Discover Basilicata
My great-great grandparents left their home in Barile, Basilicata a century ago to emigrate to new opportunities in the US. Last year I went back to discover some of my roots. What I found was a virtually unspoiled landscape of mountains, farms and small villages full of history. Basilicata has suffered a tough past- poverty, bandits, earthquakes, landslides and even it's own mini dustbowl and has remained sparsely populated and thus much more lightly touched by modern society and rapacious tourism. If you are brave enough to visit (you'll probably have to drive!) you'll find magical medieval villages, gorgeous landscapes, food so fresh and flavorful that it'll make you cry and friendly locals - though don't expect a lot of English!