Last reviewed: · Prices in Euro (€) are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Basilicata
Basilicata (Italian: Basilicata) is one of Italy's 20 administrative regions, with its regional capital at Potenza (Matera cultural hub) and 131 official municipalities (comuni). Key sights and travel highlights across the region include Sassi di Matera UNESCO cave districts & rock churches, Castelmezzano & Pietrapertosa in the Lucanian Dolomites, Maratea Tyrrhenian coast & Christ the Redeemer, Pollino National Park & Venosa.
How to get to Basilicata
Matera has no direct mainline Trenitalia station—most visitors fly into Bari Airport (BRI) and ride the FAL (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane) narrow-gauge train or shuttle bus (65–90 mins) to Matera Centrale, or take Trenitalia InterCity/Frecciarossa services to Ferrandina-Scalo Matera and Potenza Centrale. Use our Frecciarossa & Italo Fare Calculator and Trenitalia Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets in Euro (€).
What Locals Actually Eat in Basilicata
Across the cities, hill towns, and villages of Basilicata, neighborhood trattorie, wood-fired forni (bakeries), and seasonal town sagre serve traditional regional cooking:
1. Primo — Handmade Pasta, Risotto & Polenta
Hand-shaped strascinati or cavatelli pasta topped with crunchy sweet red Senise peppers (peperoni cruschi) flash-fried in olive oil and salted ricotta, or lagane with chickpeas (€8–€12). In central Italy around Potenza (Matera cultural hub) (Potenza (Matera cultural hub)), seasonal menus balance hill-town olive oil, hand-rolled pasta, foraged mushrooms, and hearth-grilled meats.
2. Secondo & Trattoria Staples
Slow-cooked lamb in terracotta pots with potatoes, onions, and wild herbs (pignata), grilled lucanica pork sausage scented with fennel seeds, and salted cod (baccalà) with crispy sweet peppers (€11–€16).
3. Local Cheeses, Cured Meats, Breads & Wine
Tall-crusted golden Matera durum-wheat sourdough loaves, sun-dried necklace strings of peperoni cruschi, aged Canestrato di Moliterno cheese, and volcanic Aglianico del Vulture red wine.
4. How & When Locals Eat Here
Village bakeries remain community hubs where families still recognize traditional wooden bread stamps, and evening meals revolve around crusty durum bread, fried sweet peppers, and Aglianico wine. In Potenza (Matera cultural hub) (pop. 50,000), neighborhood bars, bakeries (forni), and trattorie across Potenza (Matera cultural hub) follow traditional regional dining hours—ask locally for the weekly market morning and patron-saint festival date.
Best time to visit Basilicata
Best time to visit Basilicata: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct.
Featured Cities & Towns in Basilicata (2)
Start with the largest cities and major tourist towns in Basilicata, or scroll down to the complete A–Z directory of all 131 municipalities:
| City / Town | Status | Population | Province | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potenza | Comune (Municipality) | 66,769 | Provincia di Potenza | Guide & food → |
| Matera | Comune (Municipality) | 60,404 | Provincia di Matera | Guide & food → |
All 131 Official Comuni in Basilicata (A–Z)
Every single municipality (comune) in Basilicata has its own travel and local food guide. Click any town below: