Maratea, Coastal commune in Basilicata, Italy.
Maratea is a commune in the province of Potenza along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, set between mountains and water. The territory includes beaches, rocky shoreline and wooded slopes that rise toward an interior with caves and grottoes.
The earliest traces of settlement date back to the Paleolithic period, and by the 15th century BC villages already existed on the headland. Later the area was settled by Greeks before passing under Roman and then Byzantine rule.
The name comes from a goddess and the settlement is divided into several hamlets spread across hills and coastal terraces. Residents still use the churches for services and festivals, while the old center with narrow streets and stone houses maintains the character of a southern Italian village.
The area is best explored by car since the hamlets are connected by coastal roads. Anyone planning to walk to the summit with the statue should allow time for the steep climb and wear sturdy shoes.
On top of Monte San Biagio stands a large marble statue of Christ carved from Carrara stone, raised in 1965 and facing the sea. The figure was carried up the mountain in sections and assembled on site, since the climb was too steep to transport the entire sculpture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
