Pisticci Calanchi: Exploring the Clay Hills of Basilicata

Where Are the Calanchi di Pisticci and How to Get There

Calanchi Pisticci, a bit of a quirky place which not everyone would like, is located about 20 minutes by car from Craco.  Of course, in such areas, it’s best to use GPS. And don’t worry if it leads you to the middle of nowhere – getting to the calanchi requires driving through dirt roads. It’s best to go there on a sunny/dry day, because after rain, you might get stuck in the mud.

What Are the Pisticci Calanchi?

Pisticci is a town, and calanchi are bald hills of clay soil, a dozen or so meters high. Bald – because they are rarely covered with anything. Plants are there, but only in the lower parts of the hills. And here and there they stick out of holes. The whole clay formation is a bit funny as it changes more or less after each heavy rain or wind.

The hills are yellowish, dry, and cracked; each has a specific shape, which depends on the state of erosion. Some, the more crumbly ones, have grass fringes on their tops, and in the rays of the setting sun, they look like giants waiting to wake up. I felt like a Lilliputian there who had accidentally wandered into another world.

Can You Walk on the Clay Hills? What to Know Before Climbing

Yes. There are not necessarily very visible paths there, but it’s worth walking on them because the view from the clays is really nice. You can climb to the top of the formation, but in this case, you should be careful.

All the clay mountains are bald, so there is nothing to grab onto when going up or down. Some of the hills are very steep, so you have to slide down on your buttocks. And probably the most important is that the clay crumbles and sinks, and holes form in the hills. The ones at the bottom of the hills are not deep, but it is still not nice to fall into them. And since the hills are hollow inside, the higher you go, the deeper the holes are. Besides, you can’t tell where the clay layer is hard, and you can safely put your feet down, and where it is thin, and it will surprise you by collapsing under your weight

So, if you want to climb the clay mountains, do it wisely. You can also stop at the foot of the hills and admire the beautiful panoramic view. When we were there, this part of the callanchi was occupied by a group of photographers. We went further and much higher, where there was not a single person, but there were a lot of holes.

Is Pisticci Calanchi Worth Visiting?

I really like this unusual formation. I went quite high up the hills, but the large number of holes discouraged me from climbing further. So I slid down on my butt to a lower level, sat on one of the hills, admiring the panorama and the sunset, and waiting for the clay giants to come to life.

Things to Do Near Pisticci Calanchi and Craco

Pisticci Calanchi attracts all sorts of artists who perform, sing, dance, paint, and more 24/7 during the four days of the La Luna e i Calanchi festival. It’s probably a pretty cool event. Besides, during the festival, you can hike the hills with a guide, so you don’t have to hit any holes.
If you don’t enjoy festivals, the size and terrain is cool for motocross, horseback riding, or mountain biking.