Aerosol observations by lidar in the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) were performed in Potenza, Southern Italy, from 20 January to 20 February 1997. Measurements during nine winter nights were considered, covering a variety of boundary-layer conditions. The vertical profiles of the aerosol backscattering coefficient at 355 and 723.37 nm were determined through a Klett-modified iterative procedure, assuming the extinction-to-backscattering ratio within the NBL has a constant value. Aerosol average size characteristics were retrieved from almost simultaneous profiles of the aerosol backscattering coefficient at 355 and 723.37 nm, the measurements being consistent with an accumulation mode radius not exceeding 0.4 microm. Similar results in terms of aerosol sizes were obtained from measurements of the extinction-to-backscattering ratio profile at 355 nm performed on six nights during the measurement campaign. Backscattering profiles at 723.37 nm were also converted into profiles of aerosol liquid water content.