La Piccola Venezia del sud (the small Venice of the South) in Policoro southern Italy.Massimo Vicinanza / FullPress Ag/Supplied Although Italy is the fourth most visited country in the world the southern Italian region of Basilicata remains largely unexplored Unlike its vacation hotspot neighbour Puglia to the east or Campania’s bucket-list stops such as Amalfi and Pompeii to the west a self-proclaimed Italophile with my roots firmly planted in Calabria (the region just below) this was my first time in the unsung territory during which I spent some exceptionally luminous days soaking up the last rays of la dolce vita turned out to be part and parcel of my winter survival kit this year If any spot in Basilicata is on the beaten path which dates back at least 9,000 years to the Paleolithic Age Even though its storied sassi and park of Rupestrian churches were recognized by UNESCO in 1993 it was only after Matera held the 2019 European Capital of Culture title that tourists noticed it making it a popular destination in southern Italy it is the charming seaside town of Policoro perched on the Ionian Sea in the heart of the Gulf of Taranto One of the beauties of travel is that unexpected jewel you uncover the place you mistook as a pitstop on the way to the main attraction We arrived in Policoro late on a Friday evening after a transatlantic flight to Rome and a seven-hour bus ride I was beginning to understand how Basilicata has kept its low profile; the region doesn’t have an international airport I drew back the drapes in my room to see where I landed I was thrilled to discover that I had a sizable terrace where I could drink my coffee under the glorious sun while taking in the verdant views and breathing in that inimitable sea air Policoro is a relatively young municipality of 18,000 inhabitants The city sits on the site of the ancient Greek city Heraclea founded in 433 BC built near the earlier Greek settlement of Siris Despite the layers of history that followed its deep Magna Graecia influence Policoro (which means “old village”) only became an autonomous city in the 1960s There are historical remnants that trace its ancient past such as the ruins in the nearby archeological area and the National Archaeological Museum of Siritide offers a glimpse into its past while blending modern amenities with historic charm named after the famous Battle of Heraclea between the Greek army and the Romans in 280 BC a lively gathering place for both locals and visitors to relax meander leisurely and pop into family-owned shops and cafes and indulge in a gelato More dolce vita ensues with a prelunch aperitivo at Come Una Volta trattoria where we sampled local salumi and cheeses such as caciocavallo a sweet pepper that is sun-dried then fried to crunchy perfection As we sat outside sipping on our Aperol spritz (a Venetian tradition that has caught on even in the south) businessman Rocco LaRocca pointed to the peaks of mountains indicating that we were a stone’s throw from the Pollino National Park the largest park in southern Italy renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and diverse flora and fauna “It spans two regions and on the other side you’re already in Calabria,” he said A sudden wave of nostalgia hit me as I was so close to my roots … Next time An impromptu highlight of our tour that day was a boat tour to la piccola Venezia del sud (the small Venice of the south) I observed in awe as we sailed under bridges and past a resort called Marinagri which stretched over three kilometres of coastline dotted with a variety of holiday and year-round homes built on islands and peninsulas It looked a bit like a mini paradise on the sea where multi-level villas had private boat docks and gardens with panoramic terraces overlooking the sea and private beaches That mid-November sail on the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea was nothing short of spectacular But what struck me most about the beauty of Basilicata was the intense sunlight that pervaded the sky no matter where I was Then I remembered how the ancient name for the Basilicata region was La Lucania; in fact locals still refer to themselves their traditions and local dishes as Lucani sums up the region best: It is the land of light The main Piazza Eraclea is the heart of the city a gathering place for both locals and visitors to meander leisurely and pop into family owned shops and cafes.Supplied Springtime in Policoro includes traditional Easter processions regional food fairs and cultural events celebrating Lucanian heritage Enjoy seasonal specialties such as strawberries fresh seafood and Pecorino di Filiano cheese Pair your meals with Aglianico del Vulture Restaurants and bars open at the beach in April It is the perfect time for walks along the shore or a first dip in the sea The number of tourists in the summer months of July and August swells up bringing a multitude of Italian families to Policoro for beach vacations Policoro is a seven-hour drive from Rome but catching a connecting flight to Bari or Brindisi in nearby Puglia shortens the journey Rent a car at these smaller airports and this coastal gem is a little more than an hour away A stay at the four-star Hotel San Vincenzo Resort starts at €120 This former convent-turned-hotel is 300 metres from the sea Guests will find a chapel on the lower level a swimming pool and tennis courts surrounded by lush grounds A stay at the five-star Marinagri Greenblu Hotel starts at €160 Turkish bath and a hot tub amidst the calm of the Ionian Sea Rent a sailboat at Marinagri from one of the providers at the marina enjoy an aperitivo off the coast at sunset with your own skipper and take in the incredible Ionian Sea views Rentals start at around €300 for half a day The nearby Policoro Herakleia Oasis is a wildlife reserve offering scenic walks birdwatching and opportunities to see rescued sea turtles Spring is especially vibrant with migrating birds and fresh greenery The writer was a guest of Hotel San Vincenzo Resort It did not review or approve the story before publication a lesser known town perched on the Ionian Sea in the heart of the Gulf of Taranto.Supplied Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Volume 9 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.891251 This article is part of the Research TopicRemote Sensing for Coastal SustainabilityView all 23 articles climate change and the rapid urbanization due to the development of the coastal economy have led to biodiversity loss and the fragmentation of habitat in many coastal zones The presence of protected areas cannot prevent the progress of land degradation these areas are very important because they provide significant ecosystem services and affect local tourism With regard to increasing adaptation strategies to human pressures and climate change the present study proposes a detailed monitoring activity and an ecological restoration plan which could improve the resilience of a protected coastal zone in the Pantano forest of Policoro located on the Ionian coast (southern Italy) continuous phenomena of intensive deforestation and fires have reduced the native species of particular naturalistic value favouring the advancement of desertification The proposed actions are derived from a preliminary analysis on maps climate data and from meetings with the local community The operative process detailed in this article could be applied to other protected areas which are subjected to the same phenomena and problems At the same time, PCAs are places of interest for tourism and for recreational and leisure activities, thus contributing to the socio-economic growth of entire territories (You et al., 2018; Zhai et al., 2020) In many cases PCAs host lowland forests that act as windbreaks (You et al., 2018) preventing sand and marine aerosol from reaching agricultural land and plantations In the past few decades, PCAs have been subjected to serious threats deriving mainly from climate change which, together with an increase in intensity and a reduction in the duration of rainfalls, higher temperatures, and the rise of sea level, favours a rapid alien species invasion (Epanchin-Niell et al., 2017) and coastal habitats fragmentation and loss (Yu et al., 2017; You et al., 2018) retreat from coasts and open space preservation) could focus on risk reduction by moving people and property out of harm’s way often with economic incentives like flood insurance discounts When combined with other zoning and land use protections these actions could create the secondary and tertiary benefits of increasing the persistence and resilience of natural habitats and species managing lands after the re-location of people or infrastructure in the coastal zone could enable the natural migration of coastal systems as needed in response to the relative sea level rise the main goal of the present paper is to illustrate a proposal of a detailed monitoring activity and an ecological restoration plan in a protected area located on the Ionian coast (southern Italy) in order to allow the conservation and provision of ecosystem services and to improve the resilience of coastal habitats The case study is Pantano forest of Policoro where continuous phenomena of intensive deforestation The Pantano forest of Policoro is located at 40°6’-40°18’N and 16°30’-16°48’E in southern Italy, in the province of Matera, between the municipalities of Policoro and Rotondella (Figure 1) It is a protected natural area of about 4 km2 and has an altitude between 0 and 5 m asl according to Directive 92/43/CE “Habitat” the Site of Community Importance (SCI) “Bosco Pantano di Policoro and Costa Ionica Foce Sinni” and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) the water is carried into a dewatering pump and is partly used for irrigation purposes and partly discharged into the sea Figure 2 Drainage system drawn on satellite image of 2019 acquired via web-service GoogleMaps (publisher: Data SIO GEBCO; year of publication: 10 August 2019; created map title: Google Landsat/Copernicus; access date 7 March 2022) The area has a high biodiversity and is rich in habitats the inner vegetation is mainly represented by a hygrophilous forest while near the coastline it is characterised by psammophilous communities typically suitable to sandy environments The plant species of the hygrophilous forest are the field elm the area shows 27 species of fauna of community interest according to the Habitat Directives (42/93/EEC) and the “Birds” Directive (79/409/EEC) and in particular 21 species of birds The site is also an important rest area for migrating species such as the Osprey In the riparian environments of the river Sinni and in the open channels there are the Spinarello a species at risk of extinction and a priority of Annex II of the Habitat Directive While the coastline and the shallow water host a large number of Carretta turtles and Cetaceans in its deepest marine waters live the common dolphin numerous pods of Stenellas and the Sperm Whale underlines the presence of fruit and citrus orchards (37% and 16% respectively) and Mediterranean Subnitrophilous grass communities (7.9%) Figure 3 Land use in 1990 and 2018 in the Pantano forest area Figure 4 Corine Biotopes habitat map of Pantano forest surrounding in 2013 Figure 5 (A) Signs of desertification phenomenon in areas near the coast (B) Disappearance of the back-barrier plants Figure 6 Change of the vegetation due to the thinning of (A) north west and (B) southwestern area of the beach Figure 7 Scarce and uneven presence of (A) Elymeto and (B) Ammophila Arenaria Figure 8 Negative effects of the marine spray