Castelmezzano ( Castelmezzano dialect : Castrëmënzànë ) is a town and comune in the province of Potenza , in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata . It is bounded by the comuni of Albano di Lucania , Anzi , Laurenzana , Pietrapertosa , Trivigno .
13-446: It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). In 2007 Castelmezzano was chosen by Arthur Frommer 's Budget Travel magazine among "The best places you've never heard of". The Telegraph included Castelmezzano among its "Italy's 19 most beautiful villages" list in 2017, defining it "one of southern Italy's most stunningly located villages". The origins of Castelmezzano date to approximately between
26-741: Is a non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest, that was founded in March 2001 on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, with the aim of preserving and maintaining villages of quality heritage. Its motto is Il fascino dell'Italia nascosta ("The charm of hidden Italy"). Founded to contribute to safeguarding, conserving and revitalizing small villages and municipalities, but sometimes even individual hamlets, which, being outside
39-543: The 6th and 5th centuries BC, when Greek settlers got into the valley of Basento and founded in Magna Graecia a town called Maudoro, meaning roughly the world of gold. In the 10th century AD, the Saracen invasions forced the local population to find a new location. It is said that during the exodus, a shepherd called Paolino discovered a place to move to, formed by rocks from the steep peaks of which one could repel
52-821: The World The Most Beautiful Villages in the World is a non-profit private international organization that brings together various territorial associations promoting small inhabited centers of particular historical and landscape interest. The institution was founded in 2012 in Gordes ( France ) by five associations belonging to as many geographical areas: France , Japan , Italy , Québec ( Canada ) and Wallonia ( Belgium ). Spain also joined later. These territories are represented within The Most Beautiful Villages in
65-421: The association meet the following requirements: integrity of the urban fabric, architectural harmony, livability of the village, artistic-historical quality of the public and private building heritage, services to the citizen as well as the payment of an annual membership fee. The association organizes initiatives within the villages, such as festivals, exhibitions, fetes , conferences and concerts that highlight
78-541: The cultural, historical, gastronomic and linguistic heritage, involving residents, schools, and local artists. The club promotes numerous initiatives on the international market. In 2016, the association signed a global agreement with ENIT , to promote tourism in the most beautiful villages in the world. In 2017, the club signed an agreement with Costa Cruises for the enhancement of some villages, which are offered to cruise passengers arriving in Italian ports aboard
91-513: The economic and social conditions remained mostly unchanged. Only with the appointment of Baron Giovanni Antonio De Leonardis (whose family governed the town from 1580 to 1686), did development take place. Subsequently, it passed by marriage to the De Lerma, who held it until 1805, when feudalism was suppressed in southern Italy. In the 19th century, Castelmezzano was affected by brigandage . Due to its location, rich in natural hiding places among
104-570: The event is held annually between May and November. The Percorso delle Sette Pietre (Seven Stones Path) is a literary walk inspired by Mimmo Sammartino’s book Vito ballava con le streghe (Vito danced with the witches), based on ancient stories handed down orally. Each path includes a space that evokes a sequence of the story, with a sound environment that offers additional suggestions to the magic of nature revealed. I Borghi pi%C3%B9 belli d%27Italia I Borghi più belli d'Italia ( Italian: [i ˈborɡi pju bˈbɛlli diˈtaːlja] )
117-566: The invaders by means of rolling stone boulders on to them. After the occupation by the Lombards , the Normans settled there between the 11th and 13th century AD and built a castle (of which are still visible the remains of the walls and tier of rocks which allowed access to the higher lookout point). It was from the name of the castle ( Castrum Medianum , roughly means Castle in the Middle) that
130-576: The main tourist circuits, they risk, despite their great value, being forgotten with consequent degradation, depopulation and abandonment. Initially the group included about a hundred villages, which subsequently grew up to 361 in 2023. In 2012, the Italian association was one of the founding members of the international association The Most Beautiful Villages in the World , a private organization that brings together various territorial associations promoting small inhabited centres of particular historical and landscape interest. The criteria for admission to
143-1345: The operator's ships. The regional subdivision of the villages members of the association is as follows: 31 in Marche and Umbria , 29 in Tuscany , 27 in Liguria , 26 in Abruzzo and Lombardy , 25 in Lazio , 24 in Sicily , 20 in Piedmont , 16 in Emilia-Romagna and Trentino-Alto Adige , 15 in Calabria , 14 in Apulia , 13 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia , 11 in Veneto and Campania , 9 in Sardinia and Basilicata , 4 in Molise and 3 in Aosta Valley . The Most Beautiful Villages in
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#1732787454296156-469: The rocks and lush vegetation, it was an ideal refuge for many bandits. At the end of the century, the town suffered a major migratory exodus, which prompted many families to move overseas. The Volo dell'Angelo (Angel Flight) is a high-speed zip line crossing the valley between Castelmezzano and neighbouring Pietrapertosa , offering a evocative view at over 400 metres (1,300 feet) from the ground at speeds of 120 km/h (70 mph). Inaugurated in 2007,
169-565: The town derived its name, the castle so named because of its position between those of Pietrapertosa and Albano di Lucania . With the Normans, Castelmezzano experienced a period of peace and development, until under the Angevins it experienced a sharp decline. With the arrival of the Aragonese , between the 14th and 16th century, many landowners received Castelmezzano as fief , although
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