II 



BASILICATA. 



BASILIC ATA. 



ni 



Buckwheat aloo in grown among the hills; and some olive-oil 

 is made. The vineyards of Tumi, Melfi, Chiaramonte, Pisticcio, and 

 MantallMio are famous for their wines. Saffron is grown. A large 

 quantity of liquorice-juice is prepared for exportation ; and some 

 cotton tt grown, bat chiefly in the plain along the Gulf of Toronto. 

 The manufacture*, properly so called, are unimportant, nnd confined to 

 articles of home consumption, such as coarse woollens, linen, soap, 

 candles, ftc., which are made in most of the towns. 



The main ridge of the Apennines is composed of limestone, which 

 contains rery few fouiln. The offshoots also contain limestone, but 

 are chiefly composed of marls, covered in ports with yellow sand or 

 sandstone, abounding in organic remain", and gypsum. In many 

 parts, and more particularly in the eastern ridge that Iminds the 

 basin of the Bradano on the north, the limestone rises to the surface ; 

 to bleak rocky districts of this nature the name ' Hurgie ' is given. 

 The limestone here as elsewhere abounds in caverns. 



In the hills about Montescaglioso to the south of Matera, and not 

 far from the left bank of the Bradano, talc is found, and is used for 

 glass in the neighbouring villages. 



Excepting such ports of the province as skirt a few leading routes, 

 the interior of Basilicata is not so well known as many other parts of 

 Italy. The inhabitants are descended from old Lucanians, and 

 through them from the Samnites. They are still a very primitive 

 people in their manners and habits, and retain the love of hilla which 

 characterised the old Samnite stock. Most of the towns and villages 

 are built on hills. The great plain along the Gulf of Toronto, which 

 in ancient times was studded with populous cities, is now inhabited 

 only by the labourers who work on the great forms into which it is 

 distributed. Maize-bread and vegetables form the chief food of the 

 inhabitants. The common people cover their heads with a cotton or 

 linen handkerchief or cap, and envelop their feet in a piece of hide 

 instead of shoes. In a few places some of the poorer class live in 

 caverns in the hills. 



The want of good roads, which arc difficult to construct in a very 

 mountainous country, causes most parts of the interior to be inacces- 

 sible to all except the hardy pedestrian. The people travel little ; 

 taverns therefore and inns are few. The great Colabrian rood 

 between Naples and Reggio, which in parts coincides with the ancient 

 Aquilian Way, crosses the south-west of the province, passing through 

 Lagonegro and Castellucio ; after running up the Vol di Piano, which 

 is traversed by the Negro, it is carried by some fine engineering works 

 across the Moute Cocuzzo into Basilicata. A cross-road, which leaves 

 the Calabrian road at Eboli in Principato Citra, runs north-eastward 

 across the Apennines, and traverses the north of Basilicata through 

 Muro to Melfi, whence branch-roads run to Acerenza, Lavello, and Canosa. 

 Another cross-road leaves the Calabrian road at Auletta in the Val di 

 Piano, and crosses the hills eastward to Potenza, whence it is con- 

 tinued eastward through Matera to Toronto, and through Altamura 

 to Ban on the Adriatic. The road from Taranto to Castrovillari in 

 Calabria coincides generally with the ancient Via Trajana, and skirts 

 the shore of the Gulf of Taranto. All those roads are kept i 

 repair and practicable for carriages except the lost, which is only fit 

 for light vehicles and is impassable after rain on account of the 

 torrents. There are many other roads in the province, but they ore 

 chiefly bridle-roads or mere tracks in the mountains. 



'ioiu and Tovru. The province of Basilicata is divided into 

 four districts Lagonegro, Melfi, Matera, and Potenza containing 

 together 121 communes. The form of the provincial govern 

 the same as that already described in the article HA HI, TKRRA DI. 



