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Town of Lauria
Town of Lauria, Basilicata

Town of Lauria: location, history, culture, interest

Situated on the lower slopes of Monte Sirino, Lauria is a small but well populated town on the edge of the Pollino National Park.

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Lauria, lauria italy
Lauria - www.understandingitaly.com

Lauria is divided into two sections by a cliff, 'Superiore' which around 500m above sea level and 'Inferiore', around 300m above sea level.

Originally believed to have been called Uria (probably with the added prefix 'La' Uria) the early history of the town is a little unclear. It is known to have been destroyed first by the Romans and then the Visgoths and was rebuilt in the late 5th century before finally being destroyed again by the Saracens during the the early 10th century. After this, a Basilian monastery was established on the site, the major part of which was the Santuario della Madonna dell'Armo.

Lauria, lauria italy
Typical street, Lauria - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lauria was under the control of the Normans by the 12th century and became a political centre with a flourishing economy based on trade and local crafts. By 1655 Lauria had 2500 inhabitants before being hit by the plague which killed over a quarter of them. In 1660 Lauria was granted the privilege of electing its own mayor and began to expand and flourish again. The conditions in most places in Basilicata around this time was appalling and in 1735 the Bourbon King Charles 111 ordered a report on all the towns in the region. Lauria, surprisingly had over 6000 inhabitants and a prosperous wrought iron industry specialising in the production of rifles.

Between 1799-1811 Lauria was occupied by the French, although Lauria continued to support the Bourbons. As a punishment for this the French invaded the town in 1806 burning and destroying most of the churches and public buildings and slaughtering hundreds of men, women and children.

Lauria, lauria italy
Lauria - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Unlike many small towns and villages in Basilicata, Lauria is thriving again with families opting to stay, rather than abandon their homes and lifestyle. The strong, hard working people and the rich soil resulted in a self supporting agricultural society with plenty of food and work for all.

Today Lauria is a pleasant place to be. The town is pretty with steep, winding cobbled streets and spectacular views to the valley below and the mountains above. There are many areas shaded by trees for sitting, drinking coffee or wine whilst watching children playing, meeting friend or just generally observing the world passing by (slowly of course).

Lauria, lauria italy
Lauria - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lauria is an excellent town to visit for those interested in sporting holidays. From here you can go trekking in the Pollino National Park or Monte Sirino, white water rafting, cycling (serious cylists only), horse riding and rock climbing. In the winter there is skiing with runs of all levels and several ski schools, all very reasonably priced.

There is no longer a train station here but the buses serve the area well and there is plenty of car parking. The town has many facilities including banks, a hospital and shops of all kinds and you can get just about everything you need in the city centre. Close by there are several out of town shopping complexes which are modern and very well equipped.

Lauria, lauria italy
Rooftops, Lauria
Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lauria was also the home and birthplace of Domenico Lentini (1770-1828) and his humble home is still standing today.

Other places of interest include:

  • The Santuario della Madonna dell'Armo - situated on a rock overlooking the beautiful Valley.
  • The church San Giacomo Apostolo - this church has a stunning 14th century bell tower.
  • The church of San Nicola di Bari - Lauria Inferiore - originally built in the 15th century but completely destroyed in 1806.
  • The ruins of the Castle of Ruggiero - Lauria Superiore - an interesting castle with an eight sided structure but only one entrance accessed via very steep steps cut into the rock.
Lauria, lauria italy
San Giacomo Apostolo, Lauria - Photo: www.understandingitaly.com

Lauria
Population: 13,109
Male: 6,393
Female: 6,716
Population density: 74.6 per square km

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Flag of Basilicata
Basilicata flag
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 9,995 km²
      Population: 600,000
      Density: 59/km²
      Capital: Potenza

      National Parks:
      The Pollino National Park

Location of Basilicata
Basilicata location
Provinces of Basilicata
Basilicata provinces
  • Comunes of Basilicata
    • Matera (MT)
      • Accettura
        Aliano
        Bernalda
        Calciano
        Cirigliano
        Colobraro
        Craco
        Ferrandina
        Garaguso
        Gorgoglione
        Grassano
        Grottole
        Irsina
        Matera
        Miglionico
        Montalbano Jonico
        Montescaglioso
        Nova Siri
        Oliveto Lucano
        Pisticci
        Policoro
        Pomarico
        Rotondella
        Salandra
        San Giorgio Lucano
        San Mauro Forte
        Scanzano Jonico
        Stigliano
        Tricarico
        Tursi
        Valsinni
    • Potenza (PZ)
      • Abriola
        Acerenza
        Albano di Lucania
        Anzi
        Armento
        Atella
        Avigliano
        Balvano
        Banzi
        Baragiano
        Barile
        Bella
        Brienza
        Brindisi Montagna
        Calvello
        Calvera
        Campomaggiore
        Cancellara
        Carbone
        Castelgrande
        Castelluccio Inferiore
        Castelluccio Superiore
        Castelmezzano
        Castelsaraceno
        Castronuovo di Sant’Andrea
        Cersosimo
        Chiaromonte
        Corleto Perticara
        Episcopia
        Fardella
        Filiano
        Forenza
        Francavilla in Sinni
        Gallicchio
        Genzano di Lucania
        Ginestra
        Grumento Nova
        Guardia Perticara
        Lagonegro
        Latronico
        Laurenzana
        Lauria
        Lavello
        Maratea
        Marsico Nuovo
        Marsicovetere
        Maschito
        Melfi
        Missanello
        Moliterno
        Montemilone
        Montemurro
        Muro Lucano
        Nemoli
        Noepoli
        Oppido Lucano
        Palazzo San Gervasio
        Paterno
        Pescopagano
        Picerno
        Pietragalla
        Pietrapertosa
        Pignola
        Potenza
        Rapolla
        Rapone
        Rionero in Vulture
        Ripacandida
        Rivello
        Roccanova
        Rotonda
        Ruoti
        Ruvo del Monte
        San Chirico Nuovo
        San Chirico Raparo
        San Costantino Albanese
        San Fele
        San Martino d’Agri
        San Paolo Albanese
        San Severino Lucano
        Sant’Angelo Le Fratte
        Sant’Arcangelo
        Sarconi
        Sasso di Castalda
        Satriano di Lucania
        Savoia di Lucania
        Senise
        Spinoso
        Teana
        Terranova di Pollino
        Tito
        Tolve
        Tramutola
        Trecchina
        Trivigno
        Vaglio Basilicata
        Venosa
        Vietri di Potenza
        Viggianello
        Viggiano
Airports in Basilicata
Basilicata airports
Hotels in Basilicata
Basilicata hotels
BASILICATAWEATHER
Basilicata Climate (Potenza)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 6 1 - 63
Feb 7 1 - 54
Mar 9 2 - 53
Apr 13 5 - 60
May 18 9 - 46
Jun 22 13 - 42
Jul 25 15 - 29
Aug 25 15 - 36
Sep 21 13 - 45
Oct 16 9 - 70
Nov 11 5 - 80
Dec 8 2 - 74
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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