Pietrapertosa
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
At 1,088 metres, Pietrapertosa is the highest town in Basilicata, its houses built straight onto bare rock among the sandstone peaks of the Piccole Dolomiti Lucane. Its old name, Pietraperciata or 'pierced stone', comes from a cliff with a hole right through it. The Arabata quarter dates from the Saracen fortress of the 9th century, and the Volo dell'Angelo zip line links the town to Castelmezzano.
Highlights
- The Norman-Swabian castle, below a natural rock arch once used as a lookout
- The Arabata, the oldest quarter, with houses built like small fortresses
- Volo dell'Angelo, a zip line between Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano
- San Giacomo Maggiore, a Romanesque church whose bell tower arches over the street
- Feast of San Cataldo on 10 May at his small 12th-century chapel
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Pietrapertosa (IT), Pietrapertosa (EN)), Wikivoyage (Pietrapertosa (IT), Pietrapertosa (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 890
Things to see
Events through the year
- Carnival and Rafanata sagraCupa cupa drums, a dialect trial of Carnival and a masked parade
- Feast of San CataldoSaints' statues carried to the chapel below the Norman-Swabian castle
- Festa del MascioOak and holly joined, raised, then climbed, for Saint Anthony
- Feast of Saint JamesBand round, mass, procession, then music and fireworks in the evening
- Festival delle Dolomiti LucaneInternational soloists and groups perform against the mountain scenery
- Feast of Saint RochMass, procession, then music and fireworks in the square
- Sulle tracce degli ArabiArabata district in Eastern dress: Arab food, music, fire-eaters
- Sapori d'autunnoLocal produce, old crafts and traditional food
- Sagra della CuccìaBeans, chickpeas and wheat cooked outside the church, blessed and shared
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikivoyage (Pietrapertosa). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Pork cured meatsCured meatFresh, dried or preserved in oil or lard
- Orecchiette and cavatelliBread and pasta
- Chargrilled kid or lambDish
- SanguinaccioSweet
- CauzuncillSweetSmall turnovers filled with chestnut cream
Adapted from Wikipedia (Pietrapertosa). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
12 places to stay within 3 km
- B&Bs and guest houses 10
- Hotels 2
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Castelmezzano · 2.3 km
- Guardia Perticara · 17 km
- Irsina · 30 km
- Acerenza · 33 km
- Miglionico · 37 km