Calanchi, Natural park in Aliano, Italy.
The Calanchi Park contains deep clay gullies and valleys formed through continuous erosion, creating patterns of slopes across the landscape.
Carlo Levi, exiled to this region during the 1930s Fascist regime, documented the landscape in his memoir 'Christ Stopped at Eboli'.
The medieval tombs discovered beneath Aliano's piazza reveal the archaeological significance of this area, containing ancient Greek and Roman artifacts.
The reserve offers free entry throughout the year, with trails providing access to geological formations and natural features across 600 hectares.
The Pietra di San Paolo, a stone housed in a small chapel within the park, holds traditional beliefs about healing bone conditions.
Location: Aliano
GPS coordinates: 40.28921,16.33929
Latest update: March 6, 2025 10:12
Southern Italy contains a wide range of historical sites, religious structures and natural areas that take visitors through more than two millennia of cultural history. The region holds Greek temples such as the Temple of Hera at Metaponto, medieval fortresses including Castello Aragonese in Taranto and Rocca Calascio in Abruzzo, and religious complexes like the Santuario di Monte Sant'Angelo, an important pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages. Underground catacombs in Naples and Palermo, rock churches in Matera and the Cripta del Peccato Originale show the development of Christian art and architecture. The natural environment ranges from marine protected areas like Riserva Marina di Punta Campanella on the Campanian coast to the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic. Inland landscapes include Parco Nazionale d'Aspromonte in Calabria, the erosive Calanchi di Aliano in Basilicata and Cavagrande del Cassibile in Sicily. Coastal formations such as the Arco Naturale near Palinuro and sea caves like Grotta della Poesia at Roca Vecchia add to the geographic variety. Cities including Matera with its sassi districts, Lecce with baroque palaces and the Quartieri Spagnoli in Naples illustrate different urban developments. This collection centers on the area around Alberobello, whose trulli structures have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Basilicata in southern Italy contains cave settlements, medieval castles and nature parks. The region features Roman ruins, karst caves and abandoned villages. The area includes Pollino National Park with rare pine species and historic centers like Matera with its Sassi cave dwellings.
Rabatana
11.8 km
Pandosia (Lucania)
11.9 km
Convento di Santa Maria dell'Orsoleo
9.8 km
Cattedrale dell'Annunziata
12 km
Torre normanna
13.1 km
Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore
11.9 km
Torre Molfese
8.6 km
San Nicola di Bari church
13.4 km
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Neve
12.9 km
Torretta Sansanelli
7.3 km
San Luigi Gonzaga church
9.7 km
Castello Carafa
13.5 km
Castle of Tursi
11.9 km
Palazzo Caporale
9.4 km
Cappella dell'Icona
13.4 km
Plebiscito square
12.2 km
Palazzo De Leo
9.6 km
San Rocco church
7.2 km
Fosso del bersagliere
9.7 km
Palazzo Colonna
9.6 km
Brancalasso palace
12.2 km
Palazzo De Franchi
9.4 km
Albino Pierro house museum
12.1 km
Colobraro Franciscan convent
13.3 km
Palazzo Scardaccione
9.4 km
Historic centre
7.3 km
Casa di confino di Carlo Levi
9.7 km
Monumento ai Caduti
14.7 kmReviews
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