine andAppennine and
flowing into theflowing into the
Ionic Sea.Ionic Sea.
AGRI RIVER , 136 km
6. Basilicata has very remoteBasilicata has very remote
origins.origins.
Paleolithic finds havePaleolithic finds have
been found near Venosa.been found near Venosa.
Mesolithic are the rockyMesolithic are the rocky
paintings found not farpaintings found not far
from Filiano. Neolithic arefrom Filiano. Neolithic are
the tombs near Matera.the tombs near Matera.
Greek and RomanGreek and Roman
civilizations have leftcivilizations have left
important traces, such asimportant traces, such as
Metaponto and Eraclea,Metaponto and Eraclea,
Venosa, Matera, MelfiVenosa, Matera, Melfi
and Grumento.and Grumento.
Metaponto
7. In the VII-XI century, BasilianIn the VII-XI century, Basilian
monks come in Basilicatamonks come in Basilicata
They use the manyThey use the many
caves of this territory ascaves of this territory as
their own habitations ortheir own habitations or
churches (laureechurches (lauree
basiliane).basiliane).
These cave churches,These cave churches,
called “Chiese rupestri”called “Chiese rupestri”
contain precious muralcontain precious mural
paintings.paintings.
8. Afterwards Normans buildAfterwards Normans build
Romanesque cathedralsRomanesque cathedrals
Swabians andSwabians and
Angevins leaveAngevins leave
Gothic andGothic and
RenaissanceRenaissance
castles: the castle ofcastles: the castle of
Lagopesole, theLagopesole, the
castle of Melfi, thecastle of Melfi, the
castle of Miglionicocastle of Miglionico
and the castle ofand the castle of
Venosa.Venosa. LAGOPESOLE CASTLE ( XIII century)
Hunter mansion of Frederick II
9. Basilicata's capital is Potenza,Basilicata's capital is Potenza,
situated on a mountain 819situated on a mountain 819
metres high.metres high.
10. 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 Pretoria),The main street (Via Pretoria),
the squares (Piazza Mariothe squares (Piazza Mario
Pagano, Piazza Matteotti andPagano, Piazza Matteotti and
Piazza Duca della Verdura),Piazza Duca della Verdura),
the cathedral (St. Gerardo'sthe cathedral (St. Gerardo's
cathedral - XII century), thecathedral - XII century), the
churches (the Trinity church,churches (the Trinity church,
St. Francis church ) theSt. Francis church ) the
heritage sites, the Guevaraheritage sites, the Guevara
tower, the aristocratic palaces,tower, the aristocratic palaces,
the remains of a Roman villathe remains of a Roman villa
and the archeologicaland the archeological
museums tell of its heritagemuseums tell of its heritage
and culture throught theand culture throught the
centuries.centuries.
St. Gerardo's cathedralSt. Gerardo's cathedral
11. Another important town in Basilicata is MateraAnother important town in Basilicata is Matera
declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO indeclared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in
1993.1993.
It is famous as the “cittàIt is famous as the “città
dei Sassi” because of thedei Sassi” because of the
ancient dwellings carvedancient dwellings carved
out of the tuff rock of twoout of the tuff rock of two
ravines inhabited until theravines inhabited until the
XX century.XX century.
In the Sassi there areIn the Sassi there are
over 150 cave churchesover 150 cave churches
with frescoes in the Latinwith frescoes in the Latin
and Byzantine styleand Byzantine style
evidence of the monasticevidence of the monastic
civilization whichcivilization which
converged here over theconverged here over the
centuries.centuries.
12. Basilicata is also known to being aBasilicata is also known to being a
wild region with her uncontaminatedwild region with her uncontaminated
lanscape full of woods andlanscape full of woods and
mountains.mountains.
Among them theAmong them the
Pollino NationalPollino National
Park.Park.
It takes its nameIt takes its name
from the Pollinofrom the Pollino
Massif (highestMassif (highest
peak 2,267 m).peak 2,267 m).
The park's symbolThe park's symbol
is the Bosnianis the Bosnian
PinePine
14. Scanno is a nice village in the province ofScanno is a nice village in the province of
L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.
15. During the so calledDuring the so called
“estate di S.Martino”“estate di S.Martino”
all the people ofall the people of
Scanno celebratedScanno celebrated
St.Martin and all theSt.Martin and all the
men of the villagemen of the village
prepare “ le glorie”.prepare “ le glorie”.
16. ““Le glorie “are huge wood piles, very high, thatLe glorie “are huge wood piles, very high, that
people of Scanno build to celebrate St. Martinpeople of Scanno build to celebrate St. Martin
17. Le glorie are tower made of leaves, bushes,deadLe glorie are tower made of leaves, bushes,dead
wood. The four tall poles that supported thewood. The four tall poles that supported the
structure are called “palanconi”structure are called “palanconi”
18. Scanno is divided in three quarters San Martino,Plaia andScanno is divided in three quarters San Martino,Plaia and
Cardella and three are the glorie that are built on the hillsCardella and three are the glorie that are built on the hills
surrounding the village.surrounding the village.
19. Groups of 70,
80 men of every
quarter work for
the whole week
before St.
Martin to
prepare wood
towers
20. Children too build “le glorie” …butChildren too build “le glorie” …but
not very tall indeed.not very tall indeed.
21. During the night of St.During the night of St.
Martin the leaders ofMartin the leaders of
Scanno quarters setScanno quarters set
fire to the” glorie” andfire to the” glorie” and
wood towers burn allwood towers burn all
night long.night long.
22. People eat a traditional food called “pizza coi quattrini”aPeople eat a traditional food called “pizza coi quattrini”a
cake made of maize flour,walnut, dried figs, honey with acake made of maize flour,walnut, dried figs, honey with a
coin symbol of plenty and wealth.coin symbol of plenty and wealth.
23. People drink the new wine (novello) and thePeople drink the new wine (novello) and the
bonfires floodlight all Scannobonfires floodlight all Scanno
