Overview
Policoro is an official Italian municipality (comune, pop. 17,875) in Provincia di Matera within the Basilicata region of Italy (coordinates: 40.2115°N, 16.6726°E). Visitors come for its unhurried historic center (centro storico), parish church and civic piazza, weekly open-air market, and authentic Basilicata cooking.
Local Food & Regional Specialties — Policoro
Hand-shaped strascinati or cavatelli pasta topped with crunchy sweet red Senise peppers (peperoni cruschi) flash-fried in olive oil and salted ricotta, or lagane with chickpeas (€8–€12). In southern Italy's sun-drenched climate around Policoro, kitchens rely on cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, durum-wheat semolina pasta, wild oregano, capers, and wood-fired bread ovens.
Slow-cooked lamb in terracotta pots with potatoes, onions, and wild herbs (pignata), grilled lucanica pork sausage scented with fennel seeds, and salted cod (baccalà) with crispy sweet peppers (€11–€16).
Tall-crusted golden Matera durum-wheat sourdough loaves, sun-dried necklace strings of peperoni cruschi, aged Canestrato di Moliterno cheese, and volcanic Aglianico del Vulture red wine.
Village bakeries remain community hubs where families still recognize traditional wooden bread stamps, and evening meals revolve around crusty durum bread, fried sweet peppers, and Aglianico wine. In Policoro (pop. 17,875), neighborhood bars, bakeries (forni), and trattorie across Provincia di Matera follow traditional regional dining hours—ask locally for the weekly market morning and patron-saint festival date.
Getting There & Local Transit
Ferrandina–Matera and Potenza Centrale rail stations; FAL (Ferrovie Appulo Lucane) narrow-gauge train and Miccolis/Marino buses connecting Bari Airport (BRI) to Matera. From the primary regional hub of Potenza, Trenitalia regional rail and provincial bus routes connect directly to Policoro and surrounding towns in Provincia di Matera.
What to See & Do — Policoro
- Centro Storico & Main Piazza of Policoro: Stroll the historic core, parish church (Chiesa Madre), and neighborhood cafés during the morning market or evening passeggiata.
- Countryside & Provincial Walks (Provincia di Matera): Explore scenic rural lanes, olive groves, vineyards, and hilltop viewpoints surrounding Policoro.
Best Time to Visit
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Browse all comuni in Basilicata or search the complete directory of 7,896 Italian municipalities.