MARATEA

The town of Maratea is situated on a hilltop, overlooking the idyllic waters. It has the charm of unspoilt scenery both inland and along the coast, with colourful houses nestled among the trees and really is an undiscovered delight in Southern Italy. The town contains an impressive 44 churches and the white statue of Christ, ‘Il Redentore’ dominates the skyline above the village and coast. The climb up to the statue is a challenging one, but the panoramic view from the top makes it well worth it, and a vital part of your Basilicata holiday itinerary.

THINGS TO DO AROUND MARATEA

The Port of Maratea

Maratea's yacht harbour is 10 minutes by (winding!) road from the Centro Storico. Once a fishing harbour, these days it is mostly host to yachts and luxury craft. The port has an assortment of shops, pavement cafes and restaurants. In good weather, boats offer coastal and cave excursions.

The Centro Storico

The Centro Storico, or Old Town of Maratea, is built on the slopes of Monte San Biagio. It has been carefully restored and has two main piazzas, the charming Piazza Buraglia, connected by a narrow street to Piazza Vitolo, and a maze of narrow winding streets and alleyways. Small shops sell a variety of regional speciality foods and crafts including colourful ceramics. The centre is small and an hour or two’s stroll should be enough to do it justice.

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Il Redentore

It is worth climbing the hill above the town, Monte San Biagio, to the 22-metre-high statue which faces inland, arms outstretched. Admittance is free and the views are incomparable.

The Churches

This Basilica of San Biagio is the main church of the district, situated on top of Monte San Biagio, opposite the statue. Built in the 6th – 7th century, it houses the remains of the saint, in honour of which, every year in May, a procession takes place in which the silver statue of the saint is transported from the Basilica to the main church of the old town.

Maratea is home to 44 churches, 21 of which are open to the public, 11 in the old town alone. Whilst we don’t insist you see them all (!), it is worth descending to the old town and visiting the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built in 1505. The three churches near the Piazza Buraglia, the Chiesa dell'Addolorata, the Chiesa dell'Immacolata and the Chiesa dell'Annunziata, are generally open and are worth visiting for their artworks and an atmosphere which is both quaint and devout.

The Cave of Wonders

La Grotta Della Meraviglia (accessible by car – often signposted and advertised as the Grotto di Maratea).

The ‘Cave of Wonders’, was discovered in 1929 by men building a highway from Calabria. The view is breathtaking.

The Beaches (accessible by car or local bus)

The beaches around Maratea include many secluded little coves with crystal clear water. The winding roads with hairpin bends offer spectacular coast and mountain views and you pass ruined towers which used to guard the shore. Some of the beaches include Catrocucco, Fiumicello and Macarro (a black sand beach). Other swimming options include the beaches at Acquafredda (10 km north) and Marina di Maratea (5 km south) along the coastal road.  The Centro Sub Maratea, based in Santa Caterina, offers diving courses and excursions. During the holiday season it is also possible to hire boats or go on a sailing or fishing trip.

The Outlying Villages and Towns (accessible by car or local bus)

The settlements around Maratea are interesting to visit or to tour by car or by the little local bus. The villages which make up the community of Maratea are Acquafredda, Cersuta, Fiumicello, Porto, Marina, Castrocucco, Castello, Santa Caterina, Massa and Brefaro (situated on the overlooking hills). Acquafredda, a sleepy village nestled between the sea and the mountains, embodies both the best of an Italian hill-town and the best of an Italian sea-side village. Fiumicello, on the coast, is very ‘chic’ with its white houses, expensive boutiques, fine restaurants, and the five star Santavenere hotel, popular with movie stars in the 1950s.

Inland days out from Maratea could include walking in the hills, or visiting the picturesque and little known hill-town of Rivello, accessible by car or by bus. Rivello has many medieval buildings and churches - each area of the town has its own central church with beautiful frescoes and the town’s charm lies in the intricate network of narrow alleys and stairways.

Festivals

The biggest events in Maratea are celebrations for San Biagio, which take place on the second week in May, and a summer programme of events which range from a jazz concert to food tastings. There is also a film festival which takes place in August.