Marycarliter/sandbox
The city of Policoro is located in Basilicata, in the province of Matera.
Understand
[edit]Policoro is a beach resort on the Ionian coast and it has been awarded the Blue Flag for 7 consecutive years. The weather is mild, reaching +40 °C (104 °F) in July and August and ±0 °C (32 °F) in January and February. Then, summer is the best period to come here: you will have the chance to take a swim in the Ionian sea and to live the Italian summer life.
History
[edit]Policoro was founded by the Greeks in the highest part of the actual city under the name of Siris. In 433 BC, it was replaced by Herakleia, a city founded by the inhabitants of Taranto in honor of Hercules. In fact, the main square of Policoro is called Piazza Eraclea and there is a statue of Hercules fighting against the lion at its centre. In 280 BC, during the Battle of Tarentum (during the Second Punic War), before beating the Roman troops, the Greek king Pyrrhus, with his elephants, took shelter in the near territory of Anglona. In spite of this, the territory was conquered by the Romans and went through a period of economic decline. Another period of social and economic decline occured during the feudalism: the territory was surrounded by a marshy area and, because of malaria, the remaining population had taken refuge on a hillock named Policoro (from the Greek 'Poliucoros', meaning 'spacious', most likely referring to the characteristics of the primitive village). Then, under the command of the Baron Berlingieri, the village was turned into a baronial feud and the town expanded around the baronial castle. The land reform of 1950 represented a turning point for Policoro, both economically and demographically: the marshy area was reclaimed, while the baron-owned houses and lands were assigned to families from neighbouring towns. Initially developed as a hamlet of the municipality of Montalbano Jonico, Policoro became an autonomous municipality in 1959.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Policoro is connected to the Bari Airport through a local shuttle bus service and different bus rides by Flixbus and Itabus .
By car
[edit]The city of Policoro is served by the following roads
Strada Statale 106 Jonica
Strada Statale 598 di Fondo Valle d'Agri
Strada Statale 407 Basentana
Strada Statale 653 Sinnica
By camper
[edit]The Camper Area near the sea offers all services and comforts to those who wish to reach Policoro with their camper van.
By bus
[edit]Policoro is connected to other towns in Basilicata, but also to Italian and foreign cities.
- Grassani e Garofalo, Liscio, Sita Sud, Grassani, F.lli Renna, Chiruzzi, Nolé, De Angelis Bus connect Policoro to other towns in Basilicata, such as Potenza, Matera, Metaponto, Nova Siri, Valsinni, Tursi, Colobraro.
- Moretti, Flixbus, Intersaj, Marinobus, Itabus connect Policoro to other Italian cities such as Bologna, Milan, Turin, Rimini, Bari, Taranto, Genoa, Rome, Pisa, Naples, Florence, Pisa, Catania.
- Flixbus and Marinobus connect Policoro to foreign cities, such as Zurich, Munich, Stoccarda, Francoforte sul Meno.
By train
[edit]The train station Policoro-Tursi is part of a long railway line that connects Taranto to Reggio Calabria following the coast of the Ionian sea.
By sea
[edit]Marinagri is the little harbour of Policoro, located within the Marinagri Residential Tourist Complex. It offers 322 berths for boats up to 40 metres (131 ft.) long with a draught up to 3.5 metres (11 ft.). You can get in touch with the harbour through the 74 VHF channel.
Get around
[edit]You can visit the city centre on foot.
By public transport
[edit]Line 5 of the city bus connects the city centre to the beach. The bus ride starts from the Terminal Bus and ends in Piazza Polieion (near the beach resort "Il Sirena") every hour.
See
[edit]- 1 Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Siritide, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 8, ☏ +39 0835 972154, drm-bas.museopolicoro@cultura.gov.it. Wed-Mon 9:00-20:00 The ticket office closes one hour before the museum. In its 14 rooms, the museum preserves the archeological heritage of the territory and enhances the relationship between all the peoples who inhabited the area. €2.50 full-price ticket. €2.00 reduced-price ticket for EU citizens aged between 18 and 25. Free for under 18s, subscribers and entitled people.
- 2 Parco Archeologico Siris - Herakleia, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 13, ☏ +39 0835 972154. Mon-Sund 9:00-half an hour before sunset. Archeological site where you can visit the foundations of the first village. free.
- 3 Castello Baronale (Palazzo Berlingieri), Via degli Artigiani, 12. The castle belonged to the Baron Berlingieri. It now houses restaurants and various services, but you can visit the entrance free. free.
- 4 Casalini, Piazzetta Italia. The "Casalini" area corresponds to the former houses of the permant workers at the service of the Baron Berlingieri. These little houses have now been converted into restaurants.
