Castelmezzano is a town in the province of Potenza, one of the most beautiful treasures of Basilicata.
The most fascinating spectacle of Castelmezzano is the one offered by the scenery of the Lucanian Dolomites.
Over time, rain and wind have carved out shapes in this sandstone rock to which popular tradition has given particular names, in fact with particular light and shadow conditions they take the form of "beak of the owl", "lion’s mouth", "anvil" and "golden eagle". The arrival in the small village is quite unusual because you enter it through a tunnel dug into the rock after having passed a spectacular gorge, at the exit of the Castelmezzano tunnel it appears as a small crib perched and protected by the Lucanian Dolomites. The urban structure of Castelmezzano is typically medieval, a concentric agglomeration of houses with sandstone slab roofs embedded in a rocky hollow. Walking through the old town is particularly suggestive for the presence of the buildings inserted in the rock, for the many steep stairs that open between the alleys and invite you to climb to the peaks above and enjoy the wonderful views of the Lucanian Dolomites. Precisely this balanced relationship of the town with the natural components, respecting the surrounding landscape, has allowed Castelmezzano to be defined as a natural city and included in the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
