What to see in Acerenza, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Cathedral of San Canio, the Convent of Sant'Antonio and the Church of San Laviero.
Tourist information
Located on a tuff cliff between the Brandano and Fiumarella rivers, Acerenza is deservedly considered one of the most suggestive villages in Basilicata.
Some finds dating back to the sixth century before Christ testify to the presence in these areas of ancient human settlements.
Over the centuries Acerenza was subjected to various dominations, today it has the appearance of a fortified medieval citadel, built uniformly using strictly local sandstone, dominated by the imposing Cathedral dating back to the eleventh century.
The Cathedral of San Canio, in Romanesque style, was built on the area of a previous early Christian church, which had in turn been erected on the site where in the past stood a pagan temple dedicated to Ercole Acheruntino.
Over time, the cathedral was modified several votes, until it regained its original appearance following the restorations completed in the 1950s.
What see
The Cathedral of Acerenza has an interior with three naves, with a large apse and a crypt, placed under the main altar, frescoed in 1524 by Giovanni Todisco.
Walking through the streets of the historic center, it is possible to admire the eighteenth-century noble palaces, the sixteenth-century palace of the former magistrate and the palace of the curia of Norman origin.
Another interesting destination is the Convent of Sant'Antonio from 1570, located in the open countryside, where in the adjoining church there is a beautiful baroque altar made of stone.
In its corridors, the convent houses an interesting museum, containing a collection of carved woods donated by the Di Trani family.
In the small church of San Laviero, which the locals commonly call Chiesa del Purgatorio, you can admire valuable Baroque stuccos, a twelfth-century canvas and an eighteenth-century organ.
