About 10 miles east of the town of Genzano di Lucania, in northern Basilicata, a small castle on a hill stands out in the middle of the sparsely populated countryside. The origins of this fortress, known as Castello di Monteserico (Monteserico Castle), are unknown, but it was probably built at the end of the 10th century. In 1041 it was the site of a large battle between the Normans, who were in the process of conquering southern Italy, and the Byzantines, who previously controlled the area. Due to its strategic…
