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Only in Italy are there historical villages that may have given birth almost simultaneously to a brigand who sows fear and an intellectual end that makes hope grow. This is the case of Rionero in Vulture, a village surrounded by natural beauty in Basilicata. Here the brigand was Carmine Donatelli known as Crocco and the intellectual Giustino Fortun...

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Tucked inside the arch of Italy’s boot, Matera could have easily disappeared into the annals of history — the community was inhabited some 10,000 years before falling into disrepair, and was completely deserted in the 1970s. But, through the sheer force and determination of locals, plus several strategic investments, the long-standing town managed...

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Apart from the famous Sassi di Matera, Basilicata isn’t a major region for tourism, but it holds a very special hidden gem. In the province of Potenza, 20km from the capital, a small town called Pietragalla is home to some unique structures not seen in the rest of Italy. Tiny, whimsical white stone houses pop out of the earth like mushrooms. They l...

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A total of 21 seaside resorts have been awarded the coveted 5 Sails 2023, the highest recognition of Legambiente and the Italian Touring Club, to seaside resorts that have managed to best combine territory and places of excellence, combining eco-sustainable development strategies. "Il Mare più bello 2023", the guide that reviews region by region mo...

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The Greeks brought viticulture to Italy, but the question of how they would do it has never been asked. At least until now. Research proves exactly the opposite and follows the traces of the Greeks and then the Romans in their penetration of the Apennine territories, starting with the Alta Val d’Agri, one of the terminals of Greek exploration and t...

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Many Italians flee from desolate, poor rural areas in search of a brighter future elsewhere – but one retired, well-off London couple in their 60s has made the opposite move. In 2012, Keith and Sandy Webster permanently ditched the expensive English capital to live the dolce vita dream in a depopulated southern Italian village in the Basilicata reg...

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Rotondella is a small and charming hilltop village in the province of Matera, in the heart of Italy, full of beauties to be discovered by strolling through its streets. The origin of the name Rotondella, pleasant and captivating, can probably be traced back to the term "Rotunda Maris" which named it in the late Middle Ages and indicates two specifi...

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A woman has bought three houses in Italy for just one euro each and intends to retire to the Mediterranean country. Rubia Daniels flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the "one euro home" scheme, launched to help fill up abandoned properties, in 2019. The 49-year-old bought three run-down historic fixer-uppers and paid just €3...

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As foreigners flock to buy old, inexpensive houses in Italy, one group has gone a step further, helping to revive a depopulated town. Irsina, deep in the southern Basilicata region, is home to over 300 non-Italians from 12 different countries, alongside 4,000 local residents. Until the 1960s, this hilltop village surrounded by fields had a populati...

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Tucked away in the heart of Basilicata, the beautiful region of southern Italy, lies a hidden gem that is often overlooked by tourists – the town of Laurenzana. Known for its rich history, beautiful landscapes, and warm hospitality, Laurenzana is a town that offers a unique and authentic Italian experience. Laurenzana is a small town with a populat...

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