Here’s what to see in the small village of Basilicata
In Basilicata there are many small villages of ancient origin that deserve to be visited, where you can admire the wonderful nature that surrounds the town.
In Melfi one of the most characteristic aspects is the presence of a wall with watchtowers that completely surrounds the city. This is the ideal destination for those who love nature and want to discover the history and culture of these fascinating territories.
Melfi: where is it?
Melfi is a small medieval village located in Basilicata in the province of Potenza. This town is a real gem surrounded by the wonder of nature. It lies on a neck at the foot of the dormant Vulture volcano for millennia.
The history of the village of Melfi
Melfi has an ancient history of which one of the most interesting aspects concerns its origin. There are different opinions about the date of the foundation. On the one hand it is believed that the Greeks were the architects of the birth of the village while others believe that it was the work of some families of the Roman Empire.
According to what has emerged, the city was inhabited since the Neolithic and then expanded after the fall of the Roman Empire, acquiring more and more importance. The arrival of the Normans brought Melfi to its maximum splendor. Later, the territory was conquered by the Swabians and the Angevins. These were then ousted by the Aragonese. After the passage to the Habsburgs and the Bourbons the village went through centuries of decline.
Melfi offers many things to see despite its small size. The old town is a fascinating place to discover. Here there is one of the most important buildings of the village, the Norman castle. This was accomplished in the late 11th century and has undergone numerous changes over the years. In particular, during the period in which it was transformed from a stronghold into a noble residence by Frederick II of Swabia.
Later, other changes were made by the Angevins who were responsible for the construction of some spaces adjacent to the throne room and the construction of the north east wing with a wall and three courtyards. Today the castle houses the National Archaeological Museum of Melfese.
Here there is a vast collection of archaeological finds from the Roman, Byzantine and Norman periods. One of the most important finds exposed here is the Sarcophagus of Melfi. It is a funerary monument in white marble of the second century A.D.
In the historic center of the village there are also other ancient buildings worthy of note. One of the most fascinating is undoubtedly the Bishop’s Palace which is located in Piazza Duomo. Another monument to visit is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Today little remains of the original structure because of the numerous earthquakes that damaged it.
It was rebuilt following the Baroque stylistic canons. It contains important historical and artistic documents such as the papal bull of Pius XII and a Byzantine Madonna. In the centre of Melfi the Fontana del Bagno is also worth a visit. This was built in 1928 and has been used for a long time for drinking horses. Also in the town you can not miss the visit of the gates to the city. One of the most interesting is that of Porta Venosina which is still completely intact.
Very interesting are also the numerous rock churches that are located just outside the town of Melfi. One of these is the church of the Holy Spirit which is immersed in the woods at 900 meters above sea level. Very interesting is also the church of Santa Margherita that was excavated inside the tuff. In addition, this is decorated with beautiful frescoes.
Foto : Made in Travel
The traditional cuisine of Melfi
Melfi is a small village that has a lot to offer visitors also with regard to the gastronomic aspect. There are many products of the territory of exceptional quality with which tasty dishes are prepared following the recipes of the traditional cuisine of Melfi. Among the first courses there are tagliatelle with chickpeas, strascinati with ricotta, tagliatelle with dried broad beans and fusilli with sausage.
The cuisine of this village includes simple recipes of peasant origin such as those of meat dishes, among which the sheep with salt, lamb with cardoncelli mushrooms and fried pork with peppers in vinegar. As for the typical products, the most famous is undoubtedly the typical chestnut of this territory. This is a variety suitable for fresh consumption. This is also used for the preparation of desserts according to the recipes of the traditional cuisine of the village.
Copertina: Made in Travel