and winds in the (A) north west and (B) southwestern area of the beach the rise in temperatures has favoured the settlement of invasive alien species seriously threatening the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the biotope The invasive alien species are mainly artificial plantations consisting of pines carried out in the past to protect the agricultural inland and a rapid and progressive colonisation of woody plant weeds the massive presence of these invasive species caused a serious impoverishment of biodiversity trivializing the phytocoenoses and altering the trophic chains linked to the ecotones acacias have a greater degree of invasiveness and tend to spread to the detriment of native species The Aleppo pine represents a concrete threat to the habitats such as the habitat of priority interest 2250 “Coastal dunes with Juniperus” with the presence of two junipers: Juniperus oxycedrus ssp Reforestation with Aleppo pine and eucalyptus in addition to reducing the quality and heterogeneity of environment and landscape The seasonal analysis of the maximum and minimum temperatures acquired by the gauge station located near to Forest Pantano (Figure 1) underlines a light increase in winter and autumn of Tmax and Tmin in the last five years (Figure 9) an oscillating trend is observed around the average value determined in the period 2000-2021 equal to 21.38°C for winter and 33.26°C for autumn there has been an increase in recent years of minimum temperatures in the winter months which are approximately 20% higher than the average value (-3.55°C) in 2019 up to 50% by 2021 while in the autumn of the same years the value is almost four times the average value (1.58°C) Figure 9 Maximum and minimum seasonal temperatures acquired by the gauge station in 2000-2021 period in (A) winter; (B) spring; (C) summer and (D) autumn In the same period, an unusual decrease of rainfall is noted in the winter months, which influences the water discharge in rivers for the rest of the year (Figure 10A) a reduction in 2019 of about 27% compared to the average value calculated over the period 2000-2021 is recorded Figure 10 Total seasonal rainfall acquired by the gauge station in 2000-2021 period in (A) winter; (B) spring; (C) summer and (D) autumn An increase of total seasonal rainfall (usually storm events) compared to the average value is instead observed in the spring (30%), summer (33%) and autumn (10%) months of the last three years. These weather conditions, associated with tidal bore (propagation of marine waves from the mouth towards upstream), have created floods and soil impoverishment (Figure 10B–D) the degradation process does not seem to stop despite the restoration and reforestation interventions that have taken place in the last decades some sporadic reforestation works on sandy dunes were carried out as early as the 2000s in order to create an effective breakwater for the protection of agricultural and unproductive lands through a project funded by European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 some nature-based solutions were used for the reconstruction of the dunes and the planting of native species along the coast these interventions were concentrated only in the sandy dunes and retro-dunes failing to completely prevent the coastal erosion and the presence of the saline wedge from which the Site of Community Interest Management Plan was born even if still very limited with regard to some hydraulic All this emphasizes the importance of adopting a detailed monitoring plan useful to detect a series of interventions and actions on the area it is strongly advised to intervene before the progress of these phenomena completely compromises the habitats and biodiversity of the area a new planning of actions that would contribute to the upgrading of aspects related to the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems is required allowed addressing some actions and interventions in order to recover and enhance the environment and landscape while favouring the socio-economic growth of the territory at the same time These meetings are part of a bottom-up participation process started in 2019 by the consortium FLAG Coast to Coast within the local development operational program EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries Fund) 2014-2020 Basilicata River Agreement (RA) represents an innovative governance model that can help in the drafting of potential plans and practices for a sustainable management of fluvial territories (Antunesa et al, 2009; Voghera, 2020) It is an advanced form of negotiated planning that involves social actors in order to: improve people’s knowledge of existing territorial conditions and the effects of human activities; increase social awareness; include society in the identification and implementation of solutions; encourage innovative changes in setting objectives and urban and architectural design starting with the legal and planning framework of an Action Plan RA allows the development of a convergence and coordination between bottom-up and top-down strategies and practices as well as an integration between multi-level and multi-scale actions carried out by the main actors in the territorial systems The Sinni River Agreement is aimed at giving value to the fluvial and coastal landscape and achieving the delicate balance between the exploitation of natural resources for socio-economic development and the conservation of ecosystem services needed for community well-being about 60 actors among public and private entities have joined forces: 16 municipal administrations of the concerned river basin; 1 regional tourism promotion company; 1 national park 7 trade organisations; 26 associations; 4 companies; and 3 schools Figure 11 Link between the objectives of the River Agreement and those of the EU strategy Figure 12 The 4 macro-sectors of the preliminary River Agreement The proposal described below belongs to the macro-sector Environment and considers an integrated monitoring activity on hydraulic in order to have detailed knowledge of the area and a first ecological restoration plan Figure 13 shows the flow-chart of the proposed monitoring activity Figure 13 The planned monitoring activities in Pantano forest of Policoro area Drones also make it possible to monitor environmental changes that can lead to the loss of native plant species and the expansion of alien or introduced species Drones are also used for forest fire monitoring as well as for the identification of undergrowth vegetation the identification of dead wood and canopy mortality which in coastal areas could be due to marine aerosol investigating how these habitats have been influenced by changes in the composition and structure of the landscape occurred in the last 60 years An advantage of this technique is that it is based on the interpretation of photos and numerical data detected by low-cost planes drones or space probes and over very large areas the physiognomic analysis is probably the mostly used method for the vegetation classification The use of data from satellite or UAV reduces greatly the costs of this analysis It is capable of modelling small and large aquifers for several years and with a high degree of accuracy This habitat exclusivity involves the coexistence of multiple elements of different biogeographical origins One of the greatest threats is related to their limited geographical extent which with a continuously decreasing trend over the years will lead to an increasingly worse future scenario The most affected habitats are those with the minimum extension which are mainly concentrated in the Mediterranean Region (shifting dunes the restoration of the dunes environments is essential for the conservation of the forests and biological communities in the first phase the actions will be aimed at gradually eliminating the invasive species on the dunes in order to favour the development of natural vegetation To reduce coastal erosion and protect inland areas from wave motions and winds windbreak barriers will be provided in semi-rigid natural and degradable material (wood and reeds) arranged in a “checkerboard” pattern in order to accumulate sand and protect native and pioneer species The aim of this intervention is also to restore the integrity of the habitats and allow a reconstruction of the shrub vegetation profiles in the internal areas over time that increasing habitat areas inland from the shoreline results in quadratic and exponential reductions in wave heights in order to avoid the trampling of the dunes by swimmers which is the first cause of their deterioration an elevated walkway and fences will be planned if carried out with natural materials such as wood have a low environmental impact and a good useful life even if the maintenance costs are high The formation of mobile and fixed dunes will allow a renovation of the hinterland forest with the reforestation of typical species of the area such as English oak The restoration interventions will also include the re-naturalisation of the artificial channels both in the riverbed and on the banks This phase will be preceded by in-depth maintenance and cleaning through the use of techniques and tools with low environmental impact an existing backdunal pond will be recovered both to further facilitate the repopulation of fauna and flora and to create a reserve of freshwater in order to hinder the intrusion of the saline wedge The lake will be fed by a system of small canals made with naturalistic engineering techniques and organised in such a way as to connect with the drainage canals and the natural hydrographic network The present paper reports an improvement action plan which should be implemented at the Pantano forest of Policoro a protected area located on the Ionian coast of southern Italy in order to stop the biodiversity loss and fragmentation of habitat The study area has a high biodiversity and is rich in habitats it shows 27 species of fauna of community interest according to the Habitat Directives (42/93/EEC) and the “Birds” Directive (79/409/EEC) and for years the area has been subjected to desertification in the hinterland with a drastic reduction in soil fertility These phenomena have led to a significant disappearance of the retro-dune plants exposing the pioneer maquis to the negative effects of the marine spray and winds and to the growth of invasive alien species which threaten the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the autochthonous vegetation The past reforestation projects addressed to the reconstruction of the dunes and the planting of native species along the coast did not have a significant effect on the prevention of the coastal erosion and biodiversity loss involving over 60 actors among public and private entities and aimed at reaching a River Agreement have underlined the need for a more detailed knowledge of the area and the realisation of a first ecological restoration plan the present work illustrates some actions that can help improve the resilience of coastal habitats as well as contribute to the enhancement of an area In particular, a detailed monitoring activity addressed to the analysis of the hydraulic, hydro-geological, geomorphological, ecological and landscaping aspects will be fundamental to identify and fill any gaps in knowledge that are relevant to saving threatened species and habitats (Knight et al., 2008) there are still significant data gaps and the existing ones have provided only qualitative assessments rather than quantitative evaluations This issue is mainly due to the limited research funding The first findings of this