The beautiful town that is a hidden-gem and one of the country's best

This beautiful mountainside town is one of Italy’s best kept secrets, being a popular destination for residents but receives few international visitors. It is the epitome of a hidden gem, with the nearest major city, Bari, being about a two-hour drive away. 

Unlike other popular destinations like Tuscany and Venice, Castelmezzano is not overrun with tourists and even during summer peaks, the town does not feel overcrowded. 

Castelmezzano can be found in southern Italy, in the province of Potenza. Built below breathtaking rock formations, the town is home to about 700 inhabitants, who continue to live as they did hundred of years ago as the majority of the town is inaccessible by car. 

It is easiest to visit by car, with street parking available just outside as well as a couple of paid car parks. You can take the train to Albano Di Luciana, just over six miles north of Castelmezzano. However, there is only one bus from the station a day. 

Castelmezzano is repeatedly included in lists of the most beautiful Italian villages - “I Borghi più belli d'Italia”. In 2017, The Telegraph included it among its “Italy’s 19 most beautiful villages” list.  

The town is particularly beautiful after dark, but do not expect to find a busy pub or vivid nightlife. The rock spires are lit up at night, as well as the houses, providing a stark contrast to the dark mountains. 

The town is lovely year-round, but is at its best during the summer when the temperatures are warmer. Winters are cold compared to elsewhere in southern Italy, due to the town being about 1,000 metres high in the mountains. The summer evenings can also get quite cold, with summer highs of about 26℃. 

For those wishing to stay for longer than just a day trip, Castelmezzano has a surprising number of small rental properties and a couple of hotels, the biggest of which features a bar and restaurant. 

Another bonus of not being a tourist hotspot, is that the town is very affordable. However, due to its rather isolated location, unlike in most places in Italy, the majority of locals cannot speak English. 

The original Castelmezzano dates back to the 6th-century BC, but the town today, in a different location, was founded in 10th-century AD when inhabitants started building a settlement on the mountainside to make it impossible to invade from the north. The town gets its name from the castle that was constructed between the 11th- and 13th-centuries, which are still partly visible at the edge of the town. 

Its other main sites include the several churches and chapels, including the mother church of Santa Maria dell'Olmo and the Chapel of Madonna dell’Annunziata. To take in the breathtaking view, visit the Castelmezzano Panoramic Terrace, right in front of the Santa Maria dell'Olmo. The other main viewpoint is the Gradinata Normanna, which may not be as panoramic, but is still beautiful nonetheless. 

One must also walk to old streets of the town, through the maze of old buildings. The whole town can be easily explored in less than two hours. 

Upon climbing some steps carved into one of the rocks, you can take one of the most spectacular ziplines in Italy. Il Volo dell’Angelo - “the angel’s flight” - will take you across the mountains between Castelmezzano and the neighbouring village of Pietrapertosa, reaching speeds of over 70 mph. Infrequent flights are available from May to November, with daily operations in August only, according to Around The World With Me. 

Castelmezzano is also situated perfectly among the Lucanian Dolomites, an excellent location for a hike. The main hike in the area - the Seven Stones Path - connects Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa and is only about 1.25 miles each way, with some steep parts. For those who prefer more of a challenge, one can take the figure-of-eight route through the mountains, with a total distance of about 4.8 miles and climbing about 1,850 feet along the way. 

Those who were willing to make the journey sang their praises of Castelmezzano on Tripadvisor. One described the Santa Maria dell'Olmo as a “lovely church”, encouraging others to “pop by” if visiting the area, but warned for visitors to observe the dress code. One described the zipline experience as “exhilarating” and another said: “Fly like an angel, wow what an extreme zip line, very well organised, perfect…”