05/23/2026
Basilicata (Lucania) is the last bastion of Italian authenticity. Tucked quietly between Puglia, Campania and Calabria, it is one of the best kept secrets.
Took my daughter today to visit the town of Aliano, one of my absolute favorite towns. Besides the breathtaking Calanchi (Badlands), Aliano is where Carlo Levi, based his masterpiece, Christ Stopped in Eboli (Cristo sì è Fermato a Eboli).
In the days of fascism in Italy, many leftist activists were sent in exile. As such, Levi, who was a doctor, writer and politician from Turin, was sent to Aliano.
In this new reality, shaped by peasant culture and abject rural poverty, Levi wrote his masterpiece. The title hits really hard, implying that this part of the Italian south was so poor, that not even Christ made it this far, rather, he stopped in nearby Eboli.
Levi actually fell in love with the place and became a dedicated advocate for the local peasants, providing medical care for the community.
Today there are many points of interest in town that one can visit, including Levi’s house, museum etc. Christ Stopped in Eboli was one of my favorite books growing up as it was incredibly moving.