Welcome to Maratea
From Jesse's Journeys in Italy
Population: 5,336
(2001)
Official Site:
Maratea
Wikipedia:
n/a
Map:
MapQuest
Not many English-speaking visitors
have
been
to Maratea, but those that have,
can attest to
the fact that Maratea deserves to be
called
"the pearl"
of the Tyrrhenian sea,
for this hill top town and all its
counterparts (Acquafredda, Fiumicello, and
the Port of Maratea), are colourful,
charming and splendidly untouched by
tourists for most of the year.
Maratea has, blessedly kept her true
Italian character intact, and this means
that prices are good and the locals are
genuinely friendly (even if they don't
speak perfect English).
The Coast of Maratea is one of the
most geographically beautiful coasts in
Italy and would rank high on a list of
mezmormizing places, the world over.
The hidden beaches which occupy the shores
along this tiny bit of Basilicatan coast (only
30 KM) from Sapri (in Campania) and
Tortora (in Calabria),
are of rare beauty,
a climb to get to, but well worth the trek
any time of year. Swimming is only
possible from May to November, but the
scenery is spectacular all year round.
Recognizable from anywhwere along the
coast of Maratea, is the large figure of
Christ, second only to Brazil's Rio de
Janiero figure.
Visitors from all over the
world, particularly during the summer
months, come to take in the spectacular
views availble from the head of the
statue. Admittance is free and the
views truly are incomparable. At
this same position, is the church of San
Biagio and an ancient village of Lucanians,
who inhabited the area before the romans.
In the town of Maratea itself, wine bars, cafés,
stores,
restaurants, and gelato shops line the
streets. The town itself and the
entire area is clean, safe and
well-serviced.
As in most towns in Southern Italy, the
town continues to shut down everyday from
1:00 to 5PM, as shop owners prepare hearty
lunches and venture to the beaches
themselves. However, stores and
restaurants stay open well into the night
every night of the week during the summer
months and shopping is literally an "all-night
activity". Take your pick of
terraces within the labrynth of back
streets, to enjoy any number of local
wines and specialty foods, which include
fresh seafood and lucanian pasta dishes.
Maratea
is famous for numerous goods, including:
wine, sandals, ceramics, embroidery and
leather work. You can often barter
with the store owners for better prices-
Not
surprisingly, Maratea, because of her
natural beauty and chic locales, has
gained considerable attention amongst the
Italian elite, who have bought villas
along the coast and in the hills.
However, hotels of all varieties are still
available. The best
options, we feel are those listed on the
right, because the provide incomparable
services for excellent rates.
The team at
VisitsItaly.com thinks Maratea is one
of Italy's most fantastic cultural and
scenic destinations. It really
should not be avoided if possible.
Maratea is well-serviced by trains,
offers a large port for docking purposes
and is only 2 hours south of Naples.
Getting here is easy and staying is
cheap (especially during the off
season). Right now, we are
offering tours from Maratea, which will
bring visitors face to face with some of
Italy's most spectacular scenery. |