- 5 Cappella della Madonna del Ponte (Chiesa del Castello), Via Castello. The most ancient church in Policoro, near the castle. It is the house to the statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian.
- 6 Chiesa Madre, Piazza Eraclea. The main church in the city that houses the statue of the patron saint of the city.
- 7 Parrocchia Buon Pastore, Piazza Segni. A modern church built in the 1980s.
- 8 Chiesa San Francesco, Via del Lido. The last church in order of construction, a few minutes' walk from the sea.
- 9 Piazza Heraclea. The main square of the city, around which the current town initially developed. It is characterised by arches, called "portici", which are illuminated at night. It is home to the Mother Church and the Statue of Hercules fighting the lion.
- 10 Giardini Murati, Via Corinto, 1. The "Walled Gardens" date back to the feudal period and their name comes from the red brick wall that surrounded them, now completely rebuilt. The area is characterised by spring water that still feeds the fountain and the ruins of an ancient aqueduct running over five brick arches.
- 11 Piazza Segni. A monumental square dedicated to Antonio Segni, former President of the Italian Republic and one of the advocates of the land reform that marked the history of Policoro. The arches, the pyramid and the water that characterise this square are symbols recalling that period.
Do
[edit]Cultural events
[edit]- Blues in Town. The arganisation "La Mela di Odessa" organises this pop music festival every year since 1995.
- Policoro in Swing. August. Swing lessons and exhibitions. You can partecipate as a dancer or as audience.
- Premio Heraclea. People who are originally from Basilicata and who have contributed to the global recognition of the region's distinctive work, economic and productive culture are honoured every year.
- Vivi Heraclea, icoloridellanima2012@gmail.com. An annual festival organised by the association "I colori dell'anima" to discover the treasures of art and history housed in the museum.
- Un sorriso in corsia. 7 december. Charity concert organised every year by the association "World of Colors".
Religious events
[edit]All religious events in Policoro typically feature a procession with the statue of the saint and an accompanying band, live music performances, sandwich trucks called paninari, diverse market stalls, and amusement park rides.
- Madonna del Ponte. Third weekend in May. Patron saint of the city, the statue of the Madonna del Ponte was found under a bridge in the current Madonnella area. The original statue is now displayed in the Chiesa Madre.
- Madonna del Carmine. Last weekend in July. The religious event takes place the last weekend in July. The previous Sunday a pilgrimage on foot is usually organised, starting from the Chiesa Buon Pastore and arriving at the Sancturay of Anglona.
- Santi Medici.. Last weekend in September. It takes place near the Castle.
- Madonna del Mare. August 15th. Procession of the Virgin by boat. You can see it from the foreshore.
Sport events and activities
[edit]- 1 Bosco Pantano (Oasi WWF), Piazza Siris, 1 (Località Idrovora), ☏ +39 0835 1825157, +39 327 953 9814, wwf.poli@gmail.com. This Oasis is a Regional Nature Reserve, one of the few forests to be located near the sea. You can book guided tours and excursions on foot or by bike.
- 2 Sailing trip with aperitif, ☏ +39 349 462 3378. from April to October. 2-hour sailing trip along the Ionian coast with aperitif on board at sunset.
- 3 Aquarius, Via San Giusto (Località Torre Mozza), ☏ +39 083 5910273, +39 3384609321, +39 3339152279, info@aquariuspolicoro.com. Aquarius Società Cooperativa Sportiva Dilettantistica is now a Nautical Club recognised by CONI and affiliated to the F.I.V. It offers school camps and holidays to combine sea, nature and culture. It organises sailing, canoeing and sup activities.
- 4 Circolo Velico Lucano, Largo Demetra, ☏ +39 0835 910097, +39 334 600 7002, +39 335 127 7907. all year round. A sports club committed to promoting the knowledge of the natural and socio-cultural environment through sports such as sailing, rowing, swimming, wind-surfing, kiteboarding, orienteering and horse riding.
- 5 F.M. Equestrian Club A.S.D., Via Giuseppe Verdi, 24, ☏ +39 329 197 6925. You can book horse riding and riding lessons.
- Straherakleia, info@podisticapolicoro.org. Half Marathon. All Italian FIDAL or RUNCARD registered athletes and foreign IAAF registered athletes can participate.
Beach clubs
[edit]Playgrounds
[edit]- 6 Villa Comunale. The town public playground.
- 7 Joypark, Via Polibio, ☏ +39 328 746 7104. Mon-Sun 17:30-00:00. Private playground near the sea.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Centro Commerciale Heraclea, Strada Statale Ionica km 422, ☏ +39 0835 901397. Mon-Sun 09:00-20:30. Shopping centre, with many clothing and shoe stores, a supermarket, a smoke shop, a bar and a restaurant. An ATM is available inside.