monitoring activity suggested an ecological restoration plan that prioritises the recovery of coastal sand dunes This type of ecological restoration plan could be implemented through a project aimed at eliminating alien vegetation planting native species to stabilise sandy soil protecting inland areas from sea currents and winds with windbreak barriers in semi-rigid natural and degradable material (wood and reeds) and reducing the trampling phenomenon by swimmers through the building of elevated walkway and fences Cleaning and re-naturalisation of the existing drainage canals are also predicted both on the banks and in the riverbed with techniques at low environmental impact and the recovery of a lake connect with the drainage canals and the natural hydrographic network to facilitate the repopulation of fauna and flora and to create a reserve of freshwater in order to hinder the intrusion of the saline wedge although coastal dunes are among the most threatened environments especially during summer due to intense trampling and degradation by uncontrolled access of tourists few are the areas subjected to suitable restoration plans For example, in two pilot field studies in the Salento coastal area, south of Italy, an innovative mineral grout colloidal silica-based consolidation technique for coastal sand dunes was tested (D’Alessandro et al., 2020) This ecological restoration demonstrated to be more resilient to near-surface wind effects and/or minor storms events to reduce the volume of dune erosion and the dune scarp retreat rate and to be at zero impact on the environment The latter is very important for tourism and recreational purposes A second example is the plan of coastal protection at Calabaia Beach, located in the Marine Experimental Station of Capo Tirone (Cosenza, Italy). It consists in planting Posidonia oceanica meadows beyond the groynes, which serve as lung, larder, nursery of the sea and as a shelter where several marine species can thrive. The main purpose of this intervention is to reduce the effects of waves and currents (Maiolo et al., 2020) an innovative and advanced governance method such as the River Agreement involving the main institutional and social actors of the territory is being built in the study area in order to drive the development and realization of interventions and actions focused on improving ecosystem services and favouring the sustainable management of natural resources What has been presented in this paper is justified by a current context in which most countries of the world, in response to COVID-19, are investing great amounts of money in sustainable management of protected areas. According to Kroner’s analysis (Kroner et al., 2021) the ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery package proposes to allocate € 215 billion of its stimulus funds (30% of the total € 714 billion) to green initiatives of which € 10 billion for “natural capital and circular economy” (other funds would support decarbonisation green infrastructure and renewable energy) It also specifies ‘do no harm’ environmental safeguards The recovery package would help to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 fostering the protection of at least 30% of Europe’s lands and seas in effectively managed protected areas as well as sustainable agriculture by reversing the decline of pollinators and reducing the use of dangerous pesticides The recovery plan in Italy foresees about € 60 billion for the green revolution and the ecological transition part of which will be allocated to sustainable management and increasing the resilience of the territories these proposed actions could be funded under the post-COVID-19 recovery plan in an effort to both conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as remediate degraded natural habitats Some of the secondary effects could be promoting job creation and favouring fair employment while providing an opportunity to test innovative approaches and tools in order to elaborate a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and successful responses to the global crises that are happening at an accelerating pace The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors DM was in charge of the conception and design of the work and supervised the data analysis and interpretation RD and GS performed data analysis and interpretation This research has been supported by the MIUR PON R&I 2014–2020 Program (project MITIGO The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher Citizen science as an approach for overcoming insufficient monitoring and inadequate stakeholder buy-in in adaptive management: criteria and evidence Gli habitat delle coste sabbiose italiane: ecologia e problematiche di conservazione Google Scholar ““Passive recovery of Mediterranean coastal dunes following limitations to human trampling”,” in Restoration of coastal dunes springer series on environmental management Drone as a tool for coastal flood monitoring in the Volta delta CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Land use change and habitat fragmentation of wildland ecosystems of the north central united states doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.04.014 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Coastal dune vegetation resilience on south padre island Texas: a spatiotemporal evaluation of the landscape structure Participation and evaluation for sustainable river basin governance CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Computational methods and next-generation sequencing approaches to analyze epigenetics data: Profiling of methods and applications Coastal sand dune floral diversity in cuddalore coastal areas southeast coast of India coastal sand dune floral diversity in cuddalore coastal areas Google Scholar a simple technique for improving the establishment success of plant cuttings in coastal dune restoration Bartuszevige A and economic considerations into conservation planning CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Bayraktarov E. 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Serra di Crispo mountain (Garden of Gods) in the Pollino National Park Basilicata, a region in southern Italy the elegiac beauty of the landscape and the infinite fragments that make up the mosaic of its fascinating culture Greek and Roman colonists and Norman conquerors scattered across the region Basilicata’s culture blends pagan and Christian festivals celebrated across its villages with influences from Swabian something you’ll notice in the region’s bounteous culinary specialties.  These 10 places in Basilicata capture the kaleidoscopic charms of this enigmatic region in the south of Italy.  Just look around Matera and in an instant your gaze will go from the caves beyond the Gravina to the refined baroque architecture of the Piano district from the intimate spaces of rock churches to the increasingly trendy atmosphere of the historic center.  but most visitors are misled by the usual meaning of the word Rather the term indicates the two districts of the old city but decline eventually set in and the ancient area became a melancholic ghost town of ruins Matera was the first place in southern Italy to become a UNESCO World Heritage site: you don’t come to Matera for a museum or a palace rather you come here to immerse yourself in its elusive atmosphere.  While you’re here, get lost in the Sassi and visit the cave houses, marvel at the jaw-dropping monastery complex (Complesso Monastico della Madonna delle Virtù e di San Nicola dei Greci) taste Matera’s famous pane and snap plenty of breathtaking photos from viewpoints at Piazza Pascoli and Belvedere di Murgia Timone.  Detour: Venture just a few miles out of the city and enter the enchanted Potentino cathedrals of rock and woods of oaks and firs that frame the landscape.  Italy’s largest national park, the sprawling Parco Nazionale Del Pollino (Pollino National Park) is an exceptional expanse of lush forests high-altitude grasslands and windswept plateaus spread between Calabria and Basilicata As well as extraordinary views and varied landscapes you will find villages where isolation has preserved cultural traditions whose origins date back to a past as deep as the canyons and valleys that furrow the land And then there are the area’s foodie treasures the startpoint for Pollino’s most thrilling hikes From there you can go up to the Piana del Pollino where paths lead off to the Serra di Crispo and Serra delle Ciavole Also starting at Colle Impiso is the route for the summit of Monte Pollino starts at the Rifugio De Gasperi and leads through a dense beech forest to the Belvedere Malvento take a mini-excursion along the Sentiero Paraturo for a short trek past the Cascata del Diavola waterfall and the Fontana i Susu one of the most beautiful fountains built by Rotonda’s stonemasons.  One of the main reasons visitors head to the Ionian Coast is to explore what remains of the colonies of Metaponto Another reason is to hit the sandy beaches As you walk the anonymous streets of the small village of Metaponto you’ll discover that the architecture reflects the grandeur of its past.  For lovers of ancient history, the rich collection of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale and the ruins at the Parco Archeologico recount the peak of urbanization and subsequent decline The archaeological park’s well-preserved hemicycle theater and temple of Artemis are worth the visit but the most exciting archaeological site in Metaponto with 15 of the original 32 Doric columns still standing evidence of the Greek settlement of Heraclea (and pre-existing Siris) can be found in the town’s Museo Archeologico Nazionale della SIritide di Policoro Behind the museum is the Parco Archeologico Siris Heraclea where you can see foundations of the city’s ancient buildings The summer high-season draws crowds to the long stretches of wide golden beach and clear shallow waters of the Lido di Metaponto Notable structures along the southbound coast include the historic Lido delle Sirene which has probably been in business since Pythagoras’ time and the beautiful dunes and wetlands of the Riserva Forestale Naturale which encompasses the mouth of the river Bradano the Metaponto Beach Festival is a three-day celebration of independent music in the subsoil attains extraordinary levels of expression. Tour the main wine production center in Rionero, perhaps complemented with pastries or chocolates from Pasticceria Libutti or visit the 15th century cellars dug out of the tuff rock that create a striking urban landscape below Barile Those in search of the secrets of the Aglianico can taste the king of wines at some of the  Vulture’s most important wineries include Le Cantine del Notaio, famed for its 17th-century caves, and the historic Paternoster Barile’s underground cellars serve as the venue for the dizzying event dedicated to wine look for the traveling Aglianica Wine Festival which takes place in different towns in the Vulture Detour: In Venosa, explore Abbazia della Santissima Trinità an extraordinary thousand year-old abbey and important sacred site with the exhilarating Incompiuta ruins.  Best for admiring medieval architecture  It has everything to captivate at first sight a castle and bell tower projecting a sense of majesty wrought iron balconies full of flowers and noble palaces.  and the cathedral are the town’s main attractions The monumental bulwark of the castello with its eight towers and brick bridge make it easy to imagine the grandeur of its golden age helmets and the usual repertoire of pottery the museum’s highlight is the Sarcofago di Rapolla with their coffered ceilings and golden stucco the baroque Palazzo del Vescovado recalls eras of sumptuous pomp with its long and harmonious facade grand staircase and stupendous Italian garden dotted with marble busts.  