Balvano

Balvano - Balvano is a town in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata. The town rises 425 meters high. The origins of the town date back to the 1st century AD. C. with the first Lombard settlements. Several lords succeeded one another in Balvano over the centuries. In 1980 the city was one of the most affected by the earthquake that hit Basilicata, there were as many as 2914 deaths.

On the occasion of the earthquake, the city was awarded a Gold Medal for civil merit, for having faced the difficult reconstruction work with a spirit of sacrifice. After the earthquake, the city was visited by John Paul II who stayed in the convent of S. Antonio da Padova. After its renovation, due to damage from the earthquake, the convent now houses the nuns of Santa Maria Bambini and the faithful of the parish of Santa Maria Assunta waiting for the church to be rebuilt. Due to the earthquake many monuments were lost. Palazzo Laspro, dating back to 1750, was born as a noble residence; spread over three floors and is located in the historic center, it suffered considerable damage following the 1980 earthquake with the collapse of the roof and part of the first floor. It was restored in 1981, the year in which it regained its original character. After the earthquake, the city saw the birth of an industrial area, in which various local companies such as Birra Lucana srl and Ferrero operate.