fiogf49gjkf0d CLOSE TO EXTREMELY INTERESTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL,
ARTISTIC AND HISTORIC SITES, AND MIDWAY BETWEEN
THE TYRRHENIAN COAST.
60 KM FROM MARATEA AND THE LUCANIAN IONIAN COAST
50 KM FROM POLICORO
80 KM NE FROM METAPONTO
THE COLLEVERDE HOTEL, WITH ITS EFFICIENT SERVICE
AND WARM, FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, IS THE BEST
CHOICE, BOTH FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ENJOY A
PEACEFUL AND RELAXING BREAK IN THE ENCHANTING
NATURAL SURROUNDINGS OF THE POLLINO NATIONAL PARK
AND FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO SPEND A DYNAMIC AND
ENTERTAINING HOLIDAY WITH THE CHANCE OF GOING ON
PLEASANT TRIPS.
MARATEA PEARL OF THE TYRRHENIAN COAST IN THE
PROVINCE OF POTENZA, LIES IN A PANORAMIC POSITION
ON THE ATTRACTIVE GULF OF POLICASTRO.
THE OLDEST PART OF THE TOWN, ITS MEDIEVAL PLAN
STILL INTACT, IN FACT, GREW WITH THE NAME
CASTELLO ALL AROUND THE SMALL CHURCH OF S.BIAGIO,
BETWEEN THE NINTH AND TENTH CENTURY AD. CLINGING
TO THE WOODED SLOPES OF MOUNT S.BIAGIO, THE
MODERN TOWN - TOWERED OVER BY THE TALL, IMPOSING
STATUE OF THE REDEEMER - IS MADE UP OF LOVELY
HOUSES WITH SMALL PORTICOES, ALTERNATING WITH
ELEGANT RESIDENCES BOASTING SUMPTUOUS PORTALS.
MATERA AND THE SASSI, CHARACTERISTIC ROCK
DWELLINGS NOWADAYS THE SYMBOL OF THE TOWN *ABOUT
120 KM N*.
THE SMALL PROVINCE OF MATERA, LYING BETWEEN THE
APULIAN MURGE MASSIF TO THE NORTH, THE CLEAR
WATERS OF THE IONIAN SEA TO THE EAST, AND THE
POLLINO NATIONAL PARK TO THE SOUTH-WEST, HAS A
UNIFIED AND UNUSUAL LANDSCAPE.
IN THE SPACE OF A FEW KILOMETRES MOUNTAINS
DECLINE IN GENTLE SLOPES TO A MAGNIFICENT
COASTLINE WITH BEACHES OF FINE, GOLDEN SAND
FAVORITE TOURIST DESTINATIONS.
ALTHOUGH THE PROVINCE IS SMALL, ROLLING HILLS
DOTTED WITH GOLDEN WHEAT FIELDS AND GREEN OLIVE
PLANTATIONS ALTERNATE WITH BARREN SUN-SCORCHED
AREAS, WHERE ABBEYS, LIKE THAT DEDICATED TO ST.
MICHAEL ARCHANGEL AT MONTESCAGLIOSO, STAND OUT
SOLITARY AND AUSTERE IN THEIR BEAUTY, RIVALLED
ONLY BY ARISTOCRATIC CASTLES, SUCH AS THE
MALCONSIGLIO FORTRESS AT MIGLIONICO. PEAKS
SEPARATING THE RIVER VALLEYS OF THE BRADANO AND
THE BASENTO DROP DOWN TO MOON-LIKE HOLLOWS,
PRECIPICES OF WHITE CLAY, AS CARLO LEVI DEFINED
THEM - CONFINED IN THE REGION IN THE 1930S -
WHILE A FERTILE PLAIN, WITH FLOURISHING CITRUS
PLANTATIONS, RUNS DOWN TO THE IONIAN COAST.
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