Potenza (Basilicata): what to see


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What to see in Potenza, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest of the medieval village, including the Cathedral of San Gerardo, the Church of San Michele and Palazzo Loffredo.


Tourist information

Located in the upper Basento valley, Potenza has the ancient medieval village positioned on a hill where the altitude of 819 meters is reached, making the city one of the highest Italian capitals.

Potenza was founded in the 4th century BC, coinciding with the settlement of a Neolithic village, in later times it was first subjected to Roman domination, after the Lombard domination, of the Swabians and Angevins.


Among the historical events of Potenza there are some devastating earthquakes, including that of 1980, following which the city was largely destroyed and subsequently rebuilt.

Among the main places of interest and attractions to visit, there is the Cathedral of San Gerardo, which is located in the square of the same name and dates back to the 13th century, initially dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin and later to Gerardo della Porta, who was declared patron of the city.

During archaeological excavations carried out during the sixties, underground remains were discovered relating to fragments of polychrome flooring dating back to the 4th or 5th century BC.


What see

The Cathedral of Potenza, on the occasion of the reconstruction carried out by a pupil of Vanvitelli at the end of the thirteenth century, commissioned by the bishop Andrea Serrao, completely changed its appearance, transforming itself from a Romanesque basilica into a building inspired by neoclassicism.

The elements of greatest interest are the stone facade of the 1200s, the main altar in marble, with polychrome inlays from the 1700s, and a wooden crucifix from the 1400s, as well as a marble chapel dedicated to the Pope, dating back to the 17th century.

In the building of worship there is also an urn, made of silver and crystal, where the relics of San Gerardo are kept, numerous frescoes, a wooden statue of the saint of the fifteenth century and other statues depicting various saints subject to local veneration.


The 12th century Romanesque church of San Michele has an interior with three naves containing numerous works of art.

The Church of the Holy Trinity, badly damaged by the 1857 earthquake and rebuilt with a different plan than the original one, has a single nave where various chapels open, also there is a semicircular apse and a beautiful coffered ceiling.

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The Church of Santa Maria del Sepolcro, with an adjoining convent, constitutes one of the most interesting city monuments, having been built by the Knights of the Templars returning from the third crusade in 1191.

Built north of the city, at the intersection of via Erculea and via Appia Nuova, it was located along the path of pilgrims heading to the Holy Land.

From historical sources dating back to the end of the 15th century, there is a historical link between the Church of Santa Maria del Sepolcro and the Sepulcher of Christ.

Inside the building of worship there are valuable paintings, in addition to the monumental Baroque altar of the Relic of the Precious Blood of Christ placed along the right wall.

Moved to the south side of the city, near the cemetery, there is the ancient church of San Rocco, where two nineteenth-century wooden statues depicting San Vito and San Rocco are kept.

Behind Piazza Mario Pagano there is the convent church of San Francesco, dating back to 1274, with a carved wooden portal from the 14th century and a fifteenth-century bell tower.

Inside there is the Renaissance tomb De Grasis, with a Byzantine Madonna of the thirteenth century next to it, as well as the Pietà of Pietrafesa.


Walking along the streets of the center you can see some small stone houses and important buildings, including the Loffredo palace and the Bonifacio palace.

Palazzo Loffredo, which is located in Piazza Pignatari not far from the cathedral, is one of the oldest palaces in the city, it contains documents relating to the successions of the city, in addition it houses the archaeological museum containing finds, including some from prehistoric times, others dating back to the Greek and Roman periods.

Palazzo Bonifacio is located in Piazza Beato Bonaventura, one of the few historic buildings left in the historic city center, which includes a small cloister inside.

TURISTI A POTENZA - Basilicata (February 2024)


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