THE ANCIENT ROOT OF ITALY

Though Basilicata is the official name of the region, many people call it Lucania, which comes from the latin word “lucus”, meaning forest. As a matter of fact, more than a third of the region is covered with regional and national parks. The crown jewel of the region is Matera, the world’s third-oldest inhabited city after Aleppo and Jericho. Over 10,000 years ago early humans carved the soft rock into cave dwellings, systems to collect rainwater, grain silos, and stables. These days Matera is living through Italy’s most recent Renaissance. In 1993 the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and served as the European capital of culture in 2019. Like much of the south, the area has a long history of invaders and conquerors from distant lands, and the language, traditions, and cuisine reflect influences from the French, Spanish, Greeks, and Romans. Everything pairs well with a fresh glass of Aglianico white wine, a mainstay of the region. In Basilicata, you can touch Italy’s authentic roots, recharge, and get lost in the Italian experience.