At about 50 km from Matera, on a barren hill surrounded by gullies, there is a ghost town, Craco. The name derives from the latin word “Graculum” (“small plowed field”).
In the past, its fortune was the strategic position between the valleys of the two rivers Cavone and Agri which was an advantage in terms of control. Due to a big landslide, the town was evacuated in 1963 and people were transferred in Craco Peschiera. Since then, Craco is a ghost town.
A timeless reality in an area of Basilicata forgotten by men, this little borough entered the list of the “World Monuments Fund”. To access the town, tourists need an entrance sheet, released by the town’s administration and called Craco-Card.The tour lasts about 1h and a half, and the tourists must be accompanied by an authorized guide and wear a helmet.