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apparently upon grounds equally strong, | Bari-Taranto line, post-carriage in 3 identify it with two springs in the hrs. (2 fr. 55 c.), and from Grumo to valley of Licenza, near the site of the Bari, rly. in hr. Sabine Farm of the poet beyond Vicovaro and Tivoli :

O Fons Bandusiæ, splendidior vitro,
Dulci digne mero, non sine floribus,
Cras donaberis hædo,

Cui frons turgida cornibus

Primis, et Venerem et prælia destinat
Frustra.
HOR. Carm. III. XIII.

The carriage-road branches off on the 1. from the high road from Eboli to Calabria at the 62nd m., before reaching Auletta, described in Rte. 155, and crosses the Landro, a small tributary of the Sele. The country between Auletta and Vietri is extremely pic The wooded hills between Venosa and of wide valleys and narrow gorges, with turesque, passing through a succession the site of Bantia, where several tribu-villages and castles on many of the taries of the Bradano rise, were the pointed peaks. scene of the death of Marcellus, the conqueror of Syracuse, and the first Roman general who checked the victorious progress of Hannibal in Italy. He separated himself from his camp hereabouts, and fell into an ambuscade,

B.C. 208.

6 m. N. of Venosa is Lavello (5709 Inhab.), on the high road from Melfi to Canosa and Barletta, near the Ofanto, where the Suabian king Conrad, the father of the unfortunate Conradin, died in 1254, at the age

of 26.

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9 m. Vietri (3683 Inhab.-Inn: Roma), supposed to stand upon the site of the Campi Veteres, where Tiberius Gracchus was treacherously murdered by the Lucanians. From Vietri the road reaches the Marmo, which is a road of 2 m. leads to Picerno on the crossed over a large bridge, from which 1. (4493 Inhab.), almost levelled to the From the river the road, by a long ground by the earthquake of 1857. ascent, crosses the ridge of Monte Foi, whence, by a gentle descent, it brings

us to

Croci di Savoia), the chief town of the 3 m. POTENZA (18,513 Inhab.-Inn: of a bishop, situated on the crest of province of Basilicata and the see a hill surrounded by the great chain of the Apennines. The Basente, which has its source in the mountains near Vignola, 4 m. distant, flows beneath the city. Potenza, in the middle ages, was a place of considerable importance; it was destroyed by Frederick II., and by Charles of Anjou in revenge for its allegiance to Conradin. The ancient Potentia was in a plain below the modern town, at a place called Murata. Potenza suffered very severely from the earthquake of Dec. 16, 1857.

This route as far as Eboli (49 m., 3 trains daily in 33 to 4 hrs.) is done by rly. (Exc. IV. from Naples, and Rte. 155). From Eboli the rly. is in pro- From Potenza there is a hilly road gress to Potenza, but is only completed | (37 m.) to Melfi (diligence in 9 hrs.) 28 m. through Romagnano to Balvano, through Avigliano (15,982 Inhab.), (2 trains daily from Naples, in 6 hrs.) 11 m., and Atella, where it falls into so that the traveller had best make use Rte. 152. of the diligence still running from Eboli to Auletta (23 m.) in 5 hrs. (6 fr.), and thence to Potenza (33 m.) in 8 hrs. (9 fr.) (Rte. 155). From Potenza to Altamura (39 m.), vetturino in 12 hrs., and thence to Grumo (14 m.) on the

Another road of 20 m. leads through Pietragalla (5852 Inhab.) (from which a road of 10 m. on rt. to Oppido) to Acerenza (3836 Inhab., fair Inn), placed on a lofty hill, an archiepiscopal see jointly with Matera. It occupies the

site and retains the name of Acherontia, | branch of the Via Appia. It is situated alluded to by Horace in a passage on the lower slopes of a hill in the great already quoted (Rte. 152). It was oc- valley which here extends from the cupied by Totila, and made a strong- Apennines to the chain of lower hills hold of the Goths in the wars against called the Murgie. The country around the Greeks. The crypt of the cathe- the city is reputed for its pasturage and dral contains some antique columns. for its breed of horses. The city is surFrom Acerenza a via naturale of 18 m. rounded with walls and towers, and is leads to Spinazzola, and a fair road of a dirty place, although there are many 15 m., through Forenza (7342 Inhab.), fountains. The lower classes live in to Venosa. The post distances from caverns excavated in the tufa rock. Potenza are 5 to Matera and 3 to Its ancient castle was one of the strongMelfi. holds of the Orsini family, dukes of Gravina, the elder branch of which, now resident at Rome, take their title from it. The fair of Gravina, which takes place on the 20th of April, is one of the most famous in the kingdom. The basin of tufa rock in which Gravina is situated is highly charged with nitre, which is collected and purified in the town. Between Gravina and Altamura are some remains of the Via Appia. A via naturale of 12 m. leads from Gravina to Matera.

