Tours & Excursions

The Nova Siri Village lies right in the heart of Magna Graecia and very close to places of great cultural and natural interest, such as the city of Matera (European Capital of Culture and UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Pollino National Park and the trulli of Alberobello; therefore the opportunities for excursions across Basilicata, Calabria and Puglia are many, ranging from cultural and archaeological sites to nature-based experiences.

Very close by are Metaponto and Policoro (about 30 km away), both important archaeological areas of Magna Graecia. In Policoro you can visit the excavations of ancient Siris, the National Archaeological Museum and the National Museum of Siritide.

Metaponto is an important colony founded by the Achaeans in the 8th century BC and is mainly divided into three sites: the Archaeological Park, where both the sacred area of the city with the ruins of the temples of Athena, Apollo, Hera and Aphrodite and the urban area with the remains of houses and the large theatre complex can be seen; the Archaeological Museum, which preserves the numerous finds uncovered in the surrounding territory; and the Sanctuary of Hera, known as the Tavole Palatine, where the columns of the Doric temple dedicated to this goddess stand against the sky after 25 centuries of history.

Inside the museum, the various historical phases are reconstructed: the earliest prehistoric manifestations, the arrival of the Greeks in the 5th century BC, the formation of the colony of Metaponto between the Bradano and Basento rivers, and Romanisation. The museum preserves the many finds uncovered in the surrounding area, while at the Sanctuary of Hera, known as the “Tavole Palatine”, the columns of the Doric temple dedicated to this deity still stand after 25 centuries of history.

In the province of Potenza, places worth visiting include the Gallipoli-Cognato Park and the two small villages of Castelmezzano (with its Templar chapel) and Pietrapertosa, both part of the circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, where a few years ago the breathtaking “Flight of the Angel” route was created: a steel cable that allows a spectacular flight between the two villages at an altitude of 1,000 metres.

The origin of Castelmezzano probably dates back to the 5th century BC, founded by Greek settlers. The village, which passed through various dominations, is rich in history and also preserves numerous traces of the presence of the Templar Order (such as the town emblem). Pietrapertosa was probably founded by pre-Hellenic settlers and also passed through numerous dominations, preserving overlapping signs over time, such as the oldest district of Arabata, clearly of Saracen origin. The village is literally set into the rocky pinnacles of the Lucanian Dolomites and from this it takes the meaning of its name: “pierced stone”.

Straddling Basilicata and Calabria is the magnificent Pollino National Park, home of the “Bosnian pines”, which, besides offering breathtaking landscapes, trekking and hiking opportunities, and places of extreme nature such as the Raganello canyon or rafting descents in the Lao valley, also preserves Albanian ethnic cultural identities and small characteristic centres such as Civita, Frascineto, Morano, Cerchiara and Laino Borgo.

Civita is one of the best-known centres of Albanian ethnicity, with a historic centre whose houses, largely still original, feature typical architectural solutions, especially in the decorated chimneys, hanging ovens and loggias. Dominated by the Timpa del Demonio, an 800-metre pink-veined rock wall that separates the village from the Raganello Gorges, one of the most suggestive sights in Pollino, a 13 km canyon with drops of up to 700 metres, whose view will leave you breathless.

It is possible to stop at the viewpoint over the gorges and the valley, or descend along the dedicated panoramic trail until reaching the Devil’s Bridge, an ancient bridge once used by shepherds, marking the end of the gorges. A brief stop can also be made at the Ethnographic Museum, which preserves objects of peasant civilisation, Arbëreshë costumes, a thematic library dedicated to the ethnic group, a photographic collection on all the Arbëreshë communities of Italy and images of Byzantine liturgy.

Frascineto is another important centre of Albanian ethnicity, dominated by the “Little Dolomites”. It is worth a stop for the Doll Museum, where Albanian costumes are reproduced in miniature, and for a tasting in a local winery of the area’s typical wine, the Doc Pollino, produced from the encounter between the dark berries of magliocco canino, a native vine, and aglianico.

Also worth visiting is the Museum of Icons and Byzantine Tradition, a centre of excellence for Byzantine culture in Calabria, with its extraordinary collection of Byzantine icons from the 17th to 20th centuries, liturgical furnishings and medals. It is also possible to visit the Biodiversity Museum, which recreates the flora and fauna of Europe’s largest park. In both villages, on the Tuesday after Easter, the Valljie are celebrated, typical Arbëreshë dances commemorating the patriot Skanderberg who led them to Calabria.