Planning tip: La Villa di Melfi restaurant is a great place to sample local seasonal ingredients like the delicious marroncino del Vulture (a chestnut known as the Varola) collected in the hillside woods around Melfi and used in cakes Once a village with more than two thousand inhabitants, in 1963, Craco became a ghost town Tragedy struck when the village was reduced to ruins by a series of landslides and the lives of hundreds of people were uprooted Craco continued to stand above the surrounding landscape as a warning and as an emblem of a region whose authentic charm lies in its mix of beauty and desolation.  guided tours lead visitors into the abandoned village the houses look like they were lived in until yesterday and you half expect to see a farmer heading out the door on his way to the fields once you reach what remains of the main square you climb several stairways up to the crumbling Chiesa di San Nicola and its majolica bell tower You’ll see stone decorations and damaged wooden panels and the faded frescoes of ancient noble palaces.  check out the multimedia installation at the MEC (Emotional Museum of Craco) in the Convento di San Pietro Basilicata’s Tyrrhenian coast is truly fleeting the endless sequence of views to feast your eyes on the many coves and inlets that capture the very essence of the sea and the harmonious co-existence of idyllic villages and the Apennine’s last slopes encapsulate the beauty of entire continents Although most travelers come to these parts to lie back on the beach Maratea’s amazing landscapes can best be appreciated on foot.  Popular routes to the Redentore include the Monte San Biagio circuit and the Madonna della Pietà trail which winds from Piazza Buraglia to the homonymous church and up the Marinella road to the Grotta delle Meraviglie and Scalinatelle Another route is through the ruins of Maratea Superiore The view over the Gulf of Policastro from here is truly incredible The Via Ferrata del Redentore has attained Olympus-like status among climbing enthusiasts The first section is not particularly challenging which includes two Tibetan-style hanging bridges features some vertical sections on exposed walls along with its stunning views.  a panoramic glass-floored terrace hanging over the sea.  but nowhere has the iconic significance of the region’s badlands While it’s not always easy traveling in this part of the region savor the words of the town’s favorite son as you admire the bizarre slopes dotted with prickly pears the enigmatic shapes of the Rabatana quarter and the interesting religious architecture you can see the vertiginous Fossa del Bersagliere and the landscapes and lifestyles that inspired Carlo Levi painter and writer confined to the village as the result of his political activities to whom the Parco Letterario Carlo Levi is dedicated Detour: For short excursions into the badlands there are two suitably signposted circular trails along the road to Alianello from Località Frattine di Capobianco: the Don Carlo trail (20 minutes) another simple route suitable for those who don’t want to overdo it you’ll find bathing establishments and stalls as well as a few fashionable bars sausages or porchetta seaside at Il Chioschetto di Petty which draws customers from far and wide.  Those who prefer a more natural setting might enjoy a visit to the inland Ionian wetlands of the Riserva Naturale Bosco Pantano di Policoro The Pantano Woods have also been enchanting visitors for centuries with wetland beachside forest sand dunes and a distinctly tropical atmosphere.  the accommodations in Policoro range from rustic to posh One of Basilicata’s top destinations, the increasingly popular Dolomiti Lucane (Lucanian Dolomites) stand in the northwestern part of the Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato e Piccole Dolomiti Lucane where bizarre rock spires soar above rounded peaks The headline attraction is the Angel’s Flight zipline which sends thrill-seekers soaring between the villages of Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano it is sure to get the adrenaline pumping.  For additional thrills you can tackle rock climbing routes of the Via Ferrata Salemm Fans of bouldering will find two areas near the town of Campomaggiore that enthusiasts consider to be among the most spectacular in southern Italy The Ciclovia delle Dolomiti Lucane attracts many bike lovers in summer with a nice 25km (15.5 mile) loop through Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano Planning tip: Marvel at the view from the terrace of one of Basilicata’s best restaurants This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Basilicata guidebook, published in August 2024. You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience photo: Aaron Chamberlain When I asked Singletracks readers whether they preferred baggy or tight shorts for mountain biking It turns out–for most of our readers anyway–that baggy shorts rule the day I wanted to test Funkier’s budget-friendly Policoro baggy mountain bike shorts to see if they meet the needs of the masses Starting at the outside, the Funkier Policoro shorts are constructed from 100% Teslon nylon Funkier says the material is water-resistant yet breathable; I personally found it to run a bit on the hot side better suited for spring and fall riding than for full-on summer days I would rank the Policoro shorts “medium” on the bagginess scale The shorts aren’t so baggy that they’re flapping around on descents or getting in the way of the saddle but they’re also not form fitting or revealing in any way With two zippered hand pockets, plus two cargo pockets (one zippered, the other hooked-and-looped), the Policoro baggy shorts offer plenty of storage mountain bikers generally won’t want to put a lot of gear in the pockets when riding but I have to admit that if I have a pocket available there’s a good chance I’ll fill it with something  Each pocket is large enough to fit a snack The Funkier Policoro shorts offer several waist adjustments to keep them in place The elastic waist band features a button closure with a zipper plus a drawstring inside and belt loops on the outside I don’t know too many people who wear a belt with MTB shorts (it would surely interfere with a hydration pack belt) but the option is there which more expensive baggy shorts often include but I found it tended to stretch during particularly hot there’s a chamois sewn into a lightweight liner that’s included with the Policoro shorts and it’s honestly not as breathable as others I’ve tested The chamois itself is constructed using thick foam it feels fairly bulky before it’s been worn in The cuffs at the bottom of the liner feature a grippy band which does a great job preventing the liner from riding up while riding the bike Funkier has added an incredible number of features to these shorts which is especially surprising given the budget-friendly price tag The company’s logo on the front and back is reflective as are the leg cuffs which can be turned inside out during night rides for added visibility one area where the company clearly skimped is the selection of zippers; both the pocket and upper zippers are under-sized and offer a lot of zipping resistance In terms of sizing, I found the Policoro shorts to run a bit small. I ended up testing size large shorts, which the Funkier sizing chart says is a 32-inch waist The XL shorts (34-inches) probably would have been better for me Fortunately the company offers these shorts in sizes up to 3XL though that still corresponds to just a 38-inch waist the Funkier Policoro baggy shorts represent an excellent value for mountain bikers looking for a pair of purpose-built shorts for biking While Funkier checks nearly all the feature boxes with these shorts don’t expect them to offer quite the same level of quality as shorts selling for $100+ USD Thanks to Funkier for providing the Policoro shorts for review Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week Craco in the Basilicata region of southern Italy Comprising two provinces, Potenza and Matera, the Basilicata region stretches between Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south. Though it’s an often missed region of Southern Italy and pulsing piazzas will win you over in no time the region is just as much for thrill seekers and food lovers as it is for history buffs and beachgoers Here’s our roundup of the top things to do You can’t say you’ve experienced Matera unless you get lost at least once in the stairways and labyrinthine alleyways of the Sassi Via Fiorentini and Via Buozzi are the main routes through the Sasso Barisano (the more central of the two Sassi districts) and the Sasso Caveoso.  Walk up them and after a few steps you’ll reach the Piano (the upper part of the city) which is crossed by Via Ridola and Via del Corso Walk down them and you’ll reach Via Madonna della Virtù which runs along the canyon of the Gravina the rocky spur on which the Cathedral stands and which separates the two small valleys of the Sassi districts to which it’s joined by Piazza San Francesco Maratea’s main draw is its spectacular rocky coastline and azure sea waters – hence most travelers come here for the beach life is a delightful little town with a maze of cobbled streets noble palaces with portals adorned with stone or tuff rock coats of arms and small squares ringed by cafes and stores.   The heart of town is the stretch between Piazza Vitolo with its modern bronze statue of a mermaid The enormous white concrete and marble statue of Christ completed in 1965 by the Florentine sculptor Bruno Innocenti stirs emotions as the undisputed symbol of Maratea standing at a height of 22m (72ft) and with an arm span of 19m (62ft).  a zip line between Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano two beautiful villages set against a natural backdrop of rocky spires is now considered an essential stop on any tour of the region join other thrill-seekers who sign up for this electrifying experience which involves soaring through the air suspended from a steel cable at a speed of 120km/h (75mph) surrounded by the amazing mountain scenery in the heart of the Lucanian Dolomites.  Detour: For additional thrills you can climb the Via Ferrata Salemm cross a scenic Nepalese-style hanging bridge or scale the steep steps of the ancient gradinata normanna to the ruins of Castello di Castelmezzano for spectacular views.  From village festivals and religious celebrations to rituals rooted in prehistory and Carnival festivities with masks derived from ancient times you’ll inevitably be swept up in the festive atmosphere across the region which in Basilicata is celebrated with fried sweets like honey crustole Villages throughout the region celebrate arboreal rites the most famous of which is held in Accettura propitiatory rites center on the “wedding” of a tree trunk to the top of a separate tree Matera boasts a full year’s worth of fascinating events But for popular participation none can top the July 2 festival of the Madonna (Festa della Madonna della Bruna) – after the procession the float carrying the statue of the Virgin Mary is quite literally torn to pieces Craco had more than two thousand inhabitants tragedy struck and the village was reduced to ruins by a series of landslides but has risen again as an emblem of a region whose authentic charm lies in its mix of beauty and desolation.  