The district of Lagonegro comprises the south of the province between 

 Moliterno near the western frontier and the left bank of the Agri to its 

 mouth. Lagontyro, or Lagoncro, the capoluogo, or head town of the 

 district, is situated on the great Calabrian rood from Naples to Iteggio, 

 at the head of a narrow glen traversed by o feeder of the Treccmna 

 and screened by the lofty heights of the Monte Cocuzzo and the Monti 

 Sirini, at a distance of 100 miles S K from Naples, 88 miles S. from 

 Potenza, and has 5000 inhabitant*. The town is named from a small 

 lake near it, and is a place of little importance. Cattellucio, situated on 

 the Calabrian road, 15 miles 8.K. from I>agonegro, consists of an 

 upper and a lower town, the united population of which is 5000. Tho 

 upjicr town, owing to the loftiness of its site in <..],!. The lower town 

 stand* in the plain on a branch of the Ijw>. /,> 'niles E. 



from Lagonegro, is situated near the left bank of the Sinno ; it has 

 medicinal springs, and about 4000 inhabitant 7 miles 8. by 



in Lagonegro, stands on the side of a steep and lofty mountain 

 and has 8400 inhabitant*. It is divided into an upper and a lower 

 town, and a cascade dashes from the rock on which the upper town 

 in built. The town contains two parish churches and has some 

 woollen manufactures. The neighbourhood is covered with vineyards 

 but owing to the coldness of the climate the wine is acid. .'/ 

 small town on the coast of the Gulf f Pulicastro, 9 miles S. fi on 

 Lagonegro, has a population of 5000. Moliterno, \ 2 miles N . by K. fr. >n 

 Lagonegro, U situated on the eastern slope of the main ridge of tin 

 Apennines in the district that lies between the two head-streams of the 

 Agri, and has about 6000 inhabitant*. Ruionda, a village 

 inhabitant*, i* built round n conical hill in the centre of n fertile tree 

 watered by two feeders of the Lao, one of which, called tie 

 rise* in Bamlicata near Viggianello. This village is 6 miles 8.E. from 



Castellucio and close to the Calabrian boundary. Turn, 38 miles E. 

 >y N. from Lagonegro, is built on a hill between the Sinno and the 

 \gri, and has 5000 inhabitants. The town has several good buildings, 

 tnong which are a cathedral, a collegiate church, and three con 

 'here are here an hospital, a diocesan seminary, and a high - 

 or females. Between the town and Montalluiuo (a village of 8000 

 nhabitants, on the left bank of the Agri in il 

 he first battle between Pyrrhus and the Romans wax 

 'ursi and Anglona, a village near the Agri, give title to a I 

 resides in the former. 



The district of Matera comprises the eastern part of the pro. 

 lorth of the Agri and extends into the interior as far as Montepeloso, 

 Vicarico, and Stigliono. Mattra, the capoluogo and on archiepiscopal 

 ity of 13,000 inhabitants, is situated in a deep valley 

 eederof the Bradano, 128 miles E. by S.frotu Naples, and 41 mil 

 rom Potenza. The archdiocese is united to that of Acerenza, The 

 town is walled and tolerably well built, the principal buildim- are tlic 

 cathedral and the archbi-h.'pV palace, the porticoes of which ore 

 ormed by granite pillars with Corinthian capitals, supposed to have 

 >elonged to an ancient temple. There is an ancient tower 

 Torre Metella near the walls. The neighliourhood abom> 

 lastures, and some of the most opulent inhabitants of the town are 

 jraziera. The valley in which Matera stands is screened by two hill 

 anges about 300 feet high and abounding in cavern*, in \vh: h the 

 loorer classes of the town (a wild and uncivilised race) have n 

 or ages. Cretinism is common among these Troglodytes. One of the 

 caverns has been formed into a church. The strata in \ 

 abounds with nitre, which forms an important article of the trade 

 own. A good deal of liquorice also is prepared in Matera. 1'crran 

 16 miles 8.W. from Matera, stands on a hill near the right ! ink of 

 ;he Bosiento, and has 6000 inhabitants. Nmttrpdoto,* walled town 

 with 3500 inhabitants, 22 miles N.W. from Matera. to a 



>ishop. It is situated between the Bradano nnd its tributary the 

 Vosentello, which comes from the mountains near Bonzi and 1 

 mrt of the north-eastern boundary. The bishopric of Montepeloso 

 s united to that of Gravina. Montctcaglioso, 8 miles S. IV. im Matera, 

 s situated on a hill near the Bradano, and lias about 6000 inhabitants. 

