kartodromo di Salandra

Set in the Lucanian hills, in Salandra in the province of Matera in Basilicata, the Kartodromo di Salandra runs an outdoor track at the foot of the southern Apennines. The site sits in a rural setting typical of inland Basilicata: argillaceous calanchi (a lunar landscape), olive groves, oak woods and the early Apennine heights. It is used by Matera locals for outings with friends and by holiday-makers staying in Matera or on the Lucanian Ionian coast.

In its outdoor format, the track offers a layout suited to adult and experienced drivers, in the rural setting typical of inland Basilicata (the site is sport-oriented and aimed at adult drivers). Several engine sizes are available, with higher-powered karts for regulars used to timed sessions. Conditions follow the Lucanian continental climate: drier and faster in summer, more demanding on rainy autumn days. The site hosts enthusiast sessions, motorsport-focused stag and hen groups and corporate events from the Lucanian area.

Salandra is fifty minutes from Matera, one hour from Potenza and an hour and a quarter from Taranto. The region offers plenty more to see: Matera and its Sassi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture 2019), the calanchi of Aliano (a lunar landscape described by Carlo Levi in 'Christ Stopped at Eboli'), the Pollino National Park, Metaponto and its Magna Graecia archaeological sites, or a side trip to Maratea on the Tyrrhenian coast. Karting in Salandra is a sport option for Lucanian locals and enthusiasts staying in Matera UNESCO.