Basilicata, a region of peninsular Italy bordered by Puglia to the north-east, Campania to the west and Calabria to the south, has a surface area of 9992 sq. km. and a population of 603,000 counting the 131 municipalities of Potenza, the chief town, and Matera, it is crossed from north to south by the Lucano Apennine, the mountains of which , except for the Pollino Massif, on the boundary with Calabria, and the Sirino to the south-west, do not exceed two thousand metresin height. The main rivers: the Sinni, the Agri, the Basento and the Bradano rise in the Apennines and flow into the Ionian Sea characterizing most of orographical and climatic aspects of the region. The most interesting aspects of this region are certainly ist mountains, where an intricate vegetation gives a fairytale air to the landscape - a feature of the Vulture area - alternates with less woody surroundings and where the erosive action of wind and water has marked the appearance of the Lucan Dolomites. The scenery which greets the tourists between Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano is spectacular: pinnacles rising to the sky, almost as prehistoric monsters with dwellings hollowed out in the rock base as a defence against barbaris raids.

In the Lucano Apennine has made Basilicata an evocative and ecologically intact region from a scenaric or naturalistic point of view, it for years hindered its access to communication by means of motorway traffic. Basilicata is not however all mountains, in spite of those who can imagine it inly thus, it is washer by two seas. To the west, pushing itself in between Campania and Calabria it is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the steep and rocky coast of which appears Maratea a pearl of seaside tourism, with the simplicity and uncontaminated purity of the region it belongs to. To the south of the Ionian Sea, where a coastal strip of approximately 40 kilometres with fine sand beaches and studded with hotel an other amenities in continuos development lies: the Lidos of Metaponto, of Scanzano and of Policoro are the best known and patronized. Behind them, on the Metaponto Plane, are the impressive remains of what civilization was able to create during the colonizing expansion on Italian ground between the 8th and the 5th centuries B.C.

If tourism has found its natural outlet on the Ionic and Tyrrhenic coastal strips, a more evocative and genuine tourism is offered inland to whoever goes in search of the simple and the genuine. Basilicata offers the best of these and the people show that affable hospitality deeply rooted in a past rich in history and culture.

The Lucan history and culture have distinct origins. The lithis discoveries founded in the Venosa are Paleolhitic. The interesting rock paintings brought to light in the locality of Toppa li Sassi near Filiano (Potenza) belong to the Mesolithic period. the remains of tombs and dwellings found in the Matera area are Neolithic. The Greek and Roman civilizations have left evidence of great importance: Metaponto and Eraclea, Venosa, Matera, Melfi and Grumento are the most significant centres. From the 7th century to the 11th, linked to the form of the land and scenery, in Basilicata and aboveall at Matera. the true "Thebaid" of Italy, the monastical Order of St. Basil affirms itself giving life to a singular expression of art: the basilian laurels. These are grotto churches, about a hundred known ones, the walls of which have decorations and frescoes of remarkable interest. Lastly, the Normans, the Swabians and later the Angevins must be tanked for the Romanic and Gothis-Renaissance heritage in the religious architecture of the region and especially so in the castle architecture which finds its major expression in the castles of Melfi, Castel- Lagopesole and Miglionico.

Basilicate, however, is not only this but also folklore, a folklore which as its origins in history and of which the Lucan people, however much inclined towards innovation, are firm keepers. A deep religious faith, pervaded by an innate fatalism and by the spirit of magic, gives life to singular manifestations both of the Christian Liturgy and of particular historic events. Characteristic are the "Turks Parade" for the festivity of St. Gerard in Potenza and, in Matera, the festival of the Madonna of Bruna, protectress of harvest.