Potenza is a town of 63,403 inhabitants in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, Italy. It is the capital of Basilicata.
The municipality covers 173.97 km², with a density of 364 inhabitants per km².
The nearest airport is Salerno (QSR), about 75 km away as the crow flies.
Things to see in Potenza
- Potenza and its EscalatorsCuriosities
The highest regional capital
Potenza, the capital of Basilicata, stands at over 800 metres on a ridge of the Lucanian Apennines, making it the highest regional capital in Italy. It is a city of stairways and escalators linking the old centre to the newer districts.
What to see
Walk along Via Pretoria, the main street of the historic centre, to Piazza Mario Pagano. Visit the cathedral of San Gerardo, the Romanesque church of San Michele and the Torre Guevara, all that remains of the castle. The National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata displays finds from the ancient peoples of the region. At the end of May the Parade of the Turks celebrates the patron saint with a costumed procession.
Food
Peperoni cruschi, crispy dried peppers, lucanica sausage, cavatelli and Aglianico del Vulture wine.
Around Potenza
Matera, the Lucanian Dolomites with Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, Monte Vulture with the Monticchio lakes and Maratea on the Tyrrhenian. The nearest airports are Bari and Naples.
Potenza on the map
Nearby towns
Where to stay in and around Potenza
Tours and activities nearby
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