For the road E. from Potenza_to Castellaneta Stat. on the rly. to Taranto, see Rte. 154.

[Before reaching Potenza from Vietri a bridle-path branches off on the right, through Tito, Pietrafesa, Brienza, to Marsico Nuovo, a district which suffered greatly from the great earthquake of Dec. 1857, and also the headquarters, formerly, of brigandage. From Marsico Nuovo a via naturale will bring the traveller to Viggiano (the inhabitants are well known as itinerant musicians), Tramutola, Saponara, near the sources of the Agri, which falls into the Gulf of Taranto, and Montemurro, which appear to have been the centre of that frightful calamity; Saponara and Montemurro in particular were totally destroyed. From Tramu-dral in 1232, and the walls by which it tola a bridle-path over the Piano di Muorno, where there is a small lake, leads into the valley of the Calore, and to Montesano; north of which is Padula, which was nearly levelled to the ground by the same earthquake. See p. 403.] On leaving Potenza for Altamura, the road passes through

Pietragalla and Oppido to Montepeloso; and a mule-path from Vaglio, on the high road to Taranto, to Tolve, whence, crossing the Monte Pazano, it follows the course of the Brazdano till it turns eastward to

25 m. Montepeloso (6327 Inhab.), upon a hill and surrounded with walls. It offered a strong resistance to Roger in 1133, by whom it was burnt and most of the inhabitants massacred. The path crosses the Cassoni and proceeds to

8 m. Gravina (14,443 Inlab.), an episcopal city occupying the site of ancient Plera, one of the stations on the Tarentine

6 m. ALTAMURA (17,108 Inhab.), the chief town of a district, is situated on a hill overlooking the great pastoral plains locally known under the names of Mattine and Lame. It was rebuilt by Frederick II., who erected its fine cathe

was formerly surrounded, and on which Pipino, Conte di Minervino, was hung in the 14th century. Giovanni Antonio Orsini, last Prince of Taranto, son of Raimondello Orsini by Marie d'Enghien, who became the third wife of King Ladislaus, died in the Castle of Altamura, Nov. 15, 1463, with suspicion of having been strangled by his own servants, at the suggestion of his nephew and heir Ferdinand I. of Aragon. Altamura was the birthplace of Mercadante, the eminent musical composer. In the neighbourhood of the city are some Roman ruins, which probably mark the site of Sub Lupatia, one of the stations of the Appian Way. A very fair cross road of about 16 m., passing through Santeramo, leads from Altamura to Gioia, on the rly. between Bari and Taranto.

The direct road to Bari now skirts the base of the low hilly range of the

400 RTES. 154, 155.—POTENZA TO TARANTO.--NAPLES TO REGGIO.

Murgie di Gravina e d'Altamura, and proceeds through Toritte (5523 Inhab.)

to

14 m. Grumo Stat., on the BariTaranto line (Rte. 149).

Basilicata. From Matera a viu naturale over the plain, leaving on the rt. Ginosa (6950 Inhab.), the ancient Genusium, leads to

20 m. Castellaneta Stat. on the Bari-Taranto line (Rte. 149).

ROUTE 154.

POTENZA TO TARANTO.

