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MelfiMelfi, Vulture area, province of Potenza, Basilicata  Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.
On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic cen This town was the region's capital during the reign of the Normans. Melfi is well known for its castle, famous for the two Papal councils that took place within its solid, secretive walls. It now houses an archaeological museum. Walking into downtown Melfi is a voyage in time, catapulting the visitor into the dark ages. The Cathedral and its tower are a prime example of local architecture. The Tuppu dei Sassi archaeological site is worth visiting. 34 kilometres from Calitri, 41 minutes' drive.The town winds along the Norman walls, with various gates, the most noteworthy being the Venosina gate (dating to the early 13th century), an ogival arch with two cylindrical towers on either siAttractions in Melfi * The Palazzo del Vescovado (Bishopric Palace), erected in the 11th century but rebuilt in baroque manner the 18th century.
* The Duomo (Cathedral), also in the baroque style but with the original Norman bell towers. The interior contains a magnificent 13th century fresco, the Madonna with Child and Angels.
* The Castle, dominating the whole town. It was probably constructed ex novo by the Normans (11th century), as no traces of pre-existing Byzantine or Lombards edifices have been found. Originally, it was probably a simple rectangle with square towers, with further towers defending the main gate. One of the main internal buildings was later (16th-18th centuries) turned into a baronal palace by enclosing the walls between the towers within new walls. Under the Angevine rule a new section was added one the slope descending to the Melfia stream, with several construction rising at different altitudes. The Castle was chosen by King Charles I's wife, Beatrice of Provence, as her residence. The Aragon kings gave it to the Caracciolo dynasty of the Caracciolo Candida family lineage (descendents of the House of Candia and the Caracciolo House), who rebuilt the side facing the city and dug a moat. Later it was a possession of the powerful House of Doria.
* Since 1976 the Castle is home to the important Museo Nazionale Archeologico Melfese, with artifacts found in the area, from prehistoric times and all periods of settlement including the Daunian, Samnite, Lucanian and Roman periods. The most famous piece is the sarcophagus of Rapolla, a valuable example of imperial sculpture from the 2nd century CE, which came to light in 1856. There are collections of the archaic era (7th-6th century BC) with male and female funerary objects including amber pendants and the so-called Lavello cup. Of the 5th and century BC are the Hellenic-style finds - red ceramic figures called figulae and other princely objects. There are also Samnite artifacts from the 5th-3rd century BC, mostly in ivory and bone, as well as examples of Canosino pot
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