Pietrapertosa is a medieval village among the small Lucanian Dolomites in the province of Potenza. Among the most beautiful villages in Italy, it offers wonderful views and vistas.
Getting to Pietrapertosa
Pietrapertosa is easily accessible and well connected from wherever you are coming from.
We arrived in Pietrapertosa from the south, and the road is magnificent in itself: a beautiful climb where we begin to catch a glimpse of the typical dolomite formations that will accompany us throughout the journey.
The arrival in Pietrapertosa
The road to get there was already beautiful as we said, but when we get to the village the view is really spectacular, as you can see from the photo below.
Arriving in the convenient parking lot at the entrance to the village, we were greeted by the magnificent view shown in the photo above, as if to anticipate the beauty we would find as we entered the village.
A little history of Pietrapertosa
Perched among the Lucanian Dolomites at an altitude of about 1088 meters, it is the highest municipality in Basilicata.
The name “Pietrapertosa” derives from the cliff on which the village lies, called “Pietraperciata.”
Traces of its medieval past can still be seen in the streets of the town, including the Norman-Swabian castle, which we will see later.
Surrounded by unspoiled nature
Pietrapertosa is immersed in the Gallipoli Cognato Regional Park, an oasis of unspoiled nature rich in forests, trails and gorges. A paradise for trekking lovers who can choose from many trails of varying difficulty, discovering wild landscapes and striking views.
Through the streets of the center of Pietrapertosa
The old town is truly enchanting with its narrow stone streets, houses also made of stone and rock churches.
Numerous Bed&Breakfasts
If you want to stay overnight, you will find several cozy Bed&Breakfasts in the historic center ready to welcome you, some of them very picturesque, such as the one in the photo above.
The inhabitants then are very courteous and hospitable, and both in the accommodations and in general you will always find kindness and helpfulness.
The Flight of the Angel
One of the main attractions of Pietrapertosa, besides of course the beauty of the village and the surrounding natural environment, is the flight of the angel.
It is a zip-line, which allows you to fly hanging from a steel cable between the Lucanian Dolomites from Pietrapertosa to nearby Castelmezzano (or vice versa), suspended more than 1,000 meters high, at over 100km per hour!
It is a truly adrenaline-pumping experience, which we tried and will tell you about soon in the “experiences” section that we are still preparing.
The castle of Pietrapertosa
Discovering the Norman-Swabian castle that towers atop the village.
At the top of the village of Pietrapertosa stands the castle the castle, a fortress dating back to the 9th century, kept a good state and can be visited inside.
The road to the Norman-Swabian Castle
Getting to the castle, practically at the top of the village, is quite challenging, but that effort is amply rewarded.
To reach the castle, one passes through the narrow alleys of the medieval village, and finally after a nice climb again through the picturesque streets of the village, one reaches the castle.
Fantastic views from the castle
From the castle there are extraordinary views of all the Lucanian dolomites.
Upon arriving at the castle, one is rewarded with fantastic views by virtue of its dominant and elevated position above the village.
In addition to being able to admire fantastic views, the curious formations of the Dolomite rocks can be seen up close.
The interior of the castle
The fortress is kept in good condition and inside there is a museum with the history of the village and the area.
On the day of our visit, it was unfortunately not possible to visit the museum, so we had to “settle” for a tour inside the walls.
The descent from the castle of Pietrapertosa
We are about to leave the castle after visiting inside.
We again retrace the medieval streets of the village, return to the center of the village, and after being at the top of the village, we now head instead further down, toward the Nepalese Bridge.
The Nepalese Bridge
In Pietrapertosa we also find a Nepalese bridge that connects it to the town of Castelmezzano.
From the top of the Castle we move to lower altitudes, heading for the Nepalese Bridge in Pietrapertosa.
The Nepalese bridge in PIetrapertosa is about 72 meters long and its maximum height from the ground is about 35 meters.
Crossing this suspension bridge in the Lucanian dolomites is truly spectacular and we will tell you about it in every detail shortly in the “experiences” section that is currently being prepared.
Routes, via ferrata, Nepalese bridges
The Nepalese bridge in Pietrapertosa is located within the “7-stone path,” a spectacular trail on which beautiful treks can be made.
The same bridge connects the starting points of 2 beautiful via ferrata routes.
A place with so much to offer
As we have seen, Pietrapertosa really has a lot to offer: spectacular landscapes and views within equally spectacular mountains; a quaint, authentic medieval village with a fortress in excellent condition; the thrill of angel flight; a Nepalese bridge; two well-equipped via ferrata; and breathtaking nature trails.
In addition, the local people are very welcoming, courteous and hospitable. Our stay in Pietrapertosa was truly a wonderful experience that we would recommend to anyone.
Useful links
Below are some useful links for planning your visit to Pietrapertosa.
