TAILORED DAYS AT PALAZZO MARGHERITA
Basilicata is one of Italy’s last truly undiscovered regions, a land where old traditions are still kept, the landscapes remain quiet, and life keeps an unhurried pace. There is much to discover, and much to savor. The Palazzo is the ideal base for the region.
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES
The Palazzo itself is where many of the best days unfold. In our kitchen, guests join a convivial pasta-making lesson, shaping three types of homemade pasta by hand before sitting down together to taste what they have made. For pizza lovers, a dedicated class is led by our pizza maker, who has kept a mother yeast alive since the property first opened. A short walk away, a family-run dairy offers an intimate look at cheesemaking, mozzarella, ricotta, and burrata made entirely by hand, following a process handed down through three generations. And for those with a sweet tooth, a local pastry maker welcomes guests into her workshop to share the secrets of Bernalda’s own celebrated pastry.
Beyond the cooking, the Palazzo offers several ways to unwind. The Salone transforms into a screening room for Italian and international films. Personalized in-room spa treatments can be arranged to suit each guest, and yoga and Pilates sessions are held in the cooler, shaded corners of the property.
Carpe diem, seize the day, was written by Horace, the Lucanian poet born in Venosa. The phrase still suits the region, if not always the pace. Each of these days opens a different part of Basilicata: its food and wine, its old crafts, its landscapes, its history.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & TOUR PACKAGES
At Palazzo Margherita, we have always believed in traveling off the beaten paths. Thanks to our deep-rooted knowledge of the area, we curate personalized journeys throughout Basilicata and neighboring Puglia, tailored to each guest’s interests and expectations.
Whether the focus is nature, history, food & wine, or simply the pleasure of discovering a place that remains largely unknown to the wider public, every itinerary is designed around the soul of this land. Through our network of expert local guides, we give guests access to the most authentic and secluded corners of Southern Italy.
The surrounding area opens up to a rich variety of landscapes and historic sites to explore. Matera, one of the most ancient cities in the world, is a 40-minute drive away. It features its ancient “Sassi” cave dwellings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, carved into the limestone rock of the Murgia plateau. The visit pairs beautifully with the Crypt of the Original Sin, also known as the Sistine Chapel of Rupestrian Art, adorned with evocative frescoes dating back to the 8th cent. A.D. In the Lucanian countryside, the ghost village of Craco stands silent on its hilltop, surrounded by the characteristic “calanchi”, arid clay hills, while the nearby village of Aliano carries the memory of Carlo Levi’s novel Christ Stopped at Eboli.
Wine enthusiasts can travel north to the Vulture area, to visit wineries producing the renowned Aglianico red wine. A stop in Venosa, the birthplace of the Roman poet Horace, is highly recommended. Just 20 minutes from the Palazzo, the Ionian Coast offers white sandy beaches with calm, crystal-clear waters. Upon request, guests can embark on a boat excursion, exploring the Gulf of Taranto along the dolphins’ route.
For the most active guests, the Pollino National Park offers a variety of excursions suitable for all levels, from gentle woodland walks to more advanced trails for experienced hikers. Rafting along the Lao river can be an exciting alternative. As autumn arrives, the Pollino’s ancient forests become a wonderful setting for truffle hunting, guided by an expert truffle hunter and his loyal dog through the park’s woodland paths.
Equally impressive, the Little Lucanian Dolomites rise dramatically from the heart of Basilicata, preserving the villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, two hidden gems awarded among the most fascinating villages in Italy, set against a mountain landscape that remains largely untouched by mass tourism.
