Lauria is a town and comune of the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, southern Italy, situated near the borders of Calabria.

It is a walled, medieval town on the steep side of a hill, with another portion of municipal territory in the plain below.

In 1806 the city was destroyed and the population slaughtered by the French soldiers under general André Masséna, as punishment for having supported the Bourbon kings.

Located in southern Basilicata and included in the Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese National Park, Lauria is a hill town divided into a pair of districts (in italian, "rioni"): the upper one named "rione superiore" (in ancient times, "Castello", because the presence of its castle) and the lower one named "rione inferiore" (formerly "Borgo").

The municipality borders with Castelluccio Superiore, Castelsaraceno, Lagonegro, Laino Borgo, Latronico, Moliterno, Nemoli, Tortora and Trecchina.