Travel Guide Irsina

Irsina, in the north of the province of Matera, is an ancient agricultural and craft center. On the borders of the principality of Salerno, it was a stronghold against the Byzantine world, before being conquered by the Normans. Two churches are worth seeing: the cathedral and the church of San Francesco. The latter was built in a Norman fortress of the 11th and 12th centuries, and was later remodeled by Frederick II in 1228. It is worth a visit for the frescoes in the crypt of the Giotto school (14th century). A few steps away, the artificial lake of San Giuliano is a site protected by the WWF for its numerous aquatic species.