The city is the highest capital of region and one of the highest capitals of province in Italy, commanding the valley of the Basento river, on the Apennines of Lucania, east of Salerno. Its territory is bounded by the comuni of Anzi, Avigliano, Brindisi Montagna, Picerno, Pietragalla, Pignola, Ruoti, Tito, Vaglio Basilicata.