Irsina
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
High above the Bradano valley, the town known as Montepeloso until 1895 keeps a walled medieval core. Through its gates, cobbled lanes wind past watchtowers, fountains and small churches, opening onto little squares that look out over a wide plateau of grain fields. The 13th-century cathedral, partly rebuilt at the end of the 18th century, is the main sight.
Highlights
- The 13th-century cathedral, reworked in the late 18th century
- A sculpture in the cathedral recently attributed to Andrea Mantegna
- Remains of the Norman castle inside the crypt of the former San Francesco monastery
- Bosco di Verrutoli, a 650-hectare wood where fallow deer roam freely
- Cereals and wine from the surrounding farmland
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Irsina (IT), Irsina (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 4,449
Things to see
Events through the year
- Feast of Saint JosephBonfires and traditional soft bread rolls called pandòzz
- Festa della Pietà e PizzicantòProcession of the Madonna della Pietà, then young men build moving human pyramids
- Festival of Saint RochHome altars in cellars and garages, all-night singing, dancing and fried doughnuts
- Feast of Saint EuphemiaTown keys handed to the archbishop, then a long procession with the saint's relic
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Irsina (IT), Irsina (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Specialities of Basilicata
Typical of the region rather than of this village.
- LucanicaCured meat
- Lagane e ceciDishWide pasta with chickpeas and peeled tomatoes, the brigand's dish
- Pecorino di FilianoCheese
Adapted from Wikipedia (Cuisine of Basilicata). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
2 places to stay within 3 km
- B&Bs and guest houses 2
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Gravina in Puglia · 18 km
- Acerenza · 24 km
- Castelmezzano · 29 km
- Pietrapertosa · 30 km
- Miglionico · 30 km