Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Basilicata is part of southern Italy. It has a tiny coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and a somewhat larger one on the Gulf of Taranto to the south. Basilicata is one of the least prosperous, most traditional regions of Italy. This gives you all the more reason to visit, especially during Carnevale.
The major Basilicata Carnevale is located in the town of Tricarico, population 6 thousand. This festival is traditional. Children and adults parade in costume, cow and bull outfits are always popular. Carnevale begins on Sant'Antonio Abate day named for an Egyptian abbot who is widely honored in southern Italy. Starting at 5 o'clock masked participants rally in Piazza Garibaldi before proceeding to the Sant'Antonio Abate church. By the way, we're talking about 5 in the morning, not 5 in the afternoon. This day is fully packed with activities for people of all ages. There is even a midnight celebration that I am told goes until the wee hours of the morning.
Then things are quiet for a few weeks, interrupted by an olive festival with tasty food and later on the Festival of "skrpedd and r'a sauzezz" (festival of the pancake and sausage) in the old town accompanied by local wine and music. Basilicata's finest wine is Aglianico de Vulture DOC, but you may enjoy many of the lesser-known local wines.
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