Basilicata

A largely mountainous part of southern Italy, the region basks in sunshine and blue skies. The dryness of the land has caused long periods of economic hardship, but it has recently undergone considerable development....

A visit to the prehistoric cave dwellings of Matera (a timeless place rightfully appearing in the film 'The Passion of the Christ') in itself makes the region worth a visit. Although largely landlocked, Basilicata has two stunningly beautiful accesses to the Mediterranean (in the south and the east). This is a very quiet part of Italy, but like the rest of the country it is heir to much ancient history and cultivates gastronomy and good living.