Village of Castelmezzano, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy

© Roberto Moiola/Getty Image

Shining city on the hill. Castelmezzano, Italy

What may appear to be a ribbon of fire on the mountainside is actually the medieval village of Castelmezzano, one of Italy’s most beautiful and undiscovered places. The town, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, 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. With an ageing population, the village is hopeful it can find new arrivals who appreciate the old ways.

Daredevils might consider visiting Castelmezzano for the Volo dell'Angelo (Angel Flight), a high-speed zip line across the valley between the town and neighbouring Pietrapertosa, more than 1,300ft (396m) off the ground.

If hurtling through the air at up to 70mph is not your thing, consider the enchanting Percorso delle Sette Pietre (Seven Stones Path), a literary walk based on ancient folk stories. Each of the seven stations you’ll visit has a huge stone statue that, as visitors pass, activates voices and sounds, narratives and music. The 1.5-mile-long path connects the villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.