Pisticci

Torre Fiore is located on the road from Pisticci to the Ionian beaches. Dating from the Iron Age (700BC), Pisticci is rooted by the influences of its past, ranging from the Greek, Latin, Norman, Spanish and French, each culture having at some point lorded over this town, and added its own layer to the cultured richness.

So it's no surprise that the old town sits at the most defensible, highest part of the hill. At its foundation, the hill town is surrounded by the characteristic eroded valleys called 'calanchi”; the badlands of Italy.

Nature has played its role in shaping Pisticci. In 1688 a catastrophic landslide dropped the southern half of the old town, evidenced by how the largest church, the Chiesa Madre, sits on the edge of a wall constructed to hold the rest of the old town back. From the now unobstructed panoramic piazza in front of the Romanesque church are visible the remains of the Norman castle, and looking down upon the land that tumbled that was reconstructed and is known as the 'u Dirupo”, literally translated from the Pisticcese dialect, as 'the fallen”. The Italian Ministry of Culture has identified the Dirupo as one of its 100 Wonders of Italy; places that are to be protected and conserved; for its distinctive simple white-washed houses (casedde).

Visitors will find hospitable and friendly townspeople. Be sure to take an evening stroll (passeggio) along the Corso Margherita, whether for the shopping, or to stop for an espresso, or just to mingle in the local way; in Pisticci, the espresso bars are all around you. The Corso is all about the swagger; confident to strut arm and arm along the crowded shiny street. Make sure you try the gelato and the delectable pastries at Bar Pisticci, and take in typical delectable basilcatan fare at one of the intimate restaurants.

The Feast of San Rocco, celebrates the patron saint of Pisticci on August 16. This is the most festive period accompanied by a swell in population. The festivities include three days of extraordinary fireworks, musical extravaganzas, an outdoor movie festival, markets, teeming beachfronts, and a plethora of gastro experiences.