A landscape reminiscent of a Western movie—lunar, silent, mystical, and a source of inspiration for poets, painters, directors, and writers who choose them for their uniqueness and beauty: these are the Badlands (Calanchi), the canyons of Southern Italy.

These are deep furrows in clayey soil created by the erosive action of water. In Basilicata, centuries and atmospheric agents have transformed vast areas into authentic natural sculptures made of spires, pinnacles, and deep canyons.

The arid landscapes of the Badlands crumble away to form authentic miniature mountain systems, finding their natural boundaries in the valleys of the Sauro torrent and the Basento and Agri rivers. They offer visitors sharp and unique scenic contrasts: the rugged Badlands, the vast forested expanses of the Apennines, the rolling hills of the Matera area, and the great plains that slide gently toward the Ionian Sea, which once occupied much of this hinterland.

This area of Basilicata has often been chosen as a suggestive natural backdrop for various films; among the directors who appreciated the Lucanian Badlands as a location, we can mention Pasolini, Tornatore, and Francesco Rosi.

The main highlights

• Craco
• Tursi
• Valsinni
• Aliano