Melfi, the Norman capital of Basilicata

Melfi stands on a hill overlooking the Ofanto valley, in the Vulture area.

It is one of the major centers in the north of Basilicata and has historically been a Swabian-Norman base.

Monumental testimony of this domination is the imposing Norman castle, which overlooks the entire inhabited area of the city.

Between the alleys of the village, in every glimpse, the medieval style is evident.

Numerous churches and small churches alternate with the roofs of the houses or the bronze statues depicting children, scattered in the small squares.

The sacred place par excellence is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, whose bell tower stands out over the roofs of the village.

The exterior is white and austere, but the interior, in the shape of a Latin cross with three naves, is rich in colors and decorations. Next to the cathedral is the bishop's palace which has a spacoius green back garden.

Leaving the walls it is possible to enter the small green lung of the city, the Villa Comunale, where you are enchanted by the green of the conifers.

The park runs along the ancient Norman walls of Melfi and leads up to the famous Porta Venosina.

In front of the city there is a small hillock on which the Capuchin Convent, built in 1528, is located.

It can be reached by foot through the Via Crucis that crosses the park leaning against the hill, and from the top of which you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the whole of Melfi.