Lauria
Lauria: a town on the border between Basilicata and Calabria
Lauria is a town located in the province of Potenza in Basilicata, with a population of about 11,934 inhabitants. The city is located on the border with the province of Cosenza, in Calabria, and is at the center of three important roads: the A2 motorway (Mediterranean Motorway), the 653 state road of the Sinni Valley and the 585 state road of Fondo Valle del Noce.
Physical geography
Lauria is situated in a hilly and mountainous area. The city is the meeting point of three valleys: del Noce, del Sinni and del Lao, while its municipal territory is partly included in the National Park of Appennino Lucano-Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese. Lauria borders the municipalities of Castelluccio Inferiore, Castelluccio Superiore, Latronico, Castelsaraceno, Moliterno, Lagonegro, Nemoli and Trecchina (all in the province of Potenza) and the municipalities of Tortora and Laino Borgo (in the province of Cosenza).
Hamlets and localities
The territory of Lauria includes several hamlets and localities, including Acqua delle Donne, Alte Coste, Capraro, Catania, Melara, Montegaldo, Murge, Pecorone, Rosa, San Paolo, Seluci, Taverna del Postiere, Bamonte, Canicella, Cappella Sirino, Carminato, Casale Serino, Castagnara, Cavallo, Cerase, Cerasofia, Cesinelle, Cogliandrino, Cona, Fabbricato, Finitime, Fiumicello, Galdo, Gremile, Iacoia, Iacoia di Sotto, Lago Rotonda, Madama Angiolella, Madonna del Carmine, Malfitano, Mazzarella, Milordo, Montagnola, Ovo della Vacca, Piano Cataldo, Piano della Menta, Piano Focara, Pietraferrata, Piscitella, Prestieri, Rosa di Sotto, Rosa Molino, San Filippo, San Giuseppe, Santa Barbara, Santa Filomena, Santa Lucia, Santa Maria, Sant'Alfonso, Sant'Elia, Senno, Seta, Starsia, Timparossa, Timpone di Seluci and Valle Salomone.
Orography
Lauria is surrounded by many mountains, among which the massif of Sirino, one of the main attractions of the city. Both the highest point, Mount Papa (2005 meters), and the summit of Sirino (1907 meters), are highly appreciated by hiking and skiing enthusiasts. Sirino offers, in fact, five ski lifts, a chairlift (largely located in the territory of Lagonegro), ski schools, equipment rental, guesthouses and restaurants. During the summer, it is possible to camp at the Conserva di Lauria locality, at 1400 meters of altitude. Other nearby mountains include Monte Timpa del Capitano (1690 meters), Monte Serra Orticosa (1676 meters) and Serra la Spina (1652 meters high), located in the Pollino National Park, which is famous for its specimens of loricato pine.
Conclusions
In summary, Lauria is a very interesting town located in a hilly and mountainous area, surrounded by several valleys and mountains. The city represents an important meeting point between different communication routes that allow you to easily reach other towns and tourist areas. Lauria also offers numerous hamlets and localities to visit, as well as the possibility of practicing outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and camping. If you are looking for a quiet and picturesque place to spend your free time, Lauria is definitely a valid option!
