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Brienza

Info
Distance from Potenza: 36 km

Distance from Matera: 135 km

Altitude: 713 m amsl

Postal code: 85050

Inhabitants: 4149 (Brienzani)

Commune in the province of Potenza

The origins of this village date back to the Longobards, who chose this place to build up a stronghold for keeping control over the valley below.

This stronghold, surrounded by walls still visible today, was governed by several feudal families up to the Caracciolo family, who kept it until the beginning of the last century.

Brienza is one of the few villages in Basilicata that has conserved its architectural structure as a mediaeval village.

The Castle is worthy of attention. It is being restored at the moment. An old tradition says that this Castle used to have 365 rooms, one for each day of the year. Nearby it is possible to see the Main Church, dedicated to the’ Assunta’, dating from the end of the XI century.

Worth visiting is the Church of San Zaccaria and San Michele Arcangelo, called ‘of the Greeks’, which existed already in the XII century, and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, not far from the village.

Through the streets of the village it is possible to see several palaces of the nobility, with bronze portals and finely decorated halls, while in ‘Piazza Municipio’ there is a bronze monument dedicated to Mario Pagano, jurist and patriot, born in Brienza.