From Potenza to Castellaneta (81 m.), on the Bari-Taranto line by vetturino. From Castellaneta to Taranto (14 hr.) by train (Rte. 149). On leaving Potenza the road is carried across the Basente mountains to

24 m. Tricarico (6856 Inhab.), the see of a bishop, situated on a rising ground between the Basente and the Bradano. From Tricarico the road passes through the towns of Grassano (5262 Inhab.), parallel but at some distance from Grottole (12 m., 2780 Inhab.), Miglionico (3700 Inhab. 6 m.), beyond which it crosses the Bradano river at Ponte S. Giuliano, ascending gradually to

37 m. Matera (14,312 Inhab.), the chief town of a district, and an archiepiscopal see in conjunction with Acerenza. It is situated in the valley of one of the affluents to the Bradano, and is surrounded by a rich pastoral country. The Corinthian granite pillars of the cathedral are supposed to have been brought from Metapontum. Its Latin name, Mateola, and the tower near the town walls, known as the Torre Metella, have been regarded as indications of the foundation of the town by Cacilius Metellus after the termination of the Social War. Matera carries on a considerable commerce in the nitre with which the strata abound. The valley in which the city is placed is abrupt, and its sides are full of caverns which form the habitations of the lower classes. Many bear evidence of great antiquity. The ch. of Sta. Maria d'Idria is excavated in a rock which rises insulated in the midst

of this valley. Matera is a dirty town, and its lower classes are said to be the least civilised of the province of

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Inns on the road.-It is almost impos- | ing route, in which the posts are given sible, in the lines of road which are according to the latest government reguseldom visited by travellers, to describe lations, endeavoured to describe the the inns with any certainty that they country so as to include all possible will be found, from year to year, con- changes. ducted by the same proprietors or even under the same names: those in the principal towns are all which we can venture to give.

No post-road in Italy is so little frequented or abounds in more magnificent scenery as the high road into Calabria, yet few travellers go farther S. than Pæstum. The absence of good inns has hitherto been a sufficient cause, to say nothing of the slowness of vetturino travelling, and the facilities of proceeding along the coast by steamer. The high post-road is guarded, and the traveller who can submit to the customs of the country, and has learned to put up with Italian inns such as they are found elsewhere out of the beaten track, will find that a journey into Calabria compensates for any inconveniences he may incur. The three provinces are rich in natural beauty. The mountains are clothed with forests, while the fertile valleys, the broken coasts, and the sites rich in classical associations, afford a combination of beautiful and interesting scenes not surpassed in any part of Europe.

The rly. from Naples to Eboli is to be carried to meet the Taranto and Reggio line at Torremare Stat., but at present it is only completed on the Naples side as far as Balvano (see Rte. 153), and on the Torremare side as far as Calciano (see Rte. 156).

The malle-poste (vettura corriera) | leaves Eboli for Lagonegro daily (see Correspondenze delle Ferrovie Meridionale in the Indicatore Ufficiale), corresponding with the different towns of Calabria, and takes 3 days to reach Reggio; fare about 70 fr. There is also a diligence 3 times a week, but it is difficult to get a place in either. Vetturini take 10 days to perform the journey from Salerno to Reggio, and charge from 80 to 100 francs for a place in the interior of the carriage. They usually follow a road in some parts different from that travelled by the courier; we have therefore, in the follow[S. Italy.]

The railway as far as Salerno has already been described (Excursion IV. from Naples, see p. 291), as far as Eboli there are 3 trains daily from Naples in 3 to 4 hrs.

On leaving Salerno the line, after skirting the shore for 3 m., proceeds along the plain at the foot of the hills on which the picturesque villages of Pugliano, Montecorvino, and others are scattered, and reaches,

9 kil. Pontecagnano Stat., and
8 kil. Bellizzi Stat.

Crossing several streams, we pass near Vicenza, a group of houses occupying the site of Picentia, the ancient capital of the Picentini, before reaching

3 kil. Battipaglia Stat., a village on the Tusciano, 12 m. from Salerno, where the road to Pæstum branches off on the rt. (see p. 294). On the hills N. of Battipaglia is Olevano (2710 Inhab.), one of the most picturesque villages on this side of the Apennines.

6 kil. Eboli Stat. (8947 Inhab.-Inns: Albergo del Vuzzo, nearly 10 min. outside the town, and is the diligence office, attentive landlord; Alb. del Sorrentino), situated at a considerable elevation above the level of the plains. The climate is uniformly mild, but during the summer the town becomes unhealthy, in consequence of the malaria which ascends from the subjacent plain of the Sele. The town commands a fine view over the sea, the magnificent forest of Persano, the towns on the slopes of Monte Alburno, and the valley of the Silarus. There is a curious painting of the Crucifixion, by a certain Roberto di Oderisio, in the ch. of S. Francesco di Assisi here. [Diligence 3 times a week from Eboli to Melfi (in Rte. 152), by (5 hrs.) Auletta and Potenza, corresponding with that from Melfi and Barletta by Canosa.]

