METAPONTO

The Ionian coast of Basilicata is less tourist-orientated than the Tyrrhenian shore, but it is full of charming places to visit such as Metaponto, founded by the Greeks in the eighth century BC. Here it is possible to visit Greek columns and amphitheatres surrounded by vineyards. Metaponto also has a lovely sandy beach and attracts many Italian tourists during the summer months.  The Lido di Metaponto is full of traditional seaside activities. This area formed part of the ancient civilisation of Magna Graecia, which once stretched across the bottom of Italy’s boot. The old city of Metapontum was home to Pythagoras who founded a school here which lasted for 200 years. The town offers some historical sites of interest, particularly in the Parco Archeologico where you can see impressive remains of the Palatine tables where knights gathered before heading off to the Crusades. The countryside surrounding the town contains many archaeological sites, and further sites can be seen at another archaeological park further north that has four temples dedicated to the Greek gods Hera and Athena.


Nearby is Scanzano Ionico, which is also a coastal resort that has developed in recent years and which offers beautiful landscapes with orange groves, strawberry fields, old palazzi and long stretches of beach. Policoro is also worth a visit, situated as it is in a wonderful position on the coast and well known for its Lido.

THINGS TO DO AROUND METAPONTO

Metaponto: Parco Arceologico

Metaponto Archaeological Park preserves monuments which tell the story of the ancient town from its foundation until the Roman era. This includes the remains of the urban sanctuary dedicated to Apollo Licio (Lycian Apollo), the adjacent Agora (market/assembly square), the ceramic or Kerameikos district and a regular town plan consisting of long and narrow blocks, with a plateia (the main street).

The main Doric temples are situated in the Sacred Area and include the Athena Temple (VI century BC); Apollo Temple (VI century BC); Hera Temple (VI century BC); Aphrodite Temple and the Palatine Tables.

The Agora hosts the semicircle theatre built on a previous circular one.

Metaponto Lido

The Lido offers traditional seaside entertainment and activities with families in mind, and the beautiful beach, backed by the remnants of a great forest, is a delight with clean, shallow water.

Around the Ionian coast

Policoro, which sits on the site of ancient Heraclea and even older Siris, is nowadays another pretty beach resort. Though Metaponto and Policoro are the recognised jewels in the crown of the Ionian coast, Nova Siri, situated further to the south of Policoro, is fast catching up. Rotondella, which stretches right down to the sea, boasts a beautiful and quiet beach. Between Metaponto and Policoro, there are the towns of Lido di Quaranotto, the Lido di Pisticci and the Lido of Scanzano Jonico. These have wonderful expanses of fine sand and very comfortable, wide beaches too.

Inland from the coast

At the very end of the Valle del Basento, the hill town of Bernalda is situated in a panoramic position between two rivers, the Bradano and Basento. The highlight of a visit to Bernalda is Piazza Cavour where you can see the majestic Aragonese Castle dating back to the XV century, which is positioned in front of the Chiesa Madre (Mother Church) dedicated to San Bernardino (XVI century). From here there is a beautiful panorama over the Valle del Basento. The Italo-American film director Francis Ford Coppola was born in Bernalda.

The beautiful natural landscape

The Bosco Pantane (the Pantano Wood) is a must for a visit. Found at the mouth of the river Sinni, it is a last remnant of the dense forests which only fifty years ago covered the sand dunes right down to the sea. Today, what is left of the forest is a favourite spot for many wild animals, some migratory and others present all year round.