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Italy: Basilicata (Lucania)

Overview

Basilicata contains the provinces of Matera and Potenza; the town of Potenza is the regional capital. It’s the least populated region of central and southern Italy and is one of the poorest and least developed regions of the so-called Mezzogiorno, with one of its lowest per capita incomes and an unemployment rate of over 20 per cent. The population of Basilicata is around 596,000, and its area 9,991sq km (3,858 sq mi). It has a harsh terrain consisting of rugged mountains (rising to over 1,800m/6,000ft in the west) between Calabria and Apulia, and coastlines on both the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas.

The region’s main economy is agriculture (mostly olives, livestock and sheep farming) and. although only some 8 per cent of the land is suitable for cultivation, 40 per cent of the population is employed in farming, often on tiny parcels of land. Agricultural workers outnumber industrial workers, although there has been a flourish of industrial development in recent years, which has brought some welcome prosperity. The production of arts and crafts for the tourism industry is also an important industry.

Basilicata has seen the widespread migration of its young to the north for many decades and consequently many villages (particularly those in inhospitable, mountain areas) are dying, inhabited almost exclusively by the elderly. The region is also noted for its widespread corruption, inefficiency and organised crime and is susceptible to earthquakes.

The main city of Matera (45,000) is noted for the primeval beauty of its cave dwellings (i Sassi), which seem to grow from the surrounding tufa stone. These historic dwellings, where peasants used to sleep with their animals, are now protected and an increasingly popular property option with both foreigners and Italians. Sassi have increased in price by some 20 per cent over the last five years and prices start at around €1,300 per sq m. If the cave needs restoring you will need to spend a further 50 per cent, but government grants are available for up to half the price of restoration, although the process and paperwork involved may try your patience!

Property: Basilicata isn’t a popular tourist destination and is of little interest to foreign property buyers, although it may be ideal for those wishing to ‘get away from it all’. Nevertheless, there are some splendid resorts on the two small strips of coast (such as Maratea on the Tyrrhenian coast), where there are few foreign property owners. Other resorts include Bagnara Calabra, Copanello, Diamante, Paola, Pizzo, Praia a Mare, Scalea, Scilla and Soverato. Interesting historic towns include Venosa, with its Roman and medieval remains, and Melfi, once a Norman stronghold. Property is cheap and prices start at €550 per sq m, rising to €1,100 per sq m in Matera.

Communications: The region has poor rail and road communications with the rest of the country, although road links have improved in recent years. The nearest international airport is Naples and the nearest regional airport Bari.

© Survival Books Limited 2003

“Buying a Home in Italy” 3rd Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Italy” 3rd edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive information about buying a property in Italy, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net

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