Basilicata

In the southern part of Italy with a few kilometers of shoreline on the Tyrrhenian Sea as well as the Gulf of Taranto, one can find the region of Basilicata. When looking at the map of Italy and imagining the boot, BasilicataItaly. would be found where the instep is located at. It is almost 10,000 square kilometers in size and has a little over half a million inhabitants, but there are many reasons for one to be attracted to this part of

For starters, the entire region is a mountainous one in which its highest point is the southern most part of the Apennines. Here you will find Monte Pollino which towers 2,233 meters above sea level as well as Monte Vulture, an extinct volcano which sits at 1,330 meters above sea level. Because of this mountainous terrain, communication for quite some time was very limited which in effect stunted the growth of the region making it a very peaceful place to visit. While traditionally Basilicata was the poorest region of the entire country, the recent discovery of oil has since changed that.

During the Roman times, the area of Basilicata was known as Lucania due to the high number of residents bearing the name Lucani. The name in itself proved to have significant importance in the history of the region as it is derived from Lucanians, who in the 5th century invaded the region and drove the indigenous people into the mountains. There were a number of hostilities between the Lucanians and the Greeks who had settlements in the area until 326 BC and by 298, the Lucanians developed an alliance with the Romans. This alliance would be off an on for many centuries until the fall of the Roman Empire when the Lucanians sided with the Samnites to finish off the great Roman Empire.

By the Medieval Period, the region became part of the vast Byzantine Empire. Even after the Byzantines lost control over much of Italy, the Basilicata region was still under their control. It was during this time which the name Basilicata was fist used. The Greek title for the Byzantine Emporer was Basileus, which meant king and thus the region became known as this and continued through the 10th century invasion by Norman Robert Guiscard until today.

The region is ripe with history and while it was for the longest one of the poorest, the Basilicata region is a must place visit for anyone wishing to see Italy. Visit the mountains and see the extinct volcanoes or spend the days near the sea side. However you choose to spend your time in this region, make sure you allow enough of it to make sure that you can see as much as possible because you do not want to catch a sign or postcard of a spot on your way out and wished you had a chance to see it. Above all though, make your holiday in Italy the most enjoyable that it could ever possibly be.