Forenza

Forenza, in the province of Potenza, stands at 836 meters above sea level in the heart of the Vulture area, overlooking the Bradano Valley. The village is known for its sweeping views, stretching from Mount Vulture to the Tavoliere plain and as far as the Gargano.
Surrounded by woodlands, cereal fields, olive groves and vineyards, Forenza preserves in its historic center a dense network of streets, stone houses, and ancient churches that tell of its medieval origins, now complemented by street art interventions and historical photographs scattered throughout the urban fabric. The town’s history intertwines a chivalric past with the myth of the Templars. According to some sources, with the arrival of the Normans in southern Italy, Forenza became a feud of the Pagani family, to which the legendary Hugues de Payns—recognized by many scholars as the founder and first Grand Master of the Knights Templar—is believed to have belonged.