The lunar landscape of the Lucanian Dolomites (Dolomiti Lucane) is found in the Regional Park of Gallipoli Cognato in the heart of Basilicata. This rocky chain of sandstones has a rugged, craggy appearance which likens them to the mountains of the eastern Alps.

The medieval villages Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano perched on the top of these mountains offer an ideal location for birdwatchers (the inaccessible rock face provides shelter to many birds of prey), rock climbers, trekkers and horse riders as well as mountain bike enthusiasts.

Castelmezzano is also member of the Prettiest Villages in Italy Club (I Borghi più belli d'Italia) and the ruins of the fortress walls of a Norman Castle are still visible, with stairs carved into the rock leading to the highest lookout point, dominating over the entire Basento valley.

Also worth seeing is the 13th century Church of Santa Maria found in the main square and built from local stone, (with a 14th-century wooden statue of the Madonna and Child of Olmo, a Baroque wooden altar and a Holy Family by Girolamo Bresciano). The Chapel of Santa Maria, the rupestrian Church of the Madonna dell’Ascensione carved out from the rock, with an adjoining pre-Napoleonic cemetery, and the various palazzi of the village’s various noble families: the Merlino, Parrella, Coiro, Paternò, and Campagna residences, and the vast Ducal Palace of the De Lerma family, the last lords of Castelmezzano.

To eat:

Al Becco della Civetta (Restaurant): Vico I° Maglietta, 7, (Closed Tuesday).
Grotta dell'Eremita (Agriturismo): Contrada Calcescia, (closed Monday). Rustic setting on the road leaving Castelmezzano and excellent value for money.

Local speciality! The sausage (salsiccia); a particularly tasty salami prepared in various stages throughout the year.

Fly like an angel over the Lucanian Dolomites!

The cable flight known as the Flight of the Angel (Volo dell'Angelo) links the two towns of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa and enjoyed a hugely successful first year in 2007.

Suspended from a mile-long steel cable 400 meters above ground and traveling at 120 km an hour...

The 'Volo dell' Angelo' is an extreme sport where adrenalin is combined with unique scenery and natural beauty. This is the first cable railway of it's kind in Italy and the infrastructure is the tallest and longest in the world. Watch flights on YouTube: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ5vQ6O2qLw

Booking requirements:

2009-2010 season - 14th June - 14th September and booking in advance necessary on www.volodellangelo.com
Price: €30 Mon-Sat / €38 Sun and public holidays. Ticket includes return journey. Minimum age 16 yrs, max weight 120 kilos.

Distance and directions (from Irsina):

Leave Irsina from Via Tolve (the old SS96 overlooking the rear of the Cathedral) / After 2 Km you will reach a curve with a cross-roads. Turn left / Follow, for approx 20 Km; the road that goes down the Bradano river valley and then up the hill again, signposted Grassano / You will reach a T-junction. Turn right / After 100 mt, turn left on the SS277, following the signs for Grassano Scalo, SS407-Basentana / After 7.5 Km you will reach the junction for the SS407-Basentana, direction Potenza /After 17.3 Km take the exit for Campomaggiore/Accettura/Pietrapertosa/Castelmezzano and you will find yourself on the road SP13 / Follow the road SP13 up the hill signposted Castelmezzano for about 9 Km and you will reach Castelmezzano. Distance 55km, travel time 1 hour.

Pietrapertosa can be clearly see on the other side of the hill and you an easily drive there.