One of the least-explored regions of Italy, Basilicata makes up the arch of Italy's boot with coastline along the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. Its citizens still homestead their lands with centuries-old methods, symbolising the self-sufficient nature of the region. Potenza, its capital, has endured sackings, earthquakes, and was nearly leveled during the Second World War. Another devastating earthquake in 1980 tested its resolve once more.

Melfi's castle remains from the height of the region's power, when Frederick II resided in the area and the economy boomed. The conquering Normans left behind the unfinished Abbazia della Trinita in Venosa, a project on a singular scale in southern Italy. The inimitable Matera's sassi, homes carved out of the city's two ravines, were inhabited until the middle of the 20th century, and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Where Passion of the Christ was filmed, Matera's construction chronicles its past. The village of Metaponto sits among remarkable Roman ruins, and the coastal towns of Maratea and Fiumicello are among Italy's best-kept secrets.