Whether you drive in from the east or west get your camera ready well before you reach the village – Craco is one of the region’s most scenic villages the faded frescoes of ancient noble palaces check out the multimedia installation at the MEC Planning tip: The only way to see the village up close safely is on a guided tour led by the municipal organization where you are required to wear protective helmets.  With evidence of its Greek heritage in the town’s museums and the names of its waterfront streets both for history lovers and fans of beach life When the sun scorches and the surf beckons there’s nothing better than a nice day at the beach there are bathing establishments and stalls in high season (and even a few fashionable bars) along the white-sand beaches.  For those seeking a more rustic experience the Pantano Woods enchant visitors with wetland beachside forest sand dunes (the monk seal has been spotted here) and a distinctly tropical atmosphere with a backdrop of the Ionian Sea.  Detour: On your way to the beaches of the Ionian coast a complex of six ancient Roman stone baths filled with transparent water refreshing bubbles and enduring legend.  The best place to imagine Venusia’s ancient splendor is at the Parco Archeologico The park’s route takes in the domus; a baths complex complete with a frigidarium; a residential complex and an ancient 5th to 6th century basilica.  Next to the archaeological park is perhaps Basilicata’s most important sacred site, the extraordinary thousand year-old abbey Abbazia della Santissima Trinità glorious visions of grandeur and dramatic periods of decline Admire the different architectural styles as they come together in surprising harmony along with the Incompiuta the unfinished vision of 12th-century Benedictines built with material from the Roman ruins.  Planning tip: Your ticket to the Parco Archeologico also covers the Incompiuta.  The Vulture is a land deeply rooted in wine and while its landscapes don’t display the elegiac beauty of the Langhe or Val d’Orcia and its vines are interspersed with other crops a tour in search of the secrets of the Aglianico can compare with any you might undertake in those more celebrated areas.  Le Cantine del Notaio owes its fame to the 17th-century caves where crosses carved into the rock watch over the aging of the wine Pater Noster cleverly combines antiquity and tradition with its amazing flagship wine Look for the traveling Aglianica Wine Festival that takes place in autumn in different towns across the Vulture Detour: Relax in the spa-like thermal waters of Rapolla then enjoy local food and wine at Parco Urbano delle Cantine The remarkable archaeological sites of Metaponto bear witness to the opulence that trade brought the colony where Pythagoras lived for 15 years and where he’s said to have hidden a mysterious treasure The rich collection at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale includes artifacts belonging to the indigenous peoples before the arrival of the Greeks and pieces produced by the colonizers.  Parco Archeologico, the archaeological area of ancient Metapontum, depicts the scale of urbanization reached by the colony in the 6th century BCE. The best-preserved structure is the hemicycle theater and the most photographed is the temple to Artemis. Lastly, perhaps the most exciting archaeological site in the whole of Basilicata is the Tavole Palatine This important find from the Magna Graecia period was built in the 6th century BCE in honor of the goddess Hera and nearly half of its 32 Doric columns still stand.  In a region where mountains, wilderness and unspoiled natural scenery are the norm, the vast Parco Nazionale del Pollino (Pollino National Park) encompasses lush forests high-altitude grasslands and windswept karst plateaus It is not only Italy’s largest national park but also one of the most varied in terms of landscape.  Pollino is like a huge natural amusement park but the main attraction is undoubtedly its dense network of trails for all seasons aqua trekking and river tubing are also popular activities within the park.  Planning tip: The park authority is based in Rotonda with the easiest access coming from this direction.  culinary richness comes from the people who passed through: the Swabians The rich soil and Mediterranean sun are a recipe for abundance there are a few regional specialties you should definitely look for while visiting Basilicata.  When it comes to food and wine, the Val d’Agri is one of Basilicata’s prime areas known for its culinary icon, Senise’s crusco pepper, used in various dishes. In Matera, seek out pane at a local bakery like Il Forno nei Sassi crunchy allure lies in the ancient variety of durum wheat semolina flour while others insist it’s the quality of the water.  Basilicata is also a paradise for cheese lovers offering delights like canestrato di Moliterno (a sheep and goat's milk cheese aged in traditional fondaci or warehouses) and you'll have plenty of delicious options to try especially during the Sagra della Pasta a Mano festival held every August which celebrates the art of hand-made pasta.  Planning tip: Food festivals in Basilicata are mainly held in summer and during the Christmas and Easter holidays Pope Francis noted that evangelization "also takes place through care for people who are working," and that recovery from the pandemic crisis requires courage to "dream together" as the young people and adults promoting the Italian Church's “Progetto Policoro” have been doing for 25 years The Pope met with the one hundred young people and 20 adult leaders of the project promoted by the Italian Bishops' Conference encouraging them to be "signs of hope" in new and creative ways The Pope offered four suggestions: animate He was addressing young people representing more than 400 companies that initially started in the south and later spread throughout Italy thanks to support received for the project with the goal of helping people get back on their feet to support others "in life Pope Francis gave his address after the presentation of a project by two young spokespersons whom he thanked for their gift of a papier-mâché statue made by a cooperative in Matera of persons with disabilities He explained that to animate is "to give a soul to the economy." As young people in the "Economy of Francis" initiative are doing the Pope said "social problems can be addressed with community networks" Pope Francis told his audience that they are "animators of communities," and communities "must be animated from within with dedication: to be builders of relationships weavers of a humanity in solidarity."  Recalling his encyclical Fratelli tutti he said it is important to help parishes and dioceses to undertake and plan on the "biggest issue (which) is work” so that "the seeds that God has placed in each person - abilities Pope Francis underscored that "to be concerned with work is to promote the dignity of the person" since work comes from our " ingenuity and creativity." He told his young audience that they "are not people who limit yourselves to complaining about the lack of employment encouraging the growth of entrepreneurial persons at the service of the common good" as Pope Benedict noted in his encyclical Caritas in Veritate to "prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone" Pope Francis encouraged the young people to draw from their creativity to develop a new type of economy as alternative to the consumer one gratuitousness and sustainability are the pillars on which to base a different economy” because it is the bold who change the world and make it better.” He also said it is a matter of faith since “true novelty always comes from the hands of God” Inhabit was the second verb the Pope highlighted since young people can show everyone "that it is possible to inhabit the world without trampling on it," because inhabiting the earth does not mean "possessing it but knowing how to live relationships in their fullness: with God He offered words of encouragement to young people involved in new projects the Puglia "to love the territories in which God has placed you avoiding the temptation to flee elsewhere" since it is precisely the peripheries "that can become laboratories of fraternity....from the peripheries often come experiments in inclusion." The third verb Pope Francis used is to be passionate about their outreach noting that what makes the difference is "the passion for Jesus Christ and for His Gospel," which can be seen in the the extra effort "you put into accompanying other young people to take their lives into their own hands to develop useful skills for work." He expressed his hope that the “Progetto Policoro” will always be at the service of "the lives of people especially the poor and the least of our society." He encouraged them to reach out and help lift up those who are on the margins of society to not be afraid to seek solutions to problems “by putting ourselves on the line.” The final verb – accompany – concluded the Pope’s talk when he recalled that "your dioceses look to you with hope and each of you is capable of becoming a companion on the road to all the young people you meet on your path." Helping young people get back on track after these especially difficult times "becomes the sign of a Church that knows how to take people by the hand," as Christ did with the disciples of Emmaus who were "resigned and disheartened by what had happened in Jerusalem." He noted “Faith tells us that the crisis can be a passage to growth: the Spirit of the Risen Christ animates hope which becomes a help to people so that they can get back on their feet…return to dreaming and engage in life The Pope concluded by emphasizing that the young people of “Progetto Policoro” are already "signs of hope” and may their presence in the dioceses help everyone to understand that evangelization also passes through outreach in the world of work encouraging them to "dream together" for the good of the Church in Italy Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here The National Archaeological Museum of the Siritide in Policoro(Matera) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding with an exceptional loan: the Herakleia Tablets found in 1732 near the Cavone River and preserved at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples(MANN) considered among the most important epigraphic documents of Magna Graecia.These plates are two bronze slabs bearing engravings on both sides that allow us to reconstruct the transformations of the city of Herakleia from its foundation by Tarentum at the end of the fifth century B.C to its acquisition of the status of a Roman municipium in the first half of the first century B.C The Greek inscription is a regulation for the management of land dedicated to Dionysus and Athena and its redistribution for productive purposes; the Latin one is a compendium of municipal laws of the late republican age The Tablets are a fundamental document for understanding the social political and economic history of the Siritide territory constitute the most important inscribed document of Magna Graecia aims to interweave the long classical tradition of exegesis of the Tablets with the results of archaeological investigations from the discovery of the famous Tomb of the Painter of Polychorus in 1963 to the excavations and reconnaissance still underway in the city and the territory the exhibition provides a cue to evoke the more recent phenomenon of the Land Reform of the 1950s - in several respects close to the dynamics that transpire from the Tables - by placing it in parallel with the concomitant start of archaeological