If you’re looking for an authentic destination, far from mass tourism and capable of evoking a range of emotions – from crystal-clear seas to villages perched on spectacular mountains and ancient ruins – Basilicata is the answer to your wishes.
Situated in the heart of southern Italy, this region offers a truly unique variety of landscapes. And for a stay characterised by comfort, elegance and a strategic location, the ideal base for your week-long itinerary is MAD Suite & Apartments in Bernalda.
Bernalda: Your Elegant Retreat in the Heart of Lucania
Choosing MAD Suite & Apartments in Bernalda means treating yourself to a relaxing stay in a village brimming with charm, history and excellent cuisine (also known for its links with the Francis Ford Coppola’s family). Situated just a few minutes from the beaches and with excellent transport links to the region’s interior, Bernalda is the perfect base from which to explore Basilicata from east to west and from north to south, returning each evening to the warmth and refined design of MAD’s suites.
7-Day Itinerary: Between the Sea, the Mountains and Enchanting Villages
Days 1 & 2: The Ionian Coast and the Ruins of Magna Graecia
Just a few minutes from Bernalda, the stunning Ionian Coast awaits you.
Metaponto and Policoro: Combine the crystal-clear sea and wide golden beaches with a journey into ancient history. Visit the Metaponto Archaeological Park featuring the famous Palatine Tables, a testament to Magna Graecia and the Pythagorean school.
Relaxation and Nature: After a morning of cultural exploration, enjoy the sea and a walk in the Policoro Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for loggerhead turtles.
Day 3: The Unforgettable Magic of Matera
You can’t say you’ve visited Lucania without admiring Matera, the City of the Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture 2019.
What to see: Lose yourself in the labyrinth of narrow streets in the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso districts, visit the historic cave dwellings and be enchanted by the frescoed rock-cut churches.
The view: At sunset, the view from the Murgia Timone viewpoint offers a fairytale scene that will remain etched in your memories.
Day 4: Adventure and Trekking in the Pollino National Park
From the coast, we head towards the green heart of the region: the Pollino National Park, Italy’s largest protected area.
Hiking and Nature: Join a guided walk amongst the centuries-old Loricato pines, the park’s symbol, or venture into the Lao River Gorge for some rafting.
The Villages of Pollino: Visit little gems nestled amongst the mountains, such as Rotonda, Viggianello or the Arberesh village of San Paolo Albanese – perfect places to sample typical Lucanian specialities such as ‘peperone crusco’ and Podolico cheeses.
Day 5: The Lucanian Dolomites and the Villages Nestled amongst the Rocks
Another unforgettable day will take you to the spectacular Lucanian Dolomites.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa: Listed amongst the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”, these two villages seem to have sprung from the rock itself.
For the more adventurous: This is where you can experience the thrill of the “Flight of the Angel”, a steel cable stretched between the peaks of the two villages, allowing you to ‘fly’ at over 100 km/h across a breathtaking valley.
For those who enjoy walking: The Path of the Seven Stones offers a picturesque walk steeped in ancient local legends.
Day 6: Maratea, the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea
Although Basilicata mainly faces the Ionian Sea, its short stretch of Tyrrhenian coastline is home to one of Italy’s most fascinating treasures: Maratea.
Sea and Cliffs: Hidden coves, turquoise waters and cliffs rising sheer from the sea will welcome you to an almost enchanted landscape.
Christ the Redeemer: Climb Mount San Biagio to admire the gigantic statue of Christ the Redeemer and enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the Gulf of Policastro.
Day 7: The Ghost Villages and the Calanchi of Basilicata
To round off the journey with a touch of mystery and charm:
Craco: The famous “ghost village”, abandoned in the 1960s following a landslide and now an open-air film set for arthouse films (such as Mel Gibson’s *The Passion of the Christ*).
Aliano: Nestled amongst the surreal landscapes of the Calanchi, Aliano is the village to which the writer Carlo Levi, author of *Christ Stopped at Eboli*, was exiled.
Why Choose MAD Suite & Apartments for Your Holiday?
