Page 524 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

522  SOUTHERN IT AL Y

The impressive castle at Melfi, showing evidence of both Angevin and later construction
1 Melfi survive in the archaeological zone represent Frederick Barbarossa
along Via Vittorio Emanuele. (grandfather of Frederick II)
Potenza. * 18,000. V @ n Piazza
Umberto I (0972 23 97 51). ( Wed & It was also the birth place of the and Barbarossa’s wife, Beatrice.
Sat. ∑ aptbasilicata.it Latin poet Horace (65 BC–8 BC) Inside, the royal apartments and
and the site where the Roman chapel can be visited.
A brooding and now almost general Marcellus died at the
deserted medieval town, Melfi hands of Hannibal in 208 BC.
is crowned by the castle where Marcellus’ reputed tomb is in Via
Pope Nicholas II conducted Melfi. For more treasures, visit the
Robert Guiscard’s investiture Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
in 1059, thus legitimizing the The Duomo, also on Via
Normans in the south. Melfi Vittorio Emanuele, and the huge
later became the Norman capital. castle in Piazza Umberto I, date
Here Frederick II proclaimed his from the 16th century.
Constitutiones Augustales (1231), An abbey complex formed
which unified his kingdom as a by an older, possibly early
state. In the castle is the Museo Christian (5th–6th century)
Nazionale del Melfese, with its church, La Trinità is backed by
collection of Byzantine jewellery. an unfinished 11th-century
The Duomo, off Via Vittorio construction, in which Robert
Emanuele, was begun in 1155 Guiscard (died 1085) was buried
by William the Bad but rebuilt with his half-brothers and The Sassi district of Matera
in the 18th century. Only the Alberada, his first wife. Only
campanile survives. her tomb has survived. 4 Matera
* 56,900. V @ n Via de Viti de
E Museo Archeologico E Museo Archeologico Marco 9 (0835 33 19 83). 8 329 791
Nazionale del Melfese Nazionale 70 56. ( Sat. ∑ materaturismo.it
Castello di Melfi, Via Castello. Tel 0972 Piazza Castello. Tel 0972 360 95. Open
23 87 26. Open 9am–8pm daily (from 9am–8pm daily (from 2pm Tue). & Perched on the edge of a deep
2pm Mon). Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & ravine, this town consists of the
7 8 (Sat & Sun). bustling upper district and the
3 Lagopesole silent, lower Sassi (caves) district,
divided into the Sasso Barisano
2 Venosa Potenza. Tel 0971 860 83. V to and the more pic t uresque Sasso
Lagopesole Scalo, then bus to town.
Potenza. * 12,200. V @ Open 9:30am–1pm, 4–7pm daily Caveoso. The people of Matera
n Piazza Castello 47 (0972 316 09). (3– 5pm in winter). ∑ aptbasilicata.it once lived here in dwellings
( 1st & 3rd Thu of month. scooped out of the rock. The two
∑ comune.venosa.pz.it Rising dramatically on a hill, parts are odd neighbours, making
Lagopesole’s castle (1242–50) Matera a truly fascinating city.
Venosa was one of the most was the last castle built by For the best overview, walk
important Roman colonies Frederick II. The interesting along the Strada Panoramica
around 290 BC, and remains of carved heads above the dei Sassi and look down into
baths and an amphitheatre portal of the keep are said to the caves. From the 8th to the
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp576–7 and pp600–605

522-523_EW_Italy.indd 522 4/5/17 9:31 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm