The Other Basilicata: workshops on experiences, nature and authentic roots
Castelmezzano, between medieval history and experiential tourism
Listed among the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' and awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club, Castelmezzano is one of the most representative villages of the Lucanian Dolomites. The scenery that makes it unique, and a perfect example of an undertourism destination also thanks to its location perched at an altitude of 881 metres, is a landscape characterised by rocky spires and sandstone walls. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, with a Norman presence still legible in the remains of the fortifications and the defensive structure of the town, as well as in the town's coat of arms and toponymy.
Piazza Emilio Caizzo is the fulcrum of the village and offers an overall view of the built-up area; not far away is the Mother Church of Santa Maria, a building of medieval origin that preserves important works such as the wooden statue of the Madonna and Child. There are many active experiences to be had around the village, from the Volo dell'Angelo cableway that connects the village to Pietrapertosa to the more than one-kilometre-long rail track that takes you up to the altitude to the vie ferrate, the Nepalese bridge and hiking trails such as the Percorso delle Sette Pietre. This is an ancient sheep-track connecting Castelmezzano to Pietrapertosa, reinterpreted through art and sound installations.