explorations in the area thanks to the farsighted action of Dinu Adamesteanu the first archaeological superintendent of Basilicata and founder of the Museum important and significant artifacts from the chora the city of Herakleia and other Magna-Greek centers are displayed in order to reconstruct the city’s history both in its relations with the motherland Taranto and in its articulation with the agricultural territory The exhibition is organized by the Polo Museale della Basilicata in collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto and the Soprintendenza Archeologia Promoted together with the Municipality of Policoro For all information you can visit the official website of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Basilicata Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks The IV Open Day at the research and experimentation center of the breeding company Nova Siri Genetics (NSG) in Policoro (Matera) was held yesterday morning which allows strawberry chain operators to visit the company's premises and get a closer look at the daily activities carried out and the multiplication of new strawberry and small fruit varieties Click here to browse the photo album! Audience at the workshop The doors of the research centre thus opened to host many experienced operators who came to the centre not only from different Italian areas "We have been sharing our project with many players in the supply chain for two decades as we know that research must accompany the supply chain and receive from it the stimuli to improve," explained Carmela Suriano we have built up solid relationships on both a national and international level are present not only in Europe but also in South Africa This result has been achieved thanks to the commitment and constant work of the entire NSG team with the focus on a breeding programme that has been able to respond to the new demands of the strawberry and small fruit sector our programme has been able to offer important varieties from an agronomic point of view as well as in terms of fruit characteristics We need to continue to innovate and give strawberry growers new solutions." Click here to browse the photo album! Left to right: Nicola Tufaro (NSG breeder) Annamaria Recchia (Phd senior consumer and Senior Adacta International) Bruno Merzetti (lecturer at the University of Marche) and Salvo Garipoli (SGMarketing director) The NSG staff took guests on a guided tour of the fields laboratories and the greenhouse for growing and preserving plant material developed by the company enabling everyone to enjoy an experience that included the tasting of new advanced selections of berries and strawberries and C for now) planted in the experimental fields were presented to guests for tasting These are cultivars resistant to climate change and major plant diseases and also boast interesting characteristics on the sensory front Phd senior consumer and Senior Scientist at Adacta International in her final speech at the workshop Click here to browse the photo album! Italian visitors in the experimental fields Professor Bruno Mezzetti of the Marche Polytechnic University explained how change is not only climate-related and illustrated the existing competition in the world of production genetic improvement and the release of new varieties Click here to browse the photo album! Prof The professor then showed the audience the activities part of a European project "Genetic diversity is the first element to take into consideration in our line of work Genetic improvement has helped reduce genetic variability as we have focused on varietal production programmes with specific characteristics while losing sight of other important characteristics Forty-four new strawberry varieties were registered in Europe in 2019 One may wonder how many of these are currently and actually on the market the average was 30 varieties registered per year This demonstrates the strong competition in commercial dissemination and Europe's role in breeding although several cultivars arrive from other continents Europe has a big impact in blueberry cultivation but no cultivars that have been bred on the old continent." outlined the company's scientific approach to breeding focusing on the concrete needs of nurseries and growers we are facing considerable challenges such as climate change the continuous reduction of plant care products the demand for more sustainability from growers the strong seasonal adjustment of strawberry demand and a necessary improvement of fruit quality and a balance between sugars and acidity." Nova Siri Genetics confirms that the fifth Open Day will take place in April 2026 Click here to browse the photo album! For more information:Nova Siri Genetics SrlVia San Maurizio, 4675025 Policoro (MT)[email protected]www.novasirigenetics.com FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world Matteo Salvini is surrounded by supporters in Policoro Photographer: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images 2019 at 12:00 AM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.Matteo Salvini was at the apex of his political dominance less than a month ago as go-go dancers gyrated to the national anthem while he improvised as a DJ at a beach bar Italy’s deputy prime minister and ringleader of Europe’s anti-immigration forces was back in a suit and tie in the splendor of the presidential palace in Rome this week he was blaming an international conspiracy for booting him out of office His attempt to grab power by forcing early elections had backfired Receive our weekly Newsletterand set tailored daily news alerts A new goal in Eurojersey’s sustainable enterprise project supporting the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in the WWF Oasis of Policoro Knitted Outerwear Arc flash clothing specialist launches new socks range The table top strawberry plants designed and manufactured by Combimetal Carrera are under the spotlight and specializes in the manufacturing of greenhouse structures the production manager of the Nicofruit Group (pictured below) has provided his experience with the double-row systems was one of the first customers to invest in these innovative strawberry production systems a few years ago "A total of three hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of strawberries on table top with a total of more than 400,000 plants planted for a total of one million seedlings planted Our mission is to achieve further growth and to keep investing in order to offer a more sustainable product to our customers while at the same time allowing our employees to work in a less tiring way and with a healthier approach "We are achieving outstanding results in volume and quality with the table top system even though we are still in the early stages of the harvest The seedlings were planted two months later than those traditionally planted and have a uniform pigmentation a sugar content between 10 and 12 Brix and a weight of more than 40 grams." Following an initial consultative approach designs and installs the gutters in a way that prevents them from shading the plants thus guaranteeing homogeneous yields on each level The client company can decide the rows of gutters (from 1 to 3) sales manager of the company Combimetal Carrera explains: "Now is the best time to talk about our strawberry growers and show the results at a time when the weather seems to be destabilizing the supply schedule which will be implemented starting in the summer of 2025 Those interested in visiting the table top cultivations currently in production to assess crop health and observe their development in relation to soil and climate conditions should contact us Appointments are also available at the newly installed locations." For more information:Combimetal Carrera SrlVia Lido, 375025 Policoro (MT) - Italy+39 0835 973481[email protected]combimetalcarrera.it FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 HortiDaily.com The renovated stores offer fresh products such as fruit and vegetables DESPAR Italia consortium members Nord Ovest and Centro Sud have reopened SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets following major renovations DESPAR Nord Ovest re-opened the DESPAR Supermarket in Piazza De Amicis showcasing their dedication to improving the retail network and catering to local customer needs The store now features a refreshed design and an improved shopping journey Shoppers can also find a selection of local products and DESPAR Italia’s own brand goods the company implements eco-friendly solutions such as the latest generation of closed refrigerated counters and energy-saving LED lighting The store is also participating in the Too Good To Go initiative which aims to reduce food waste by saving unsold food items.  Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis The INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Policoro has also reopened with a modernised appearance and sustainable innovations The renovation is part of the Format 35 store design concept a collaborative effort between DESPAR Centro Sud the University of Parma and SPAR International The hypermarket now offers modernised departments and a comprehensive grocery assortment for a convenient one-stop shopping experience The hypermarket’s upgrade also includes the installation of LED lighting systems and CO₂ refrigeration systems with the latest refrigeration technology ensuring energy efficiency and high safety and reliability standards DESPAR Italia expanded its network with the opening of eight new stores in the Central South region including seven DESPAR supermarkets and one EUROSPAR supermarket Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network an Italian company operating in the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables officially inaugurated the opening of its wholesale fruit and vegetable warehouse on 6 April 2022 Basilicata region) and it has a total surface of more than 700 sqm 2 cold rooms and 1.500 sqm square for the loading and unloading of products "In such a difficult period as the current one price increases and conflicts seem to be the most discussed topics we have decided to finalize our business project by opening a fruit and vegetable wholesale where we can offer an assortment of fresh and carefully selected items In an uncertain context such as the current one it is necessary to give strong signals to the whole sector by trying to be far-sighted and showing a great desire to start again" "We can be satisfied with the first day of opening After several celebrations and the visits of many friends and visitors but as of today we already have about 40 items available including vegetables The wholesale company Natar Group is already well-known in the general markets " We have been supplying the largest markets in northern Italy with our products for years for which we allocate around 9 hectares every year 90% of which are grown in Sabrosa-Candonga." the list of items in the warehouse will tend to become richer thanks to the processing lines that will mainly involve stone fruits We have already started the transplanting in open field of some crops We don't want to be mere resellers of fruit and vegetables production and marketing of seasonal references."  