San Martino d'Agri

San Martino d'Agri is a picturesque hill town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is a town of less the 800 people most of the year, but in August the population swells to around 2,000 when Sammartinesi return for the Festa della Madonna della Rupe, some coming from as far as North America and South America. San Martino d'Agri is on the peak of a hill at 666 meters above sea level. At one point in the town's history, there was a major mudslide (frana) that wiped out most of the town, however it recovered. Atop the hill stands a medieval castle, which was first owned by the barone. However, after the barone was overthrown, there was a massive earthquake that destroyed much of the town. The castle was later renovated and divided up into sections for different families' housing. In the late mid-1900s, a section was abandon and wasn't renovated until 2003. That part, as well as another is currently owned and still being renovated. References