Vaglio Basilicata, the ancient gate of the Lucanian kings

The position this village occupies along the Basento valley, on a ridge overlooking the Apennines and the Lucanian Dolomites can be described with a simple adjective: strategic. What is striking about Vaglio Basilicata is the combination of its rural and scenic dimension and its historical relevance, which is realised above all through the heritage linked to the civilisation of the Lucanians, one of the most significant peoples of pre-Roman Italia. The historical centre develops through an urban fabric of stone streets that preserves the traditional layout and in which the Mother Church of San Pietro and the Church of Sant'Antonio stand out, in which various works of sacred art can be admired. Vaglio's distinctive element, however, is its archaeological sites, which can also be reached a short distance from the inhabited centre by following some trekking routes: the Archaeological Park of Serra di Vaglio and the sanctuary of Rossano di Vaglio dedicated to the goddess Mephitis are two areas of international interest, documenting the social and religious organisation of the Lucanians between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. An immersion in the history of this village is also made at the table, tasting dishes based on Lucanian ragù or the 'pezzente' sausage together with bread made with sourdough.