The opening hours of the fruit and vegetable wholesale Natar Group are 05.30/13 and 15/18 from Monday to Friday Saturday and Sunday open only in the morning For more information: NATAR GroupViale Matera, 75025 Policoro (Matera)(+39) 342 8215704 - 335 5874327[email protected]natargroup.com There is renewed interest in the above-ground strawberry production systems designed and built by Combimetal Carrera a company based in Policoro (Italy) that specializes in the construction of greenhouse structures Gabriele Nicodemo of the Nicofruit Group (pictured below) one of the Italian companies that have decided to invest in these innovative systems for strawberry production "We have not yet entered the peak season of the strawberry campaign but this year we can count on a larger area compared to about 650 g usually obtained with traditional methods Some of the undoubted advantages of the soilless system are the greater number of plants that can be planted and the higher yields per harvest We have placed 35 percent more plants above the soil a total of 115,000 plants versus about 75,000 plants grown with the traditional method Timing becomes an important factor in strawberry harvesting as above-soil harvesting is faster than in-ground harvesting our employees tend to prefer these plants to the traditional ones The gutters were designed and installed by the contractor Combimetal Carrera in such a way that they do not overshadow the plants thus ensuring uniform yields on the different floors "A cleaner and tidier production area and the uniformity of the fruit are additional benefits that we have seen so far," adds the young farmer "The greenhouses housing our above-ground strawberries are 3.50m from the ridge allowing better ventilation and temperature control These plants are managed by a fertigator that monitors the PH and conductivity of the soil A series of technology-based daily measurements to which are added manual inspections carried out with probes The first images of Candonga strawberries of the Sabrosa cultivar are now available these strawberries have managed to stand out due to their excellent flavor "The harvesting and commercialization of Candonga Top Quality started today The mild weather favored the production cycle Markets are already rather interested especially in northern Italy thanks also to the marketing strategies devised by the consortium (Club Candonga)," explains Cosimo Padula one of the managers of the family business located in Policoro we planted around 9 hectares of strawberries 8 of which are destined to the Sabrosa variety while the rest is for the Melissa variety We are expecting the campaign to be long and thrilling and we are hoping for the weather to be merciful and for the markets not to buy foreign produce Despite the problems during transplants and the extreme weather events that damaged various hectares last November we are positive and ready to face a new year."  "The first strawberries were sent to the general markets in Bergamo and Bologna at a price of €8-9/kg but they will increase already starting next week Fruits are looking good with an excellent color Interest towards fresh produce for people with food intolerances or allergies is increasing considerably so much so that an Italian company specializing in the production of produce free from nickel histamine and other heavy metals is opening a new sorting facility in Germany Ivan Santarcangelo is the production manager at FruitHydroSinni (Policoro) which specializes in the production and commercialization of produce grown in hydroponic and aeroponic crops "Because of the increasing orders from Germany and the heavier transport costs we have decided to set up a new platform to ship our products to foreign clients so we can deliver the goods within 24 hours from receiving the order." (In the photo above: Ivan Santarcangelo and Anna Cirigliano) "Our catalog is available on the new website (fruithydrosinni.de) dedicated to the German market we will only be managing processed products such as tomato sauces (yellow then we will start with the fresh produce as of next fall."  The idea is to open small centers in France working with external companies that will be in charge of packaging and shipping to guarantee the quality of our products until they reach their destination."  we have just started planting fall-winter products such as broccoli green beans and beans grown using NFT hydroponic and aeroponic techniques." Contacts:FruitHydroSinniVia Zara, 175025 Policoro (Mt)Tel.: (+39) 351 8403546Email: [email protected]Website: fruithydrosinni.it the cooperative located in Policoro (Matera) and specializing in the cultivation of strawberries and soft fruit now has Baby Plums® available in different colors Founder member and president Loris Gentile explained that "they are smaller than cherries but feedback has been great when it comes to both their appearance and sweetness The refractometric index is in fact very high with values varying between 16 and 20 degrees Brix the organoleptic qualities of the fruits are close to those of exotic tropical fruit while others are more similar to traditional plums."   yet another investment on what was lacking and on what consumers are looking for to satisfy their palates although we are a few weeks away from the first crates becoming available on the market we are already receiving positive feedback they are similar to those of raspberries and blackberries and "These fruits are rather perfect - plums have a round shape and different colors (pink They are commercialized both in Italy and abroad in 100 125 and 250 g trays and in mixes together with raspberries For Germany there is also a 500 g pot with a mix of different-colored fruits "We have selected 4 cultivars of the 12 tested which even exceeds 30 days for some varieties We are currently planning the next campaign and we will plant more orchards at our partners' facilities in southern Italy."  added that "the frenetic pace of our everyday life and the ongoing research on what is "good&fast" stimulated the launch of new ready-to-eat small fruits so as to increase what is available on the Italian market."  "Consumers are looking for fruit that is easy to eat without getting dirty and that can take up as little space as possible in addition to providing the right dose of mineral salts such as potassium (necessary especially in the warmer season) they are an excellent liver decongestant and stimulate the nervous system." "But there is more in store for summer 2021 Our mission is to strengthen the ever-evolving berry sector as much as possible with our fully-Italian products." For further information:Gentile GroupVia S. Valicenti, 6 75025 - Policoro (Mt)(+39) 379 2280437 [email protected]gentilegroupitalia.it In a region with a strong agricultural tradition like Basilicata nickel and histamine-free strawberries and tomatoes are cultivated with an innovative hydroponic system a company based in Policoro (Matera) that sells fruit and vegetables produced using both NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and the aeroponic technique "We are a new and innovative company who have responded to a growing need to evolve a solution for all those consumers who are diagnosed with severe food allergies or intolerances which are unfortunately becoming increasingly common in Italy we are able to produce fruit and vegetables not only nickel and histamine-free We do not want to compete with other international companies our only goal is to market fresh and healthy food of the highest quality produced with methods that allow us to reduce the environmental impact," says Anna Cirigliano "Our flagship products include strawberries and tomatoes that are nickel and histamine-free each produced both in NFT and vertical aeroponics and without the use of nutrients or external active ingredients we grow Sabrosa and Melissa from January to the end of June In addition to a Brix higher than 12 degrees these fruits also boast an extraordinary shelf-life strawberries grown with the hydroponic technique will neither tend to soften nor lose their classic conical shape but will start to dry out after seven days." Cherry tomatoes are available 12 months a year with a shelf-life of up to 25 days and a Brix grade that reaches 14 degrees The floating system technology allows us to also produce onions making the FruitHydroSinni portfolio rich and diversified all of which are obviously free of heavy metals we noticed that these products seemed to be particularly preferred in the Centre-North and the Islands especially because we provide solutions to intolerant or allergic people who are sometimes forced to deprive themselves of Made in Italy agricultural products FruitHydroSinni takes care of this specific market segment." Contact:FruitHydroSinniVia Zara, 1 75025 Policoro (Mt)Tel.: (+39) 351 8403546Email: [email protected]Website: fruithydrosinni.it High productivity and homogeneous fruits with high Brix grades and Marisol strawberry growers are satisfied with both the variety and the market trend over the past week Pino Montano grows 100 thousand Marisol plants in Policoro (Matera) "My experience is very positive - said the farmer - and it has become well established over the years I have been cultivating Marisol for four years At the end of March the production yield was already 400 grams per plant Despite the early start of the 2020 campaign Montano has not encountered any production scalability "Regularity is one of Marisol's distinctive traits A plus is that the wholesalers and the large-scale retail trade are acknowledging it and demanding it In the last ten days or so prices have risen and are now beyond expectations The strawberries produced by Montano are distributed in all general markets in the Italian large-scale retail trade and also abroad through the privileged channels of Il Frutteto Another producer is Pasquale Lobreglio di Rotondella (Matera) because we are able to obtain an excellent yield combined with high organoleptic characteristics Supermarkets and wholesale markets are increasingly asking for a product with a balance between acids and sugars but which is also good in appearance and with consistent pulp which keeps well in packaging without losing its turgor "Marisol can meet this demand - added Lobreglio - which many of us producers also want in a variety that are easy to harvest and easy to process." "It is a product that stands out - concluded the producer - and that satisfies the entire supply chain Prices are now clearly rising and this allows us to look to the future with a little more optimism." Contact:Marco MagnaniTel.: +39 335 8250118Mario MagnaniPhone.: +39 335 5614410Email: [email protected]Website: www.viveroscalifornia.com Nova Siri Genetics - a research and experimentation company for new strawberry cultivars - contributes to the planning of productions between the winter months and well into summer The subjects part of the Network use the results from the NSG research and experiment with the new varieties in close connection with their markets of reference research supports the production world by offering innovative varieties when it comes to both the production period and organoleptic qualities in line with market needs.  Early varieties from NSG enable producers to deseasonalize supplies and meet a demand that is also growing during the colder months of the year The nurseries authorized by NSG distributed around 65 million strawberry plants in Italy 60% of which of the NSG 203 – Marimbella® and Melissa varieties and the remaining part of medium-late varieties such as Rossetta® and NSG 207 – Gioelita® and Sicily initiated productions already in December with Marimbella plugs followed by Marimbella and Melissa fresh plants expressed his satisfaction with the introduction of an NSG variety into his catalog "We have been growing organic Melissa for around five years and now have 25 hectares dedicated to it in addition to the land designated to traditional crops (100 hectares of Melissa alone) and we export it to 5 big retail chains abroad (Germany and Denmark) and distribute it to as many Italian chains as possible between January and early June so much so that it performs even better in organic crops than in traditional ones."  