Viggianello

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Millucci0Castello Viggianello CC BY-SA 4.0
Millucci0Castello (7.1)CC BY-SA 4.0
Millucci0Chiesa Madre Santa Catrina d'Alessandria (Interno)Public domain
Gruesome GaryChiesa di Santa Caterina Vergine e Martire CC BY-SA 4.0
Millucci0Sagra della 'Pitu'Public domain
Millucci0Viggianello Chiesa S.Caterina (2)Public domain
Millucci0Viggianello PanoramaPublic domain
Cinzia astorinoViggianello, centro storico CC BY-SA 4.0
DinaBenedettoFerrandinaViggianello 01 CC BY-SA 4.0
DinaBenedettoFerrandinaViggianello 15 CC BY-SA 4.0
DinaBenedettoFerrandinaViggianello ( Basilicata).08 CC BY-SA 4.0
DinaBenedettoFerrandinaViggianello ( Basilicata).11 CC BY-SA 4.0

At the foot of the Pollino massif, in the Mercure valley, Viggianello grew on a hill where Romans, Byzantines and Normans each built a stronghold in turn. Its territory is unusual for its scatter of hamlets of every size, and for the rock chapels and hermit cells left by Basilian monks, while local memory still tells of clashes between brigands and soldiers.

Highlights

The hilltop castle, a Norman stronghold with a square tower
Ruins of San Nicola, the oldest church, with traces of frescoes
Rock chapels and hermit cells of the Basilian monks
Remains of the Byzantine fortified village in the Cella and Ravita quarters
The slopes of the Pollino massif rising above the village

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Viggianello (Italia), Viggianello, Basilicata). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 2,683

Events through the year

Bonfire sagra Seasonal · 19 March and 2 AprilBundles of brushwood burnt in the squares to welcome spring
Feast of Saint Francis of Paola Religious · Week after Easter and last weekend of AugustOxen drag felled trees to town; a greasy pole is raised
Good Friday procession Religious · Good FridayLiving Way of the Cross and Passion laments sung in dialect
Pellegrinaggio alla Madonna dell'Alto Religious · Last Sunday of May and first Sunday of SeptemberThe Madonna is carried about 15 km up to the mountain sanctuary
Madonna del Carmine Religious · Third Sunday of AugustWheat-covered offerings carried in procession, sickle dance and gift auction
Fiera di Santa Caterina di Alessandria Fairs and markets · 25 NovemberAncient fair on the feast of the town's patron saint

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Viggianello (Italia)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Local food & wine

Ji-EllePecorino au poivre CC BY-SA 3.0
PecorinoCheese
PadraccioCheese
FrascàtulaDishLocal polenta
RasckatìeddiBread and pastaLocal fusilli
BrasciòlaDishRolled pork parcels
ShougissimeFraise dans les bois CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild strawberriesLocal producePicked in the undergrowth and made into jams and liqueurs

Adapted from Wikipedia (Viggianello (Italia)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to sleep

7 places to stay within 3 km

Hotels 6
B&Bs and guest houses 1

Nearby member villages

Morano Calabro · 14 km
Aieta · 23 km
Civita · 25 km
San Nicola Arcella · 27 km
Altomonte · 30 km