# Basilicata: Matera, ghost towns and the Lucanian Dolomites

> 4-day road trip of about 197 km (123 mi) with 8 stops, from Matera to Venosa. About 2 h 43 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b1-basilicata/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 197 km (123 mi) with 8 stops, from Matera to Venosa. About 2 h 43 min of driving in total. Matera from across the ravine, the abandoned town of Craco, rock villages linked by a zip line and crater lakes on an extinct volcano.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 197 km (123 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 43 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Matera → Venosa |
| Countries | Italy |
| Updated | September 11, 2026 |

## Route description

After Matera’s Sassi, drive round to the Murgia Timone viewpoint on the other side of the ravine, where cave churches dot the plateau. Then head south-west through clay badlands to Craco, abandoned after a landslide and visitable only on guided tours.

Join the SS407 Basentana up the Basento valley, then climb to Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, two villages wedged into the sandstone spires of the Lucanian Dolomites. The Volo dell’Angelo zip line connects them in summer, and a footpath with a Tibetan bridge links them on foot.

The access roads are steep with sharp bends and parking is tight, so larger motorhomes should use the car parks below each village. Continue north past Potenza to the Vulture, an extinct volcano whose crater holds the two Monticchio lakes.

Melfi’s Norman castle houses a museum of ancient finds, and Venosa, birthplace of the poet Horace, has Roman ruins and an unfinished abbey church. Try the local Aglianico del Vulture red wine; spring and autumn avoid both the heat and the winter snow on the hills.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Matera** (Italy)
2. **Belvedere Murgia Timone** (Matera, Italy): The viewpoint facing the Sassi of Matera across the ravine, with rock churches in the park around it. A steep path and a suspension bridge link it with the town.
3. **Craco ghost town** (Craco, Italy): A hilltop village abandoned after a landslide in the 1960s, its tower and houses still standing against the badlands. Entry is only on guided tours with a helmet.
4. **Castelmezzano** (Italy)
5. **Pietrapertosa** (Italy)
6. **Monticchio lakes** (Rionero in Vulture, Italy): Two lakes in the crater of the extinct Vulture volcano, ringed by forest, with an abbey clinging to the slope above. A pleasant picnic and walking stop.
7. **Melfi** (Italy)
8. **Venosa** (Italy)

## FAQs

**How long is Basilicata: Matera, ghost towns and the Lucanian Dolomites?**
4-day road trip of about 197 km (123 mi) with 8 stops, from Matera to Venosa. About 2 h 43 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Basilicata: Matera, ghost towns and the Lucanian Dolomites?**
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 43 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Basilicata: Matera, ghost towns and the Lucanian Dolomites start and end?**
It starts in Matera and ends in Venosa.

**Which countries does Basilicata: Matera, ghost towns and the Lucanian Dolomites pass through?**
Italy.