Marimbella soilless crop in the Lamezia plain The feedback is positive for Marimbella as well Apofruit director Ernesto Fornari reports that "we planted 650 thousand Marimbella plugs (around 10 hectares) in Metaponto for the 2022/23 strawberry campaign and we have planned on 1.2 million for the next season It is an ambitious project that stems from the price hikes of the past year and from the ensuing choice of some of our associates (around 30%) to employ the continuous cropping technique The variety meets the needs of both the production and distribution parts."  "We chose Marimbella because it is a variety that adapts well to continuous cropping without needing to push crops too much which means we can deseasonalize and harvest the first fruits already in late November so we can count on good quantities already during the first part of the season Marimbella reaches its maximum weight harvested per plant precisely when labor is lacking Associates can therefore free up operators and use them for other activities." For more information:Nova Siri Genetics SrlVia San Maurizio, 4675025 Policoro (MT)[email protected]www.novasirigenetics.com Greg Lea on the Italy international making waves in Serie A.. Simone Zaza won his first Italy cap back in September but it has been anything but an easy rise to the top for the Sassuolo striker developing his game in the lower leagues rather than the more cossetted environment of an academy or reserve team Battling for points in real-life situations while pitting his wits against grizzled no-nonsense defenders has been character-defining and Zaza already has a wealth of experience under his belt Born in Policoro in the Marche region of central Italy Zaza’s fledgling career began with local outfits Stella Azzurra and Valdera It was when playing for the latter aged 15 that he was spotted by professional scouts from Atalanta Having successfully negotiated the youth ranks at the Bergamo-based club where he made just three appearances before being moved on to Sampdoria after a protracted contract dispute he was loaned out to a host of lower division sides with mixed success His time in Serie B with Juve Stabia in 2011 was disappointing and Samp cut short the season-long loan in January with the then 20-year-old having played on only four occasions A sixth-month spell with Viareggio in the third tier was slightly more promising Zaza scoring 11 times in 18 games and rebuilding the confidence that had taken a knock after a series of setbacks 2012/13 was Zaza’s breakthrough year making him the division’s sixth-highest scorer In a transfer that could only ever take place in Italy Sampdoria concurrently sold half of Zaza’s rights to Juventus for €1 million and the other 50 percent to Sassuolo for €2.5m in the summer of 2013 It was agreed that Zaza would spend the season with the latter a sensible decision that has played a significant part in the player’s progression: rather than sitting on the bench in Turin for a year scoring nine goals and creating numerous more opportunities for his team-mates as Sassuolo survived relegation against the odds Zaza has made a promising start to the current campaign he is profiting from the off-field stability that comes with playing for the same team in consecutive years If Sassuolo are to retain their top-flight status once more Zaza is considered one of the hottest properties in Serie A his performances as one-third of Sassuolo’s all-Italian attacking trident (which also includes Domenico Berardi and Antonio Floro Flores) thrilling coaches Sassuolo are one of the easiest teams on the eye on the peninsula with coach Eusebio Di Francesco committed to a proactive and his superb domestic showings have led to him becoming the symbol of Antonio Conte’s fresh The recent preference for the dynamic Zaza over the more static Mario Balotelli is perfectly representative of the vibrant feel to the national setup at present Many were surprised when Juventus sold their stake in Zaza to the Neroverdi in pre-season and signed the more-expensive Alvaro Morata instead Arsenal and PSG as well as the Old Lady in recent months and it will surely not be long until he is testing himself at the highest level There are many adjectives associated with the left foot in football – cultured wand-like – and Zaza’s is worthy of them all Capable of subtle finishes (witness the superb cushioned volley against Cagliari in August) and powerful strikes (such as last term’s close range-thunderbolt against Napoli) the 23-year-old’s left peg is an undoubted strong point His vigour and work ethic also set him apart Zaza’s hard-running is not just a crowd-pleasing either: he has the tactical understanding as well as the physical capacity to press intelligently and at the right moments Together with his appreciation of space and clever movement Zaza has all the off-the-ball qualities expected of a modern-day forward it is his willingness to defend from the front that has most endeared him to Conte rather than any of his numerous technical attributes The former Juventus manager’s high-tempo relentlessly intense style of play relies upon constant interchange and closing down up top Zaza’s prowess in the air is something that could be improved upon His leap is decent enough and he is often able to rise above defenders but Zaza will be disappointed with some of the headed chances he has squandered already this campaign it is the accuracy of the connection rather than the ability to win the aerial dual that Zaza should focus on Zaza’s right side is also a weak point The deadliest of frontmen are excellent one-touch finishers and Zaza has occasionally failed to capitalise on opportunities by trying to transfer the ball onto his left rather than taking the shot on first time Zaza has scored just one header in Serie A and no goals with his right foot the youngster’s already-respectable strike-rate will only get better Gigi Delneri may not have given Zaza much of a chance in the first team during his time as Atalanta manager between 2007 and 2009 but he was always aware of the forward’s talents Delneri told Corriere dello Sport in September “He makes the same movements and is left-footed but Simone is better technically than Vieri.” It is fair to say that Azzurri colleague and Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci has also been impressed: “He may be young He has excellent technique as well as being physically strong He has everything to become a great striker.” The Korean martial art was the first sport he took up as a child attending classes between the ages of eight and 11 Sassuolo have former Milan striker Marco van Basten to thank for his conversion to football “Every morning [was] the same story,” Zaza’s mother recounted in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport “Simone in front of the TV watching the goals of Van Basten on video” football was the only pastime that commanded the youngster’s attention Ibrahimovic has always maintained that his Taekwondo expertise benefited his football – and a look at some of the goals the Swede has scored throughout his career certainly support that conviction – but Zaza is unconvinced: “I don’t know if it’s been any use to me in football.. Zaza’s deal with Sassuolo runs until 2019 but Juventus may take advantage of the €15m buy-back clause they insisted on when selling their share in the 23-year-old to Sassuolo last summer Zaza himself has not exactly played down the speculation admitting in October that “if I continue like this Zaza is almost guaranteed regular playing time with the Neroverdi which is vital for a player who still has just one full top-flight season to his name Antonio Conte has clearly taken to the forward’s exhilarating mix of verve and Zaza looks set to become a mainstay in the national setup for years to come Greg LeaSocial Links NavigationGreg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014 He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998 and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat) Arriva anche a Policoro l’atteso ultimo film di Checco Zalone “Sole a Catinelle” In uscita in tutte le sale italiane giovedì 31 ottobre nella stessa giornata arriverà anche al cinema “Hollywood” che annulla la consueta chiusura settimanale e offre una programmazione speciale con ben tre spettacoli in occasione dei giorni festivi avrà sicuramente un grande successo di pubblico “Se sarai promosso con tutti dieci papà ti regala una vacanza da sogno” È questa la promessa che Checco fa al figlio Nicolò venditore di aspirapolvere in piena crisi sia con il fatturato che con la moglie non può permettersi di regalare al figlio nemmeno un giorno al mare E quando Nicolò riceve la pagella perfetta Fortuna che a Checco non manca l’ottimismo; partito con la speranza di vendere qualche aspirapolvere ai suoi parenti in Molise una ricchissima ragazza che ha un figlio proprio dell’età di Nicolò Nasce un’amicizia tra i due bambini e Zoe “adotta” Checco e Nicolò e li fa entrare nel suo mondo: inviti a party esclusivi bagni in piscine fantastiche e ancora yacht E naturalmente Checco travolgerà lo stile compassato e in fondo ipocrita di questo mondo con la sua travolgente simpatia e innocente Giovedì 31 ottobre: ore 19,15 – 21,15 Venerdì 1 novembre: ore 17,15 – 19,15 – 21,15 Sabato 2 novembre: ore 17,15 – 19,15 – 21,15 Domenica 3 novembre: 17,15 – 19,15 – 21,15 Sabato 9 novembre: ore 17,15 – 19,15 – 21,15 Domenica 10 novembre: ore 17,15 – 19,15 – 21,15 A Policoro la presentazione dell’ultimo libro di Raffaele Nigro Verso le Regionali: la candidatura di Nicola Lopatriello (Mir) L'indirizzo email non sarà pubblicato email e sito web in questo browser per la prossima volta che commento Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Website powered by Welan, un marchio di WeNetwork SRL Copyright © 2025 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes Ha riaperto i battenti la scuola dell’infanzia di via Monte Rosa a Policoro La riapertura ufficiale dell’edificio intitolato al pediatra e psiconalista inglese Donald Winnicot è avvenuta sabato mattina nel corso di una cerimonia a cui hanno partecipato i piccoli alunni assieme alle loro maestre e ai genitori la dirigente scolastica dell’Istituto comprensivo 2 “Giovanni Paolo II” Maria Carmela Stigliano il sindaco Rocco Leone e diversi esponenti della sua amministrazione i sacerdoti della comunità jonica don Antonio Mauri don Nicola Modarelli e don Salvatore De Pizzo “La scuola è stata riconsegnata ai suoi legittimi proprietari i bambini” è stato più volte ripetuto nel corso dell’inaugurazione che ha così concluso un’attesa durata alcuni anni e ha messo fine alle polemiche legate proprio ai tempi di consegna dell’edificio e alla sua riapertura Proprio delle difficoltà incontrate durante i lavori ha parlato il primo cittadino di Policoro Rocco Leone Gli interventi principali che hanno interessato l’edificio sono stati di adeguamento alle norme antisismiche e di eliminazione delle barriere architettoniche con strumenti per facilitare la fruizione a disabili fisici e ipovedenti A illustrare ai nostri microfoni l’intervento è stato Vincenzo Ferraiulo Soddisfazione per la riapertura del nuovo plesso è stata espressa dalla dirigente scolastica Maria Carmela Stigliano Policoro: incendio all’istituto professionale “Pitagora” Calcio a 5/femminile: Corrado Borussia Policoro in trasferta a Noci