 Talc of the best quality is found at this place. Pitticcio, a tov 

 5000 inhabitants, stands midway between the Bosiento and the 

 Salandrella, 15 miles 8. by W. from Matera. It was almost entirely 

 destroyed by an earthquake in 1CS8. Sfigliano, on a hill '-'i' miles 

 S.\V. from Matera, has a population of about 5000, who trade ii. 

 oil, and cattle. Tricarico, 27 miles W. from Matera on the r 

 Potenza, is situated in the hilly country between the Basiento and the 

 Bradnno. It gives title to a bishop, and has 6600 inhabitants. The 

 own is girt with old walls flanked by towers. It contains a handsome 

 cathedra], three other churches, and a diocesan seminary. T 

 of the town ore very productive; a great number of hogs are 



The district of Melfi comprises all that part of the pi-,>\ inee which 

 Belongs to the basin of the Ofanto, with that portion of the I :.-in of 

 the Solo which lies north of the Platano and the glens aboir 

 source of the Bradano. The capoluogo 



finely situated .n a basaltic hill separated by a deep chasm from the 

 northern flank of Mount Vultur, at a distance of 7" miles K. from 

 Naples, 28 miles N. from Potenza, and bos 10,000 inhabitants. In the 

 earthquake of August 14, 1851, which occurred whilst the peopl 

 taking their siesta, this city Kiifl'cred terribly ; the cathedral whi 

 surmounted by a lofty tower, erected inll. r >"i by a Norman pi 

 was entirely destroyed ; the college also, the ; 



churches, and 163 houses, including the bishop's palace, were leu 11. -.1 

 to the ground ; above 1000 persons perished and 600 others were 

 wounded. The streets of Melfi ore generally narrow; some of the 

 houses are good. The town commands fine views of Mount Vultur. 

 The most important bafldinff now left in Melfi is a modernised feudal 

 castle which was originally built by the Normans soon 

 ient ill Apulia. It stands ou the edge ..f the ohi 



n of it in still occaHinnally 



d by 1'rinvo Poria Pamj.hili, to whom a va-t M 

 surrounding country belongs. Melii was for many years the . 

 of the Norman possessions in south Italy, nnd 

 were held in the castle on legisl. trative n 



during the llth and 1'Jth eentm-ies. In 1059 Pope N 

 came to Melfi and invested Kobert Gui.-e:nd with the duchies of 

 Puglia and Calabria. Ecclesiastical councils wen.- held h 

 popes Urban II., Alexander II., and Paschal II. Tl 

 Frederick II '> confirm the In 



by Pietro delle Vignc, and In 1 inland 



held a parliament of Iwirons in the castle. The baronial hull in 

 which these assemblies were held is now conve 



little south of Melfi is /Mr.:', a H mai: .-.habitants, 



descendants of a Greek or Albanian colony of the Lower empire. 

 ..!' them live in the oaves of Mount Vultur. licit, i, a thriving town of 

 5800 inhabitants, is pituat.d .. a hill i:> mil* S.\V. by S. from 

 Melfi. It has a collegiate church and an hospital. About ' 

 X. from liella i- til i !. ilation ..I" , 



situated 13 miles S.K. from Melfi in tie 



of the Bradano, and has 6000 inhabitan marks tl 



of th ancient Ferentitm. / dies N.E. from -id not 



