Calabria's overlooked coast draws eyes to Basilicata's own shore

The New York Times this week turned its travel section to the overlooked coastline of Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, describing a shoreline of ancient towns and beaches that 'teems with traces of past civilizations in its traditions, cuisine and festivals.' The feature is the latest in a run of international coverage celebrating the deep South as a destination distinct from the crowded circuits of Rome, Florence and Venice.

For Basilicata, the piece lands close to home. The region shares the same Ionian Sea and a similar history of isolation and neglect, yet its own coastal towns — from Metaponto to Maratea — have not drawn the same volume of foreign attention. The New York Times spotlight on Calabria raises a question that has quietly preoccupied planners in Potenza: whether the deep South's moment in the travel press will lift neighbouring regions or leave them further in the shade.