The Sele is crossed 33 m. from Eboli. The road leaves on the rt. Postiglione

2 D

(2991 Inhab.), situated on the N. side | large cavern dedicated to San Miof Monte Alburno, and commands during chele, from which the Negro rushes the ascent a fine view over the plains into the ravine, after a subterranean of Pæstum and the sea.

10 m. Duchessa, a post station. Lo Scorzo, a short distance beyond it, on the summit of the mountain, is one of the resting-places of the vetturini on the second day's journey from Naples. It has a tolerable inn. The villages of Castelluccio, Galdo, and Sicignano are seen among the heights of Alburno. This mountain, the Alburnus of Virgil, which forms the most striking object in the landscape from Pæstum, separates the open plain between Lo Scorzo and Auletta from the sea: it is often called the Monte di Postiglione or di Sicignano, from the nearest villages. The scenery of its dark forests and deep ravines is magnificent. Its lower slopes are clothed with extensive woods of oak and beech, interspersed with ilex.

Est lucos Silari circa, ilicibusque virentem Plurimus Alburnum volitans, cui nomen asilo Romanum est, cestron Graii vertêre vocantes; Asper, acerba sonans; quo tota exterrita silvis Diffugiunt armenta, furit mugitibus æther Concussus, silvæque, et sicci ripa Tanagri.

VIRG. Georg. III. 146.

The road descends into the valley of the Tanagro, called also Negro, the ancient Tanager, which rushes along its rocky bed, forming small cataracts in its course. The river is crossed before reaching

11 m. Auletta (2997 Inhab.-Inn: La Posta, poor), situated on an elevation above the Negro, amidst a_grove of olive-trees and vineyards. It was formerly strongly fortified, and withstood a siege by Charles V. from the 4th to the 24th of July, 1535. [Here the road to Potenza branches off on the 1. (Rte. 153), on which, pending the completion of the rly. to Potenza, there is a public conveyance in 8 hrs. in correspondence with the vettura corriera and the diligence from Naples.] Here the traveller may witness the first distressing effects of the earthquake of 1857, the ch. and most of the houses in the place having been ruined.

A short distance beyond Auletta is Pertosa, also half ruined by the late earthquake. Below this place is a

course of 2 m. from La Polla. Beyond Pertosa we cross a fine bridge of 7 arches, called Ponte di Campestrino, spanning a ravine of immense depth, through which flows one of the branches of the Negro; it then ascends the mountain by well-constructed zigzags. A few miles beyond the summit, from which there is a fine view of the subjacent valley to the S., the road descends into the Vallo di Diano, leaving on the rt., beautifully situated at the entrance of the valley,

6 m. La Polla (5706 Inhab.), which was nearly destroyed by the earthquake of Dec. 1857. At the base of the hill on which the town is built, the Calore, which here assumes the character of a considerable stream, suddenly disappears, and pursues its subterranean course as far as Pertosa. This fact is recorded by Pliny, who describes the stream as being in campo Atinati, from a small town in the valley.

The Val di Diano is locally celebrated for its beauty and fertility. It is 20 m. long and 4 broad. The Negro, here called the Calore, flows through it, and tends, with the number of artificial pools formed by the natives for the purpose of steeping their flax, to produce the malaria with which many parts of the valley are afflicted. On the hills on either side are numerous villages. The road continues to ascend the valley, leaving upon an eminence on the 1. Atena (2841 Inhab.), the ancient Atina, a city of Lucania: there are still extensive remains of its walls and towers, and of an amphitheatre. The earthquake of 1857 has nearly levelled this town to the ground, as well as the villages La Polla, S. Pietro, and S. Arsenio, on the opposite side of the valley.

10 m. Sala (7732 Inhab. - Indifferent Inn), supposed to stand near the site of Marciliana, a station on the Via Popilia in Lucania. It is beautifully situated on one of the mountains on the 1. side of the valley, but subject to malaria. Nearly opposite, occupying the isolated hill above the

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