The coast on the Jonian sea is a 35 km long line stretching from Metaponto to Nova Siri
and it is
completely different to the coast on the Tyrrhen sea. The last offshoot of the
flat surface which
extends from the low hills of Matera towards the Jonian sea, visitors are
offered a vast coastline of very fine, golden sand and large beaches of sand and
pebbles on the stretch of coast further to the south which faces the Pollino
National Park.
The Jonian coast is easily reached by car along the roads through the Basento valley
(SS 407), through Agri (SS 598) and through Sinni (SS 653) which to the north
link up to the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria Motorway.
A railway links up the entire coast. Known as the ‘California del Sud’
(the South California) because of the rich agriculture which has been developed
here, the Metapontina Plain is today the pride and joy of Lucanian local
economy. Enormous quantities of fruit and vegetables leave from here, destined to the rest of Italy and
to Europe because the crops ripen one or two months earlier than that on the
plains further North, thanks to the very mild
climate as on the Jonian coast the warmer season arrives at the end of March
and continues till the beginning of November.
Metaponto and Policoro are the two best known towns on the coast. Metaponto, in
the town council of Bernalda, was built in the sixties as a holiday resort. The
area of the ‘lido’ has been developed between the mouths of the rivers Bradano
and the Basento.
Its beaches are a favorite spot for many sea-lovers;
nevertheless the ‘Pancratium maritmum’ or sand lily still grows
without bothering too much, adding a note of gentle wildlife to the beaches.
Two large coastal pine woods and rows of eucalyptus fill the air with their
scents.
Metaponto Lido today is a fully-equipped and calm tourist resort and above all
it has exceptionally good links with the interior, offering therefore a lot of
wonderful excursions in the entire province of Matera, starting from its valleys with its gulleys to the woods of its mountains, from the Murgia of Matera to the Sassi
and of course to the rest of the Jonian coast.
Policoro is a country village which
was developed after the land reform of the 1950s. Boasting a wonderful position on
the Jonian coast, Policoro is found right in the hub of that tourism directed
to the
lands of the Magna Graecia.
Policoro's fortunes are closely linked to the events that took place in Siris and
Heraclea, which are wonderfully described in the archaeological park and in the
museum. The coast in front of Policoro is very similar to that of Metaponto: long
stretches of sand, clear blue waters and a sea bed which is even deeper here than
it is at Metaponto. Especially in the direction of the mouth of the river Sinni
the sea water is so clean that these wide beaches are the elected breeding grounds of sea turtles,
including the rare ‘Dermochelide’.
On the subject of the nature, the ‘Bosco Pantano’ (the Pantano Wood)
deserves a visit. Located at the mouth of the river Sinni, the ‘Bosco Pantano’ is
a memory of the
dense wet forests which only fifty years ago covered the sand dunes almost to the sea.
Today what is left of the forest is a favorite spot for many wild animals,
migratory as well as not.
Even here in Policoro there is a host of
excursions to choose from and a host of activities are available for those who love the sea
such as lessons in sailing and fishing.
Though Metaponto and Policoro are the recognized jewels in the crown of tourism
on the Jonian coast, Nova Siri, situated further to the south of Policoro is
fast catching up. Rotondella, which stretches to the sea, boasts a beautiful and
quiet beach.
Hotel
accommodation is good as well as farm holidays and campsites. Scattered along
the Jonian coast it is possible to find a fine selection of restaurants capable
of satisfying a wide range of tastes. Of course, dishes of the local fare
accompanied with the local wines produced in the Metapontino area are
highly recommended.
Metaponto Beach - Photo ©
Dwlwen 