Melfi
A Norman fortress town on the slopes of an extinct volcano, gateway to Basilicata's wine country.
About Melfi
Melfi sits beneath the imposing walls of a Norman castle on the slopes of Monte Vulture, an extinct volcano in northern Basilicata. This was where the Norman conquerors of southern Italy held their first parliament and where Emperor Frederick II wrote the Constitutions of Melfi, one of medieval Europe's most important legal codes. The massive castle now houses an excellent archaeological museum. Below it, the old town retains a quiet medieval atmosphere with narrow streets and ancient churches. The surrounding Vulture area produces Aglianico del Vulture, one of southern Italy's finest red wines, from vines growing on volcanic soil.
Best Time to Visit
April to October for pleasant weather. Autumn is ideal for the grape harvest and wine festivals. Spring brings wildflowers on the volcanic slopes.
Local Tips
- Explore the Norman castle.
Melfi's castle is one of the most impressive in southern Italy, with towers spanning Norman, Swabian, and Angevin eras. A local can explain the layers of history and the museum's remarkable Roman sarcophagus.
- Tour Aglianico cellars.
The volcanic slopes around Melfi produce extraordinary Aglianico del Vulture wines. A local knows the small producers in Barile and Rapolla who age their wines in caves cut into volcanic rock.
- Visit the volcanic lakes.
The Monticchio Lakes fill the twin craters of Monte Vulture, surrounded by forest and a medieval abbey. A local will take you to the less-visited upper lake and the abbey with its important butterfly collection.