Venusia, or modern day Venosa, has a surprisingly rich history
for somewhere now so off-the beaten path…or certainly not very
popular as far as mass-tourism goes anyway. Venosa was inhabited
as far back as prehistoric times (traces of Acheullean and
Chellean settlements have been found there). An Apulian town
(now, Venosa is part of Basilicata) in Roman times, it
eventually became the largest colony in the Roman world. Venosa
lays claim to quite a few well-known historical figures. The
Roman general, Marcellus was ambushed at Venosa and killed by
Hannibal in 208BC. It was the birthplace of Horace (the famous
Roman poet) and of Manfred (the son of Frederick II, King of
Sicily). Venosa was also home to the famous “Prince of Venosa,”
Carlo Gesualdo, composer of some of the most well-know choral
madrigals from the late Italian Renaissance (and also extremely
scandalous murderer of his wife and her lover.) The fairy-tale,
15th century, Venosa Castle sits in the main piazza – complete
with whimsical towers and a mo