Castelmezzano, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy

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Castelmezzano, Italy

What may appear to be fire at the side of a mountain is actually the medieval village of Castelmezzano, considered one of Italy’s most beautiful and undiscovered places. The town is perched along the western side of the San Martino mountains in the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. The population of Castelmezzano has found protection on these craggy cliffs since it was first settled by Greeks around 2,500 years ago. The villagers who live there today speak a distinct but dying variant of Italian, and with an aging population, the village is hopeful it can find new arrivals who appreciate the old ways.