Montescaglioso

A few kilometers from Matera, surrounded by green fields, Montescaglioso is a small hill top town which offers a splendid panorama over the gorges of the Murgia and the Bradano river valley. One of the greatest artistic masterpieces of the whole Basilicata is preserved there, the Abbey dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo, with its library room all depicted with frescoes and the two large cloisters with the annexed museum of peasant civilization. The tour continues with a pleasant walk in the historic center visiting a wine cellar dug into rock, the church of San Pietro e Paolo.

We could also arrange the lunch in Montescaglioso, or in an agriturismo close by.

You might think of combining this tour to Montescaglioso with another activity to be done in the afternoon, visiting the Crypt of Original Sin, one of the oldest rock churches with frescoes dating back to the 9th century.