This town is symbolic of Basilicata’s green core. A small mountain settlement 960 m asl, Castelsaraceno is embedded between two national reserves – that of the Appennino Lucano-Val d’Agri Lagonegrese and the Parco Nazionale del Pollino – linked to each other by a vertiginous Tibetan bridge ending on a spur between Monte Raparo and Monte Castelveglia, in a primordial habitat of woods, meadows, streams and rivers.
It is a true paradise for lovers of sport and outdoor activities, offering trekking, climbing, mountain biking, Nordic walking, canyoning and rafting.
The old town centre is also hugely interesting, a treasure trove of small houses clinging to the rock, steep narrow winding streets and mediaeval buildings that hark back to the town’s foundation in 1031 by the Saracens. Nor does it lack a romantic touch as its magical atmosphere is reinforced by the perfect heart shape of the municipality. As well as the remains of a Saracen tower, see the Chiesa Madre di Santo Spirito and the innovative Museo della Pastorizia which paints an all-encompassing picture of shepherding life in its various cultural and symbolic expressions.
