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Identity and administration

Two provinces: Potenza and Matera. Ordinary statute. Arbëreshë minority (law 482/1999) in five municipalities of the Vulture and Pollino: Barile, Ginestra, Maschito, San Costantino Albanese and San Paolo Albanese. Festivals: San Gerardo and the Parata dei Turchi in Potenza (29–30 May), Madonna della Bruna in Matera (2 July), Maggio di Accettura.

Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays

Potenza – capital Potenza (seat of the Region)
Matera – capital Matera (province created in 1927)

Statute and minorities

Basilicata is a region with an ordinary statute; the name Lucania, used officially between 1932 and 1947, remains in common use and in the adjective lucano. Law 482/1999 protects the Arbëreshë (Albanian) community of Barile, Ginestra and Maschito in the Vulture and of San Costantino Albanese and San Paolo Albanese in the Pollino, where the language is still spoken and the liturgy follows the Byzantine rite. Lucanian dialects belong to the intermediate southern group, with the Lagonegro and Maratea area of Campanian-Calabrian type and Gallo-Italic features in some towns (Potenza, Tito, Picerno, Trecchina) of ancient northern settlement.

Potenza: San Gerardo, 30 May, preceded on the 29th by the Parata dei Turchi, a night-time historical parade
Matera: Madonna della Bruna, 2 July, with the papier-mâché triumphal cart torn apart by the crowd at the end of the procession
Accettura: Maggio di Accettura (Pentecost), tree-wedding rite between two trees; similar rites in Rotonda, Viggianello, Castelsaraceno
Melfi: Holy Spirit festival at Pentecost and the Varola chestnut fair in October
Venosa, Rionero and the Vulture: Cantine Aperte and Aglianico wine festivals in autumn
Barile and San Costantino Albanese: Holy Week and Byzantine-rite festivals of the Arbëreshë community

Population

Regional figurePeriod: Jan 1, 2025Validsample unknown

Source: ISTAT – Popolazione residente al 1° gennaio (dataflow 22_289, DCIS_POPRES1)

530,004people