Castelmezzano, Basilicata, Italy
© Sean Pavone/Getty Image
Castelmezzano, Basilicata, Italy
Castelmezzano, in the province of Potenza in Basilicata, Italy, is hidden from view until you reach it. You arrive through a tunnel and as you emerge, the village suddenly appears, wedged among the sandstone pinnacles of the Lucanian Dolomites. The houses seem to climb over one another at around 750 metres above sea level, connected by steps and narrow lanes that rise towards the remains of the Norman fortress.
The name Castelmezzano comes from Castrum Medianum, meaning 'castle in the middle,' referring to its position between the fortresses of nearby Pietrapertosa and Brindisi Montagna. A steep staircase carved into the rock leads to the former lookout point, with views over the Basento Valley below. The village has around 700 residents and is part of I Borghi più belli d'Italia, a network of Italy's most beautiful villages. It is also one of the two stations of the Volo dell'Angelo (Angel's Flight), a steel-cable zip line linking Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, with riders suspended high above the valley. A village to admire from below and, if you're feeling brave, from above too.
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