Returning to Bernalda after a day spent walking through the Sassi or trekking in the Pollino means rediscovering a sense of peace and absolute comfort. MAD Suite & Apartments offers modern, spacious accommodation equipped with all the amenities you need to feel pampered throughout your stay.
Book your stay at MAD Suite & Apartments now and let yourself be charmed by the authentic and wonderful spirit of Basilicata!
The badlands of Basilicata
They offer one of the most extraordinary, cinematic and surreal landscapes in Italy. Often described as a veritable lunar landscape or an open-air canyon, they are formed by enormous clay hills and ridges shaped over millennia by erosion caused by water and the sun.
Walking or driving through the badlands gives you the feeling of being on another planet: a vast expanse of ochre and white dunes and pinnacles, almost devoid of vegetation, where the silence is absolute and broken only by the rustling of the wind.
Must-See Places in the Heart of the Calanchi
The calanchi area of Basilicata lies mainly in the hinterland of the province of Matera, a short distance from Bernalda. The key stops on a tour to discover this geological wonder include:
Craco, the Ghost Town:
It is the quintessential calanco. The old medieval village of Craco was completely evacuated in the 1960s following a landslide and has remained frozen in time. Today, it resembles a stone skeleton clinging to an imposing clay spur overlooking the void. A natural open-air film set (chosen by internationally renowned directors such as Mel Gibson for *The Passion of the Christ*) that can be visited safely thanks to authorised guided tours.
Aliano and the Carlo Levi Literary Park:
Surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of majestic badlands, Aliano is the village to which the famous Turin-born writer and painter was sent into exile during the Fascist era. It was precisely this rugged and barren landscape that inspired his masterpiece *Christ Stopped at Eboli*. As well as visiting the house where he lived, you can follow literary and nature trails that wind their way directly through the clay ridges.
Pisticci and the “Teatro dei Calanchi”:
Pisticci is famous for its distinctive white houses, which seem almost to hang over the edges of the ravines. At its feet lies one of the region’s most spectacular valleys of badlands, renamed the ‘Teatro dei Calanchi’: in summer, this natural clay basin becomes a veritable open-air stage for concerts and evocative performances, with the audience seated on bales of hay.
The Montalbano Jonico Calanchi Nature Reserve:
A protected area of immense geological and natural value (rich in marine fossils dating back millions of years, when the area was submerged by the sea), ideal for those who enjoy nature walks amidst a wealth of biodiversity (even the Egyptian vulture, Europe’s smallest vulture, nests here).
Tips for Your Visit
Photography: The best times to admire and photograph the badlands are at dawn and dusk (the ‘golden hour’), when the low-angle light brings out the striations and golden hues of the clay.
Accessibility: As they are made of clay, the paths and dirt tracks in the badlands can become slippery or impassable in wet weather; it is always advisable to visit them on dry days and to wear comfortable walking boots or trainers.
Useful Tips and an Encounter with Historic Lucania: A Guide to the Itinerary
When you stay at MAD Suite & Apartments in Bernalda, you’ll be in an exceptional, strategic location from which to explore both the coastline and the inland valleys, as well as the major historic districts of northern and western Basilicata.
1. Tursi and La Rabatana: The Arab-Saxon Heart of Basilicata
About a 30- to 40-minute drive from Bernalda lies Tursi, one of the most charming and historically rich towns in the entire region.
What to see in Tursi:
La Rabatana: The historic centre, founded in the 5th century and later developed by the Arabs (from “Rabat”, meaning ‘fortification’). It is a gem of narrow alleyways, stone cottages clinging to the clay ridges and steep stone stairways (the ‘petrizze’).
Shrine of Santa Maria di Anglona: Perched on a hill overlooking the Agri and Sinni valleys. This masterpiece of Romanesque architecture houses some splendid medieval frescoes.
Literary Park and Albino Pierro’s House: Dedicated to the great poet from Tursi, a Nobel Prize nominee, who immortalised the Rabatana in his poems written in archaic dialect.
Flavours and Catering in Tursi:
Must-try dishes: L’Arancia Staccia (a sweet, flattened orange typical of the valley), Frizzuli (fresh twisted pasta) served with fried breadcrumbs and crusco peppers, and roast lamb.
