San Severino Lucano

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club

"The town of the stars": this is how San Severino Lucano is known because of the absence of light pollution that allows the starry sky to be admired at its best. The pristine nature is undoubtedly one of the reasons to visit the village, which is located in the heart of the Pollino National Park.

The village is the starting point for a number of itineraries that, on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike, begin in the hamlet of Mezzana and lead to the heart of the Pollino massif. The beautiful Magnano Forest, of great naturalistic interest, is also home to the Pollino Adventure Park, suitable for all ages and highly inclusive (wheelchairs can be used, and some play paths have been specially designed for people with disabilities). The rugged Frido Gorge is also exceptional, while a ride on the slowest merry-go-round in the world is not to be missed: "Rb Ride" is the panoramic merry-go-round created by the contemporary artist Carsten Höller and located on the Timpa della Guardia at an altitude of over a thousand metres: it allows contemplation of the breathtaking natural landscape that can be enjoyed from that point in the Pollino National Park.

Also worth mentioning is the sanctuary of the Madonna del Pollino, one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations for the Lucanians and Calabrians, on a rocky headland offering a beautiful panorama, the church Madre di S. Maria degli Angeli, built around 1500, and the various museums (of rural civilisation, of artisan civilisation, the Laboratory Museum of the Fauna Minore del Pollino). The structural history of the Iannarelli Mill is both intriguing and remarkable: in a historic structure, dating back to 1745, which housed the famous Captain Iannarelli of the National Guard, it was renovated in the early 2000s by two young locals who now run a hospitality and restaurant facility that is certainly worth trying.

Among the most important events are the carnival, with local characters and the typical sound of the "cupi-cupi", the Festa della Madonna del Pollino in July at the Sanctuary, and in August the Pollino Music Festival, with national and international artists. Traditions are also kept alive at the table with some "humble" and genuine cuisine: typical recipes include "rascadietti" (handmade orecchiette pasta) and minestra 'mpastata.