In fact, the breeding of the Podolica cow is widespread throughout most of Basilicata. This breed of cow, apparently originated from Ukraine, and was introduced following the barbaric invasions. In winter, this breed adapts very well to the outdoor life and low temperatures, even giving birth to calves in the snow. The Podolica cow gives a milk with excellent organoleptic qualities, very particular and of excellent quality, rich in fats and proteins suitable for cheesemaking….which is why it is used to produced the Caciocavallo.

Characteristics

The Caciocavallo Podolico of Basilicata is characterized by its rounded shape, a smooth and thin crust, which thickens during ripening. The dough, soft and uniform, of straw yellow colour, is already excellent to eat after just three months of maturation.

With the passage of time, the dough becomes harder, with layers. The taste, which is sweet at first, becomes spicy and delicate after a while, soaking in all the aromas and fragrances from the wild herbs which the Podolica cows fed on in the pastures. The cheese becomes perfect around three years.

The Caciocavallo Podolico of Basilicata is a cheese that lends itself to prolonged maturing. Especially the large sizes (from 4 to 8 kg), which achieve perfection even at four, five years of refinement. In this case the taste offers an extraordinary complexity, a range of aromas that only a milk of excellence such as that of the wild Podolian animals can guarantee.

Basilicata is generally unknown by tourists, making it an ideal destination for those who love holidays in uncrowded places, full of charm: unspoiled landscapes, valleys, archaeological sites and villages perched on the hills in perfect harmony with nature, reminiscent of paintings.

Here are  3places to discover for those wanting to learn more about this region!

The flight of the angel in Castelmezzano

Between the months of June and September, in Castelmezzano, you can take part in a spectacular activity: the flight of the Angel.

Tourists can literally fly between the villages and among the mountain peaks, connected to a harness and attached to a sturdy steel cable.

The route runs between Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano (and vice versa) and gives the chance to observe the spectacular scenery of the Lucane Dolomites at an altitude of about 1000 meters.

When you arrive at the two villages, you can take part in excusions which bring together history and nature, taste local products and enjoy the scenery.

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The Tavole Palatine in Metaponto

For archaeology lovers, a visit to Metaponto is required. This small town in the province of Matera is an ancient Greek colony.

Here, we find the National Archaeology Museum of Metaponto, which preserves remains dating from the Roman and Greek eras.

Not to be missed, at the exit of route 106, are the remains of the so-called Tavole Palatine, a Doric Temple dating back to the sixth century BC, with only its 14 columns still standing. An absolute must see!

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea

For those of you who love the sea, Basilicata offers wonderful places like the lovely Maratea, with its pebble beaches and enchanting sea.

Once in this city, you will certainly notice the 22 meters high majestic Christ, in concrete and marble, that stands at the top of Mount San Biagio.

The statue is very similar to that of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil. The road to top of the Mount, with its many curves, is well worth it, in order to admire the breathtaking panorama of the Gulf!

Craco, Basilicata

Located about 50 kilometers from Matera, and about 40 km inland from the Gulf of Taranto, Craco is built on a steep cliff overlooking the Cavone River valley, and stands out against the surrounding landscape of rolling, gentler hills.

The first traces of a human presence in the area of Craco date as far back as the 8th century when the area was inhabited by Greek settlers. The town’s decline began between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, when more than 1,300 impoverished Craco residents moved to the United States. In 1963, Craco began to be evacuated following a landslide which had likely been caused by works of infrastructure meant to improve the sewer and water systems. In 1972, a flood worsened the situation even further, preventing a possible repopulation of the historic center. After an earthquake in 1980, the ancient site of Craco was completely abandoned.

More recently Craco has become a tourist destination thanks to it being used as a location in Hollywood films such as the Passion of the Christ and Quantum of Solace

Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio

Civita is a village in the municipality of Bagnoregio in the province of Viterbo, Lazio. It is famous to be a “borgo” inhabited only by a dozen people. Nicknamed “The Dying City”, it can be reached only on foot via a bridge. Behind the small village lies an area known as the “badlands”, which is a grouping of distinctive clay ridges that create an breathtaking and fascinating landscape. The village has been abandoned because of the numerous earthquakes, but today, thanks to its unique atmosphere and beauty, it is living a second life due to the many tourists which visit the village each year. Civita di Bagnoregio looks like a rocky island floating in the green terrain. The town is built following the Etruscan architecture style and also had late medieval elements.

Pentedattilo, Calabria

Pentedattilo is a ghost town on Monte Calvario, the mountain has 5 tall peaks resembling five fingers, which is where the town gets its name from Greek. The town was founded as a colony of the Greek city of Chalcis, in 640 BC, but was sacked by the Saracens and successive invaders.

The town was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1783, which caused much of the population to migrate to the nearby Melito Porto Salvo. It remained totally uninhabited from the mid-1960 to the 1980s, when it was partially restored and repopulated thanks to volunteers coming from all over Europe to help rebuild the streets and restore the houses.

Castle of Lagopesole

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The Castle of Lagopesole is located at Avigliano, in the province of Potenza. Built in the 11th century by Frederick II of Swabia, the Castle dominates the Valley of Vitalba and still retains its original structure. Given his love for hunting and nature, Frederick II chose it as his favourite home.

Potenza

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Potenza, the capital of the region of Basilicata, has much to offer from an architectural point of view: a special attraction is the historic center, called Sopra Potenza, which focuses around via Pretoria, the main street of the city, and which extends from Portasalza in the East to the Castle District in the West. As you walk along this street, be sure to visit the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the Teatro Stabile and the convent of San Francesco, Palazzo Loffredo with the archaeological museum and the Torre Guevara.

The Arbëresh zone

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The Arbëresh, or Arbereches, are Albanians living in Italy since the end of the Middle Ages. They are one of the most represented ethnic minorities in the South of the Italy, specifically in Basilicata and Calabria. In the province of Potenza, six municipalities are part of the Arbëresh community, which maintain typical cultural and ethnic characteristics: in particular, the language of origin, the alberisht, is used not only for informal communication, but also on maps, signs, and official documents from the municipal authorities.