Where to eat: Palazzo dei Poeti (in the heart of Rabatana, offering refined cuisine that puts a modern spin on Lucanian traditions in a truly charming setting) or the farm stays and traditional trattorias of the Agri Valley.
2. Historical Lucania: The Major Centres of the North and the Hinterland
“Historic Lucania” encompasses places steeped in Norman-Swabian, Roman and Jewish history, situated in the northern region (Vulture-Melfese) and in the upper Val d’Agri.
A. Melfi and Venosa (The Legacy of Frederick II and Horace)
Melfi: Capital of the Norman kingdom and home to the majestic Swabian Castle, where Frederick II promulgated the Melfi Constitutions. It is home to a fantastic National Archaeological Museum.
Venosa: One of the region’s most elegant historic towns, home to the Latin poet Horace and the composer Gesualdo da Venosa. Don’t miss the Incompiuta (a striking abbey that was never completed) and the Roman Archaeological Park with its Jewish Catacombs.
Food Tip: We are in the heartland of Aglianico del Vulture DOCG, one of Italy’s finest red wines. Go for a wine tasting at one of the historic cellars carved into the tuff rock in Barile or Venosa. For a bite to eat, we recommend the La Villa agriturismo in Melfi or the historic pizzerias and trattorias in the centre of Venosa.
B. Acerenza and Lagopesole (Castles and Cathedrals)
Acerenza: Known as the “Cathedral of Basilicata”, it is perched on a cliff and dominated by one of the most imposing and mysterious Romanesque cathedrals in southern Italy.
Lagopesole Castle: A solitary and imposing fortress, used by Frederick II as a hunting lodge and retreat.
C. The Val d’Agri and Grumento Nova (La Roma Lucana)
Grumento Nova (Grumentum): Often referred to as the “Pompeii of Basilicata”, it preserves the remains of an ancient Roman town, including a theatre, an amphitheatre, thermal baths and a domus featuring mosaics.
Viggiano: The spiritual heart of the region (home to the Black Madonna, patron saint of Basilicata) and famous for its tradition of wandering musicians and the ‘arpinai’.
3. Practical Advice by Area (Getting Around, Logistics and Tips)
🚗 How to get around Bernalda
Recommended transport: A car is essential for exploring Basilicata. The main roads (the SS106 Jonica and the SS407 Basentana) are easy to navigate and allow you to reach Matera in 35 minutes, the coast in 10 minutes, Tursi in 35 minutes and the Pollino or the Lucanian Dolomites in about 1 hour – 1 hour and 15 minutes.
🍽️ What and Where to Eat at the Various Stops
Matera: Pop into the Cattedra or Crudo e Cotto in the Sassi to try the Caldarrodda (a soup made with bread, chicory and vegetables) and the Crapiata (a soup made with mixed pulses and wheat).
Lucanian Dolomites (Castelmezzano/Pietrapertosa): Traditional trattorias such as Peppino in Castelmezzano, where you can sample Podolico caciocavallo cheeses, artisan cured meats and homemade pasta with wild boar ragù.
Ionian Coast (Metaponto/Policoro): Restaurants serving fresh seafood along the seafront in Policoro or Metaponto Lido (e.g. grilled fish and cavatelli with seafood).
Pollino (Rotonda/Viggianello): Look out for mountain trattorias where you can savour Rotonda PDO white beans, porcini mushrooms and Pollino truffles.
🕒 When to Visit the Villages
The Mountain Villages (Castelmezzano, Pietrapertosa, Craco): It is best to visit them in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day in summer and to make the most of the light for photographs.
Matera and Tursi: They are at their best at sunset and in the evening, when the lighting transforms them into veritable open-air nativity scenes.
💡 Why is Bernalda the best choice?
After days packed with cultural excursions, treks through the peaks of the Pollino or walks in the Calanchi di Aliano, returning to MAD Suite & Apartments in Bernalda offers a distinct advantage: it allows you to dine in Bernalda’s sophisticated restaurants, stroll along its elegant and lively high street, and relax in modern suites equipped with every modern comfort, without the stress of finding a parking space or the hustle and bustle of tourists.
