Tursi
ItalyCfa
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Borgo arabo nel cuore della Lucania | Arab village at the heart of Lucania
Why visit
Climb the steep stairs to the Rabatana, the upper Arab quarter with the medieval Cattedrale Santa Maria Maggiore (the original cathedral of Tursi) and striking calanchi views. The lower town's modern center has the more recent Cattedrale dell'Annunziata. The surrounding calanchi are otherworldly, best explored on guided hikes. Sample local Aglianico del Vulture wine, lucanica sausage, and the local pepper-and-tomato peperoni cruschi. Tursi makes an off-the-beaten-path stop on the way to Matera (90 minutes north).
When to avoid
Tursi is really small and remote, don't expect tourist infrastructure or English speakers. Public transport is minimal. A rental car is essential. The Rabatana has steep cobbled stairs and is impassable for wheelchairs. Many shops close for siesta (1 to 4 pm) and Sundays. Some restaurants and the Rabatana itself are quiet in winter. ATMs work but cash is preferred at small bars. Cellphone signal can be patchy in surrounding hills.