The Area
Agriturismo Coccovello is located on the western side of the region of Basilicata, in the 'Mezzogiorno' area of southern Italy. It is an area renowned for its beautiful, unspoilt countryside, stress-free lifestyle, guaranteed sunshine, deliciously fresh food and excellent wine. Although large, covering an area 9,995 square kilometres, Basilicata is sparsely populated with a population of only 600,000 people, making it one of the least populated areas of Italy. In the west, the region occupies a narrow strip of coastline, with Campania to the north and Calabria to the south.
Overlooking the historic, hilltop town of Rivello under the towering majesty of Mount Sirino, the agriturismo sits on the side of the beautiful, wooded 'Valle del Noce', immersed in green, unspoilt countryside.
A short distance away is the spectacular coastal resort of Maratea, a favourite holiday destination for many Italians but largely unknown outside of Italy. The pretty town, which is home to 44 churches, is watched over by the statue of Christ the Redeemer, towering 600 metres above the clear blue water and jagged beauty of the Tyrrhenian coastline. There are many beaches along this stretch of coast and there are boat trips from the harbour.
Inland, there are many activities to occupy the visitor. In the winter months, there is skiing on the slopes of Mount Sirino, while in the summer, the Pollino National Park is a short distance away, offering spectacular scenery, trecking and white water rafting. A little further away, there is the Certosa di San Lorenzo at Padula, the 'Flight of the Angel', a zip wire experience that runs between the towns of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa and there are historic Greek ruins at Grumento.
