The capital of Basilicata, Potenza, is located at 819 m above sea level and is also known as the city of 100 stairs or "vertical city". Its characteristic historic center, which was made safe after the earthquake in 1980, will certainly amaze you. There are numerous churches worth visiting such as the Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo which is a must-see. It was built in Romanesque style and currently houses a number of valuable art works including paintings, sculptures and wooden carvings, almost all dated back to the 16th century. The museums such as the National Archaeological Museum "Dinu Ademesteanu", the Provincial Archaeological Museum and the Diocesan Museum are also of great interest. Another form of amusement is offered by the "Francesco Stabile" Theatre. Whereas those wishing to relax doing shopping are invited to explore the sophisticated setting of Piazza Mario Pagano, better known as Piazza Prefettura, or also in Piazza Matteotti. Potenza also holds another record that only few know, namely the longest "escalator" in Europe. The escalator – which is 1.3 km long and has the transport capacity of about 18 thousand people per hour – was created due to the geomorphological and urban planning need of the city to connect the downstream districts with the higher city center.