Brazilian by origin and Lucanian by adoption, with the sweet and determined look of someone who has lived a life full of experiences. Angelo Mariano De Almeida is a former football player with an important career. After beginning his professional career in the prestigious Brazilian team Corinthias, he arrives in the Italian Serie A: full-back with an easy assist, he plays for Lecce, Parma and Siena. De Almeida ends his professional career in Matera, also plays a championship of Excellence with Montescaglioso and then decides to settle down in Matera and face a new challenge: to open a churrascaria in the Sassi. Today “A Barraca” is a place very popular with locals and tourists, a small corner of South American warmth, where you can enjoy succulent grilled meat and special drinks. What a goal!
How would you define Basilicata?
I would say that Basilicata as a region full of beautiful places that can be visited, explored and known both in the summer and in the winter. It is really a very promising region that still has significant growth margins.
What are the Lucanians like?
The Lucanians, without any doubt, are super receptive people, perhaps because they work a lot with tourism, they are people who know how to make other people feel good and make them feel at ease.
Why did you decide to live in Matera?
I chose Matera, first of all for family reasons, because my wife and I no longer wanted to make our children move, as they were already suffering because of the many trips we had to make over the years due to work.
Angelo (right) with the Siena shirt
What’s your favorite place in Basilicata?
My favorite place in Basilicata is always Matera because it is the city I visited first, it is the city that welcomed me and my family, the city that has a really beautiful and exciting history. So Matera remains my favorite place in Basilicata!
Do you think you’ve made a goal by moving here?
I can tell you that it was a good choice because we are happy with it. Children are the main reason why we have chosen Matera, they feel very good here. So, yes I think I made the right choice.
What would you recommend to a tourist visiting Basilicata?
I would tell a tourist to come and spend some time here, not just a weekend, because in a weekend you don’t explore even 40 percent of all the beauty that exists in Basilicata. So one can do an extra week, in my opinion, it is the ideal time to get to know the so much beauty that exists here in Basilicata.
e