Basilicata is not just about ancient stone and badlands, yet it is home to one of Italy’s richest, unspoilt and best-protected areas of woodland and greenery. For those who choose to stay at the B&B Mad Suite with in-room jacuzzi & spa in Basilicata – Bernalda holiday home, its strategic location means you can reach the region’s vast green spaces in no time.
Strolling through centuries-old beech woods, cycling along mountain bike trails or going foraging (collecting mushrooms, chestnuts and wild berries) will turn your holiday into a truly immersive sensory experience.
1. The Great Forests of the Pollino National Park (The Kingdom of Mushrooms and Hiking)
The Pollino is a paradise for hikers and a haven of forest biodiversity, renowned throughout Europe for its vast woodlands.
The Woods of Rotonda and Viggianello:
Hiking & Cycling: Mapped trails that wind their way through the shade of enormous beech and silver fir trees, along paths that climb towards the Loricati pines (the park’s iconic ‘green patriarchs’).
Foraging (Mushrooms and Berries): These beech woods are renowned for their abundance of porcini mushrooms (in autumn) and for the picking of wild strawberries and raspberries in late spring and early summer.
The Bosco Magnano (San Severino Lucano):
A spectacular natural area criss-crossed by crystal-clear streams, with plenty of easy paths suitable for families and light cycling, ideal for those seeking a cool retreat in summer and a perfect habitat for mushrooms and wild berries.
2. The Vulture Forests (The Heart of Chestnuts and Mushrooms)
In the north-western region, the extinct volcano of Monte Vulture (near Melfi, Rionero and Barile) provides extremely fertile volcanic soil that nourishes dense woodlands.
The Monticchio Woods and the Crater Lakes:
Hiking & Cycling: Picturesque circular routes that wind their way around the two lakes of Monticchio, winding their way up through centuries-old chestnut groves and dense beech forests. Many sections are well-marked and ideal for e-bike enthusiasts too.
Chestnut Harvest: This is the undisputed home of the famous Vulture chestnut (Marrone di Melfi PDO). In autumn, the woods come alive with enthusiasts gathering chestnuts.
Mushrooms: Given the volcanic origin of the soil and the constant humidity, the Vulture is one of the most productive areas in Basilicata for the growth of porcini, chanterelles and ovoli.
3. The Gallipoli Cognato Forest and the Lucanian Dolomites
In the heart of the region, between Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, lies the Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park.
The Gallipoli Cognato Wood:
Hiking & Cycling: A vast forest of Turkey oaks, beech and chestnut trees, with well-maintained trails and marked routes for hiking and mountain biking that link the various vantage points.
Foraging: As well as mushrooms, it is very easy to find wild blackberry bushes in the undergrowth of this nature reserve between late summer and early autumn, and wild strawberries along the edges of the footpaths in spring.
Interesting fact: Within the forest there are protected wildlife areas where you can spot deer and fallow deer.
4. The Policoro Nature Reserve and the coastal lowland woodlands
If you’d prefer to explore some more unusual places without straying too far from Bernalda:
The Bosco Pantano di Policoro: One of Italy’s last remaining lowland coastal woodlands. Flat footpaths ideal for nature walks and birdwatching, situated very close to the beaches of the Ionian coast.
Practical Tips for Outdoor Activities in Basilicata
Mushroom-picking permits: In Basilicata, the picking of wild above-ground mushrooms is regulated by regional and provincial laws, which require a membership card or a daily or seasonal permit issued by the relevant local councils or park authorities. Before venturing into the woods of Pollino or Vulture, check with local tourist offices or the parks’ official websites.
Clothing and Equipment: The mountain forests (Pollino and Vulture) can experience sudden changes in the weather, even in summer. Wear hiking boots with good grip, take a water bottle (there are plenty of natural springs, but it’s a good idea to know how to spot them) and a small, sturdy container if you’re looking for mushrooms or delicate wild berries such as wild strawberries.
Digital Maps: Many of these trails are mapped on outdoor navigation apps (such as Komoot, Wikiloc or the official websites of the National and Regional Parks), where you’ll find detailed GPS tracks showing distance, elevation gain and difficulty.
