Italian & Overseas Property Specialists

Potenza

The stunning region of Potenza has an epic landscape of vast forested mountains stretching down to the sparkling Tyrrhenian coast. Potenza is home to one of Italy's prettiest beach resorts which is almost completely unknown to foreigners, Maratea, here you can find friendly people, fantastic restaurants and an excellent range of rental accommodation from simple to luxurious. There are miles and miles of dense forests and dramatic plunging cliffs and the historical centre is a warren of cobble lanes with craft shops, Delicatessen and local Trattorie selling gifts and local produce at reasonable prices.

Matera

The enchanting city of Matera was relatively unknown until it became the film set for Mel Gibsons "The Passion of Christ". The ancient old city was carved out of a rocky ravine and the natural caves became the first architecture from the Neolithic people who dwelled there. The mysterious labyrinth of white caves known as Sassi were inhabited until 1960 when the Italian government noted their deterioration and deemed them unsafe to live in. Now the ancient centre is a ghost town. There are many local guides offering tours of the city with a special insight to how people used to live, they will help you to discover special places to visit within this mystical place.

The region was originally known as Luciana named for the Lucanians tribe, who were the first known settlers. The Greeks invaded in the 7th century BC, expanding their Magna Grecca empire and establishing settlements at Siris Metaponto and Heracala. They also developed basic agriculture and started trading. The area suffered a demographic crisis due to a large number of the population emigrating from which it is still recovering today, however in 1994 Fiat established a large factory in Melfi which lead to and influx of jobs and saw the local economoy grow. The artistic history of this beautiful region tells a long and varied tale, from Lucian pottery, for which the regions is still renown to Romanesque mosaics. The region is famed for its many churches and castles displaying Byzantine Frescoes.

• Visit Metaponto with it's archaeological park and stunning beach on the Ionian coast.
• Take a trip to see the Sassi at Matera, location for The Passion of Christ.
• Hike, Horse ride, Cycle or even White Water Raft through the Pollina National Park.
• Take a 'Flight of The Angels' at Castelmezzano.
• Go nature trailing in Gallipoli Cagnato park.
• Join the sophisticated locals in the oh-so-pretty, chic and up and coming seaside town of Maratea.
• Admire the Christ The Redeemer statue, standing over 21 m high.
• Rent a boat and discover private coves, grottos and beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast.
• Snorkel and Dive in some of Europe's cleanest water thanks to a unique water purification system.

Flights

Direct flights to nearby airports:
Palese Airport in Bari is served by Ryanair flights from London Stansted:
The airport is located 15 Km from Bari City centre.
The Tempesta Company operate a 30 minute bus service to the city centre from the airport.
Taxis are available outside arrivals, journey time to the city is 15-20 minutes and cost is approximately €20.00.
Car hire outlets are available at the airport.

If you are traveling around the region by car or motorbike, you will need a detailed road map of the region. Autostradas such as the A16 (running west-east) and the A3 are fast roads; however you will need to use the state roads ('S' or 'SS') to really explore the region. Many of the small towns and villages are accessed via the provincial roads ('P' or 'SP').

Bus

SITA (www.sitabus.it) covers most of Basilicata, however a variety of companies offer bus services. Buses can be limited in low season, Sundays and Bank holidays, so ensure you research your route if you are planning on traveling at these times. Bus timetables can be picked up from Tourist offices, and in some smaller towns and villages bus tickets are sold in bars and tabaccherie (Tobacconists).

Taxis

Local taxi numbers are available from the tourism offices, and you can usually find them at bus and train stations. Taxis aren't particularly cheap, however useful for shorter journeys.

Cycling

If you're bringing your own bike, or hiring one locally be sure to wear a helmet and have all the relevant maps with you. Bikes can be taken on any train carrying the bike logo, and all ferries allow free bike passage. You will find bike hire outlets in most of the major towns, and there are organised cycling tours in Matera and Pollino National Park among other places.

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