mostly upland country , basilicata is scattered with greekm ruins (like those at metaponto), medieval abbeys, norman castles (such as melfi's) and isolated hilltowns.
matera, its most interesting city, stands amid an arid lunar landscape of denuded valleys.
calabria is often described as the mountains between the seas. the lovely beaches and virgin landscape around tropea and maratea are popular with visitors.
the ionian coast's chief attractions are its greek ruins, including sybaris and locri epizefiri, and the hilltowns, like gerace and stilo, which eventually replaced them.