The Middle Ages come to life in Basilicata with the Fantastic Middle Ages project.

A new cultural season opens for Basilicata , with an ambitious project with a European reach: " Fantastic Middle Ages." Officially presented in Melfi, the program aims to transform Lucanian medieval heritage into a driver of territorial, tourism, and economic development.

The initiative is promoted by the Basilicata Region, in collaboration with the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation, Apt Basilicata, Lucana Film Commission, and international partners, such as the Normandy Region, under the scientific direction of medievalist Fulvio Delle Donne.

A cultural plan for the rebirth of the territory

During the press conference, Regional Council President Vito Bardi described the project as a turning point for the region's cultural development , emphasizing the urgency of investing in culture during a time of economic hardship. In particular, the Vulture Melfese area (hard hit by the automotive crisis) is identified as the fulcrum of a cultural and social regeneration strategy.

The goal is to create an integrated system that, starting from the Middle Ages , relaunches the Lucanian identity and promotes its historical legacy in a contemporary key.

The project spans a three-year period, from 2025 to 2027, and is part of the broader " Medieval Basilicata Program ." Its activities span a variety of areas: from historical dissemination to cultural production, from regional outreach to school education. The initiative builds on the experience of Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019, strengthening the Foundation's role as a point of reference for regional cultural planning and connection with national and international networks.

The project's structure: cultural hubs and widespread narratives

The core of the project is the creation of a regional map of " medieval hubs ," true centers of widespread cultural and scientific activity. The planned activities include a performing arts festival , a series of public lectures led by university professors, a publishing series with Laterza, and a historically themed web series. These will be complemented by initiatives for schools, photography and archaeological exhibitions, immersive digital installations , and opportunities for cultural participation in the participating municipalities.

Among the key figures in the historical narrative that Fantastico Medioevo aims to rediscover are the Normans , who were among the first to construct a Lucanian political identity in the Mediterranean context, and Frederick II of Swabia , the emperor who, fromMelfi, laid the foundations for an enlightened vision of government and culture. Thanks to a multidisciplinary approach, the project reconstructs the complex mosaic of the Lucanian Middle Ages , paying particular attention to the spiritual, artistic, and architectural symbols of the time: castles, crypts, cathedrals, and fortresses thus return to the center of the collective imagination, valorized not only as relics, but as still-living elements of the regional memory.

Furthermore, one of the initiative's distinctive features is the desire to restore to the public the profound spirituality that characterized the Middle Ages. In collaboration with the Dioceses of Melfi and Acerenza, the transformations of the Church in the Middle Ages will be highlighted, with the birth of monastic orders and the emergence of a new religious and social vision. The many sacred sites built during this period, often little-known, will be rediscovered and narrated, building a journey of faith and culture that is intertwined with the identity of the places.

From narrative to engagement: the short film and the exhibition on Frederick II

During the conference—where the Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the strategic project "Fantastico Medioevo" was signed—the animated short film " F II – Lo stupore del mondo " (Fantastic Middle Ages) was also presented, produced by Mad Entertainment and the Federico II University of Naples. The film, dedicated to the figure of Frederick II, was introduced by a conversation between the president of the Lucana Film Commission, Margherita Romaniello, and director Alessandro Rak. This work combines artistic quality and historical education, contributing to the renewal of the narrative of the Middle Ages through accessible and engaging language.

The event will conclude with the inauguration of the exhibition " Frederick II: The Emperor Who Amazed the World ," curated by Fulvio Delle Donne. The exhibition, held at the Melfi and Venosa Museums, expands and deepens the one already presented at the European Parliament, offering a broader and more localized vision of the Swabian emperor. The exhibition represents the first step in a broader exhibition journey that will accompany the project over the coming years and make the richness of the Lucanian Middle Ages accessible to a wider audience.