Two unmissable destinations in Basilicata combine spectacular scenery, historical re-enactments, open-air theatre and a touch of whimsical magic: Brindisi Montagna, with the Parco della Grancia and Colobraro, the village famous for its esoteric legend.
1. Brindisi Montagna and the Grancia Park: Between Bandits and Nature
Situated in the Lucanian hinterland (about 40–50 minutes from Bernalda), Brindisi Montagna is a small village perched on a rocky outcrop, dominated by the picturesque Fittipaldi-Antinori Castle. But its real attraction is the Grancia Historical, Rural and Environmental Park, the first large-scale themed area set amidst nature and dedicated to rural history and brigandage in Italy.
Activities and Visits in the Grancia Park
The park reopens seasonally during the summer months and offers an experience designed for families, history buffs and nature lovers:
Taste Workshops and Educational Farm: Courses focusing on bread-making, honey, pottery and traditional agricultural crafts.
Falconry Shows: Live demonstrations (The Eagles’ Amphitheatre) featuring birds of prey (eagles, falcons, buzzards) handled by skilled falconers.
Reconstructions of the Bandits’ Camp: Themed areas where you can discover how the bandits lived, cooked and hid in the woods of Basilicata in the 19th century.
Traditional Cuisine: Within the Borgo dei Sapori and in the park’s taverns, you can sample traditional country fare (strascinati with cruschi peppers, Podolica beef and cured meats).
Cinespettacolo: “The Forbidden Story”
The park’s main attraction is the evening open-air show.
What it is: A spectacular open-air summer theatre production recounting the history of brigandage in the period following Italian unification (focusing on the famous brigand Carmine Crocco).
The Set Design: The show features over 300 extras, live horses, film projections directly onto rock faces and mountains, immersive sound systems and special pyrotechnic effects.
2. Colobraro: The Village of “Quel Paese” and its Initiatives
Perched on a hill overlooking the Sinni Valley (about a 35- to 40-minute drive from Bernalda and near the Pollino National Park), Colobraro For decades, it was known and feared because of a famous and bizarre superstition: in Basilicata and the neighbouring regions, no one dared to utter its name, referring to it simply as “Chillu paese” or “Quel paese” for fear of bad luck.
Originating in the 1950s following a number of anecdotes and Ernesto De Martino’s anthropological studies on magic and witches in southern Italy, the myth of ’iettatura“ threatened to isolate the village. The villagers and the local council, however, came up with a brilliant idea: to exorcise the curse by turning it into a hugely successful cultural and tourist event.
The Highlight: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream in… That Country”
During the summer (every Friday in August and the first Friday in September), the historic centre of Colobraro comes alive with the theatre festival “A Midsummer Night’s Dream in… Quel Paese”.
The Welcome Amulet (The Little Bag): As soon as they arrive in the village, visitors are given an “abitino” (cingjok), a small good-luck pouch containing three grains of coarse salt, three grains of wheat, blessed olive leaves and lavender to protect them from all “misfortune”.
Travelling Theatre Tour: Actors, extras and participants in period costume, along with musicians, guide tourists through the narrow streets, past panoramic views and stone cottages. With a touch of irony and humour, tales of witches, sorcerers, enchanted monoliths, ‘monacelli’ (folklore sprites) and popular beliefs are brought to life.
Museum and Anthropological Tour: As well as the show, the guided tours take visitors on a journey of discovery through the Museum of Rural Life, the historical photography exhibitions and the imposing Carafa Castle.
Festivals and Folk Music: The evenings draw to a close in the square with concerts featuring pizzicata and tarantella music, stalls selling typical local produce and tastings of traditional Lucanian dishes.
For guests staying in Bernalda (MAD Suite & Apartments):
Both destinations can easily be included in the itinerary:
Colobraro is ideal for an afternoon or evening outing combined with a visit to Tursi or the Ionian Coast.
Brindisi Montagna is the perfect stop for a full day spent amongst the woods and attractions of the Parco della Grancia, culminating in the evocative evening show.
Book your holiday in Basilicata at one of our properties in Bernalda
