Looking for something to do? L'Dimora Dei Cavalieri is nearby many great attractions, activities, and areas of historical interest...including seeing the ancient ruins of an ancient temple north of Vaglio.

History

Village of VAGLIO BASILICATA (PZ): (Inhabitants 2.320; Altitude slm 954 m)
HISTORY: In ancient times, this area belonged to several feudal lords who have alternated in power since the year 200 after the ancient settlement was destroyed by Angevins.  It is a few kilometers from the capital of the region which apparently had its origins in the Neolithic era in Serra di Vaglio locations.  Even today, Vaglio retains much of its ancient, spontaneously planned architecture.  The Chiesa Madre (Mother Church), dedicated to Saint Peter was constructed in the sixteenth century and retains its internal structures such as the Madonna del Rosario (1582) and Sacred Family (1580) by artist Anthony Stabile.  Behind the high altar you can admire an interesting carving, at the end of which there is a Nativity by De Laurentis dating from the first three years of the 1600s.  The former Convent of St. Anthony Abate with the adjoining single-nave church shows a sculpture on the main altar of the saint of the seventeenth century, and some canvases of the 1600s by Francesco Paterno and Attilio De Laurentis.  Inside there are six polychrome altars and the pulpit, the choir area, and the monastic refuge.  Of interest is the main facade of the Church and the Portal of 1636.  The Church of San Donato: a small but charming stone building built in 1553, preserves in its interior a statue of the saint of the sixteenth century and a carved altar of 1587.  A Serra di Vaglio: about 4 km from the town were found the remains of an indigenous settlement dating back to a period between X and the III centuries BC. Here, as well as foundations of old houses, one can see a fortress built of stone blocks with dry stone about 7 kilometers long (VI cent. BC) while in the most downstream area were found some tombs belonging to nobles and warriors as demonstrated by the fibula, jewelry and women's hairstyles and armor edging for the horses.  A little further north of Vaglio, in Macchia di Rossano, was found a sacred monument of the fourth century BC dedicated to the Goddess Mefitis.  In this temple, religious practices as well as functions of a political and social concern were held for many indigenous peoples of the territory.  Most of the excavations at Serra di Vaglio and Rossano began only around the middle of last century and in the opinion of experts, it seems that much has yet to be discovered.  Vaglio is one of the most important Lucani sites from an archaeological point of view, and many scholars (including foreign) are involved in this cultural heritage which is greater than our region in the world.
 THE CITY ': Its old name is the "Land of Balio" and the first attestation dates back to the second half of 1200 when it was destroyed by the troops Angioino.  Later, ownership was by several feudal families. 
 THE TOUR: The Mother Church of St. Paul the Apostle to 1400 (preserve the body of San Faustino Martyr, patron of the country) The former Convent of St. Anthony with a prayerful wooden portal that dates back to 1636 with the adjoining church (the Church contains paintings and frescoes of 1600).  Be sure to stop at the beautiful fountain in the main square.  The Palace Tamburrino features incorporated with the medieval fortified gate.  The Church of San Donato (stone building) dates back to 1553  and keeps a carved wooden altar of the Stable.  The rural church of Our Lady of Rossano rebuilt in 800 (held a stone sculpture of the century XV-XVI (Località Macchia di Rossano). Proceed to the Scavi (Excavation site) di Serra di Vaglio (continue on the road for "Ciscarelle") where there was an indigenous village and Rossano , the shrine of Goddess Mefitis dating back to IV century BC in an area rich in water sources (the town is enclosed in mighty fortification walls long km.7 and almost made up of large blocks of squared dry stone). The tombs date back to the end of VI century BC where they found armor and trappings for horses, women's jewelry, jewelry and fibula (perhaps the tomb of a princess of about seven years) (Braida City).
The ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA OF SERRA 
 When driving along the road that climbs up into the woods with the entrance Tratturo S.  Bernardo, longitudinally through the entire summit plateau of the hill, you reach the remains of Utilia Bella.  Immediately the visitor is struck by the wide and enchanting landscape, open on the four cardinal points.
 The first job of the stable plateau dates back to the second half of the eighth century BC, when it is occupied by a circular huts with cobbled paving, stone base, and high coverage in raw clay and straw (internally coated in white).  These huts are divided into scattered groups, alternating with the burials, with no differentiation between the housing area and the cemetery.
 Around the mid-sixth century, on the plateau of Serra buildings are aligned at the sides of a central road and decorated with terracotta-derived Metapontino, while burials were being progressively removed on the slopes.  Between the end of this and in the course of the next century, these structures take a rectangular shape, with internal divisions, and are made primarily of stone and blocks in clay and straw.  The long central axis road is paved with large Basoli, flanked by perpendicular streets, paved and some areas remain uncovered and probably were for public functions.
 Since the end of the fifth century BC, a process of change was witnessed that is affecting the whole of southern Italy: the gradual immigration of Lucane people who will eventually occupy the territory, replacing the previous population.  The urban structure of Serra di Vaglio is upset: the town seems to explode to accommodate more people, but the process is rushed, the large buildings are reused and remade over and over again in a disorderly manner, eventually invading the central axis road .  A complex system of canals affects the entire area of the central plateau.
 Around the middle of the fourth century BC, the mighty fortress wall is built, about 2.5 kilometers long. That wall protects on the plateau at least three sides.  There was probably only part of the fourth side on the southern side, which is naturally defended by a deep overhang.
 On the right side of the excavation, the home of pith has been excavated, a faithful reconstruction of a building dating from the fourth century BC
 A thick layer of burned and ashes sealed in the early decades of the third century BC remains in Serra.  The war determined by the pressure of Rome and by the movements of all the Italian people probably determined the violent end of the "capital" of Lucani.

To see the original webpage, click here:  http://www.dimoracavalieri.it/La_Dimora_dei_Cavalieri/Storia.html

Activities

 

 

 

 

One of the objectives of the "stay" is to encourage our guests to participate in the production and transformation processes in the life: the best way to promote our products as well as the only way to discover who we truly are is to find the cycles of nature and its bounty.

 Spring Activities:
 - Walking in the green hills along the ancient paths paths just like the "knights utiani" to the archaeological sites of Serra and Rossano
 - Walking "in the pasture"
 - The discovery of tracks while mountain biking

 Summer activities:
 - "Before twe can have wool...": sheep shearing
 - "Before we can eat bread is ...": the grain harvest
 - "The more we collect the more we can eat!!": Collection of more wild fruits, vegetables, and funghi

 Autumn Activities:
 - "The more we collect the more we can eat!!": Collection of chestnuts and mushrooms, especially the "cardoncelli" type , led by an accompanying expert
 - "Before grain is ...": land preparation before sowing, with the "spietramento" of funds, collection of stones to prevent damage to equipment
 - "The more you collect, the warmer you are": collection of dry twigs and firewood in the surrounding woodlands

 Winter activities:
 - "Before the sausage is ...": discover the secret recipe that makes it uniquely "sausage vagliese" 
 - Drinking our signature Vine St. Paul wine by the fire

Year-round activities:
- Walking along the ancient paths of the "utiani riders" to the archaeological sites of Serra and Rossano
- Walks in the pasture
- Eating in our restaurant
- Drinking our wine
- Geocaching a variety of area sites (see www.geocaching.com)

To see the original webpage, click here: http://www.dimoracavalieri.it/La_Dimora_dei_Cavalieri/Attivita.html

Places of Interest Nearby... (click at the bottom of the map for a larger view)

View Points of Interest in a larger map

Near to La Dimora is the "Angels Flight" (www.volodellangelo.com), a high adventure zipline between Dolomite peaks. You have GOT to check this out!