A charming seaside resort on the Ionian coast, near the border with the region of Calabria, Nova Siri is a quiet and cozy village in the province of Matera. The town's original name, Bollita (a vulgarization of Castrum Boletum) was replaced in 1872 with the current one: Nova Siri, on request of the Town Council, to recall its ancient Greek origins, from the Sirtide region, of which Siris was the ancient capital. After the fall of the Roman Empire the town became part of the Byzantine domain and featured the typical aspect of "Kastrum", a large fortified farm. It was subsequently proclaimed fief and ruled by various local families of Lords.
Marina di Nova Siri is a fully equipped seaside area with wide sandy beaches and a crystal clear sea; the promenade is shaded by pine trees and features several picnic areas and a long walking and cycling avenue.
Not to miss:
- Tower Bollita, a massive cylindrical structure, built during the reign of the Viceroy of Naples in the XVI century, to defend the population from the Turkish incursions;
- the XIV century Castle, an impressive building located on the highest point of the town;
- the narrow alleys of the district of Porticella, with its typical "lamie", vaulted arches that connect the houses between each other, once upon a time used to escape from the fury of the Saracen raids;
- the Baths of Sant'Alessio in the homonymous district, a Roman aqueduct that uses a simple system of traps to preserve the reserves of fresh water;
- the remains of the Imperial Villa in district of Ciglio dei Vagni;
- the rustic Chapel of Sulla, built in the XVII century;
- the Mother Church entitled to Our Lady of the Assumption, with a Baroque façade and tower, which was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1857 and rebuilt in 1866.