Vaglio Basilicata: Archaeology, Churches and Trails

Vaglio Basilicata brings together archaeological sites, historic streets, churches and trails through the countryside. Information on length, route and destination helps you distinguish between these options.

Archaeology on the Plateau and in Rossano

The Serra di Vaglio archaeological site is located in the municipality of Vaglio Basilicata, at an altitude of 1,100 metres. It stands on a plateau overlooking the route through the Basento Valley. This connects a visit to the site with a landscape where its position along an important route is clearly visible. Rossano di Vaglio offers another way to explore the area’s history: the site there is interpreted as a confederate sanctuary of the Lucanians. Its founding is dated to around the middle of the 4th century BC. It was located near a water source and at a junction of several routes to the surrounding indigenous settlements.

In the Museo delle Antiche Genti in the centre of Vaglio Basilicata, two permanent exhibitions complement the archaeological sites. The archaeological exhibition includes original finds and replicas discovered at the Serra and Rossano sites. In addition, the municipal administration presents exhibitions of painting and sculpture every year. The cultural offering therefore ranges from archaeological finds to changing themes in art and sculpture.

Historic Streets, Palaces and Churches

A municipal route through the historic centre follows medieval streets, passes gateways and palaces, and leads through an extensive system of covered passageways. This sequence makes the townscape a focus in its own right alongside the archaeological sites. The churches reveal a range of architectural features: the Chiesa Madre has three naves with round arches and was built during the Renaissance in a Romanesque style. The Chiesa di San Giuseppe stands in the fortified historic centre behind the cathedral; it dates from the 16th century.

The Chiesa del Carmine is located at the entrance to the town. A large garden with a fountain lies in front of it, and its portal has an 18th-century round arch. Along with the Chiesa Madre and San Giuseppe, the three churches offer different points of interest on a walk through the town: the layout of their interiors, their location in the historic centre and individual architectural details from different periods.

Cycling and Walking Trails with Different Destinations

The I Sentieri dell’Acqua Antica tourist cycling and walking trails start in the historic centre of Vaglio Basilicata and lead to the Serra and Rossano archaeological parks. The project includes two trails, each more than 25 kilometres long. The connection between the starting point and the destination is especially helpful for orientation: the historic town centre is the starting point, and the two archaeological parks are the destinations.

The Tratturo Serra, by contrast, is a shorter, clearly defined route to the Serra San Bernardo excavations. This uphill walking trail is 1.93 kilometres long, starts at Piazza dei Caduti, passes through Contrada Braida and reaches the excavations at an altitude of 1,095 metres. At 6.71 kilometres, the Tratturo Tataseppe–Ciscarella is longer and is described as a circular route. It crosses a landscape of quiet trails and Mediterranean scrub, descends along Contrada Tataseppe and reaches the centre of Vaglio Basilicata.

The two tratturi can be distinguished by their length and described routes: the Tratturo Serra climbs to archaeological excavations, while the longer Tratturo Tataseppe–Ciscarella crosses the countryside and reaches the town centre.

If you are mainly interested in culture and local history, Vaglio Basilicata offers several different perspectives: the Serra di Vaglio plateau, the interpretation of the Rossano site, archaeological finds in the museum and architectural details in the historic centre. The routes complement these themes with clearly named destinations and routes. You can therefore choose your accommodation based on the interests that matter most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Corleto Perticara, Sant'arcangelo, Lavello, Picerno, Brienza, Viggianello, Moliterno, Campomaggiore.

For the broader travel overview: Potenza.