Basilicata Holidays

Basilicata is a region that’s stayed relatively unexplored compared to Italy’s big-name destinations. Down in southern Italy, sharing a border with Puglia, this rural, agricultural region is characterised by rolling mountain landscapes crowned with historic hilltop towns.

The region is a fascinating place to explore for visitors interested in off-the-beaten-track Italy, with beautiful scenery to hike and a patchwork of sights for history buffs to seek out.

Former capital Matera is a must-see; it’s best known for a village-like sprawl of Sassi, neighbourhoods of pre-historic stone houses believed to have been home to Italy’s first settlers around 9,000 years ago. These cave dwellings have experienced some modernisation in recent years, which has seen the Sassi districts develop into small communities filled with shops, hotels and restaurants. Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2003, they’re certainly some of the most unique places to stay in the country. 
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Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.

Destinations in Basilicata

Ancient town of Matera (Sassi di Matera) at dusk, Basilicata, southern Italy
Matera
Holidays to Matera, situated in the southern region of Basilicata, transport you back to ancient times.

Handpicked Hotels in Basilicata

Discover the real Basilicata while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Things to do in Basilicata

Flight Information

Flights to Basilicata arrive into Bari (BRI) from London Gatwick and London Stansted or Brindisi (BDS) from London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester and take approximately 3 hours. Please call our Italy Experts in order to book flights to Brindisi.

When to go

Situated in southern Italy, Basilicata has a typically Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The region enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year, making May to September a popular time to visit, when temperatures often peak at 30 degrees. However, the cooler shoulder seasons are ideal if you’re planning on hiking, cycling and other active pursuits. 

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.
 
On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.
 
On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

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