Overview
The village of Terranova del Pollino is located at the top of the Sarmento and here, due to the particularity of the light, the colours that surround the village change, giving it a very impressive appearance. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy, the destination of an annual pilgrimage that brings the statue of the Madonna back to the village, is characterised by the procession in which women carry the traditional "cinti", characteristic wooden trunks covered with candles and ears of wheat.
The town is enriched by a vast architectural and artistic heritage. The Church of San Francesco di Paola (16th century), the patron saint of the village, retains its original charm despite restoration work: the large main door made of Loricate pine wood and the 16th century painting depicting the Madonna delle Grazie with Saints Charles Borromeo and Francis of Assisi, by Lucanian painter Attilio De Laurentis, enhance its importance.
Also worth a visit are the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace and Sant'Antonio, both from the 16th century, as well as Palazzo Virgallita and Palazzo Rusciani, with its beautiful interior staircase.
The beautiful landscapes of the Pollino Park surrounding the village are a paradise for nature lovers. Located at 1375 m,Lake Duglia welcomes us at the foot of the Serra di Crispo, surrounded by beautiful beech and silver fir forests. The particular geological features of the area are offered to visitors in magnificent manifestations: Timpa Falconara, the imposing rock face that dominates the landscape of the valley, Timpa di Pietrasasso, a spur of oceanic rock more than 50 metres high, Timpa delle Murge, consisting of basaltic rocks formed in the depths of the sea. You cannot miss a walk in Contrada Catusa to admire its spring and the cave of the brigands, with names engraved on the walls.
