Lavello

Lavello is a town in the Vulture-Melfese area of northeastern Basilicata, near the borders with Puglia and Campania, with Monte Vulture as a backdrop to its hills of olive groves and vineyards. The site has ancient origins, with Iron Age village remains found in the area, and it grew from the Daunian-Roman settlement of Forentum. Under the Norman count Attolino the town's cathedral was expanded and the settlement given a fortified wall, after which it was known as castrum Labelli.

Lavello later passed to the Swabians, who built a fortress there, and the town played a notable role during the reign of Frederick II. In 1254, Frederick's son, Emperor Conrad IV, died in Lavello. The Norman-Swabian castle associated with this history still stands, now used as the town hall, next to the Cathedral of San Mauro. Lavello also has an archaeological park containing Roman ruins and a medieval necropolis.

The Norman-Swabian castle (now the town hall), the adjoining Cathedral of San Mauro, and the town's archaeological park with its Roman ruins and medieval necropolis are Lavello's principal sights.

Lavello sits in the Vulture-Melfese area of Basilicata, near the Puglia and Campania borders, in the shadow of Monte Vulture.