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Maratea


Maratea is a natural work of art set in the foothills of the Apennines and lapped by the Tyrrhenian Sea with coves and beaches, bays and islets and a few selected hotels. Its territory extends for 32 kilometers of coast with a galaxy of small villages that gravitate towards the medieval capital, with its atmospheres rich in history, in turn dominated by the ruins of the Castle and the statue of Christ the Redeemer with the Basilica Sanctuary of San Biagio.
  • Blue Flag
  • Sea village
  • Ghost town
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  • Most beautiful villages in Italy
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Maratea
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Maratea  | Salvatore Monetti
Maratea
Salvatore Monetti
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Maratea  | FABRIZIO CONTE/shutterstock
Maratea
FABRIZIO CONTE/shutterstock
Maratea  | FABRIZIO CONTE/shutterstock
Maratea
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Maratea  | Petr Pavlica/shutterstock
Maratea
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Maratea  | Anaelileana/shutterstock
Maratea
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Maratea  | valtercirillo
Maratea
valtercirillo
Maratea  | sinlay
Maratea
sinlay
A loot at Maratea
A loot at Maratea
Ancient structures, between cold and warm lights, on a summer evening in the alleys and villages of Maratea ...
#lucideiborghi  | Francesco Oliva - e-borghi Community
Ancient structures, between cold and warm light...
Francesco Oliva - e-borghi Community

About the village

Maratea is the only village of Basilicata to face on the Tyrrhenian Sea. For its picturesque coastal landscapes and mountain areas, and for the peculiarities of art and history, Maratea is also known as "the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea" and "City of 44 churches" for its numerous churches, chapels and monasteries were built in different eras and different styles. Its coastline is varied creeks and caves, cliffs and dry. Numerous coastal beaches, in front of one of which emerges the island of Santo Janni. Worthy of attention are the seabed and the 131 marine caves and land, of which some have returned fossils and prehistoric. On all stands out the cave of Marina with stalactites and stalagmites. The name is clearly of Greek derivation, from the Greek word marathus ("Wild Fennel") and then with the meaning of "land of wild fennel".

In the era eneolithic the promontory called Capo La Timpa, placed close to today's marina, becomes a stopover of an exchange. From the XV-XIV century B.C. hosts an indigenous settlement within huts built with a floor to beat coated with decorative pebbles and central fireplace. This village, the conformation of which falls within the parameters of the so-called "Apennine culture", survives thanks to trade relations instauratesi following the first mycenaean navigation in Italy. With the advent of the Greek colonization, village life on Capo La Timpa stops; to resume in the VI century B.C. following the so-called "indigenous colonization of the coast" wrought by peoples of culture Enotria. The commercial vocation of the village pushes the traffic from the colonies magno greek-The Siritide, up to Greece itself. After the Roman conquest of Lucania, which took place between the III and II century B.C., the promontorio Capo La Timpa is abandoned for ever. The territory hosts then other small nuclei, which is flanked by the great villae marittimae patrician palaces of the wealthy Roman. It is in fact been rediscovered a Roman villa, with annexd Pescheria, in the locality of dry Castrocucco, the history of which extends from the I century B.C. to the IV century A.D.; which is accompanied by a distant necropolis used until the beginning of the Middle Ages. The barbarian invasions subsequent to the fall of the Roman Empire of the West and the first Saracen raids urge people present on the territory to take refuge on the top of Monte San Biagio, where was born the ancient Marathìa (name that makes its first appearance in the document of 1079).

This citadel, impregnable and safe from any attack, receives the relics of San Biagio of Sebaste in the year 732, transported according to tradition on a ship by men Armenians. In the 850 Maratea joined the Gastaldato of Laino of principality of Salerno and then to move, perhaps in 1077 in domains Normans. In 1284 Maratea is involved in the War of Vespers. In 1324 the parish of the sanctuary of San Biagio is the arcipretura of the territory. But the one on the top of Monte San Biagio is no longer the only center of the territory: during the centuries if n is developed another, on the slopes of the same which makes it invisible from the sea and safe from the Saracen attacks. This new Maratea is nicknamed with the name of the village, to distinguish it from the ancient that since fortified, will be called a castle. At the beginning of the XV century Maratea, which according to tradition was never subjected to the power of a feudal lord, is part of the lands to the direct dependencies of the crown. On 21 May 1626 the village is attacked by a band of one hundred and sixty bandits, which bring siege the homes of families more affluent of Maratea. The XVIII century is a time very fortunate for Maratea. In 1734 is opened the first civil hospital, the work of the benefactor John De Happy. In 1799 Maratea is involved in the motions that led to the constitution of the Neapolitan Republic. In August 1806 the French Army begins the invasion of the Kingdom of Naples. After the Calabrian uprising, the nearby town of Lauria, rebelled to the French, is put to iron and fire. The French, you accept the conditions of mandarins not harming the population, discarded part of the walls and the towers of the Castle, to avoid new insurgency. This event accelerates spopolazione of the ancient core of Maratea, whose municipalities is suppressed in 1808, to be merged with that of lower Maratea, after almost three hundred years of double municipalities on the territory. In 1860 Also at Maratea is constitutes a committee of insurgency for action lucana for the unity of Italy; organized, among others, from the citizen Raffaele Ginnari. In contrast to the rest of the region, Maratea is never involved in the phenomenon of brigandage. At the beginning of the XX century also the citizens of Maratea are forced to sustain thanks to emigration. The main destinations for the marateoti are Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and the United States of America. Counted as "resort" already before the world wars, the beauties of Maratea buy great visibility on the national field after 1953, when the industrial Stefano rivets of Val Cervo installs one textile plant and a farm.

The two cores of Maratea is developed in times and ways. The upper town, located on the top of Monte San Biagio, is for immemorial tradition the oldest, and its inhabitants founded the lower on the northern slope of the same mountain during the medieval age, i.e. the castle. The houses of the ancient Maratea had characteristics of "miniaturization", completely unknown in the rest of the territory: each compartment was about 1/4 smaller than normal, in order to save space and reduce to a minimum the dispersion of heat, guaranteed by an oven for baking which were available to all the houses. In each dwelling was also placed a water cistern, as on the top of the mountain there are no sources. There were however palaces and residences larger confidential, families most wealthy, and on all stands Palazzo Ventapane, grandiose building of which can still be seen the hexagonal loggia. The roads inside consisted of streets, alleys, angiporti and staircases and only two ports permitted access to the fortified town: Porta Santa Maria, located to the southern walls, and Porta dei Carpini, situated on the northern ones. The difficult living conditions of the site, exposed to the weather and the lightning, unite to commuting of farmers who cultivated lands in the valley below, were the prerequisites for the birth of new Maratea.

The village (most frequently indicated as the country) is the current historical center of Maratea. Is perched on a rocky cliff of Monte San Biagio that makes it invisible from the sea, and then, in antiquity, safe from the snares of Saracen pirates. This position has the serious disadvantage to isolate the town from the direct rays of the sun in the month of December and January, blocked by the top of the mountain above. Born as a suburb of the ancient Maratea, this is from 1808 the only municipal capital. The Village has an urban structure uneven and chaotic, due to the roughness of the site: palaces and larger homes even some churches are formed with the union of small houses and other structures. In addition to the sacred buildings, including the ancient church of San Vito, the eighteenth-century church of the Annunziata, the seventeenth century church of Our Lady of Sorrows, the church of the Immaculate Conception, the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the church of Sant'Antonio; the architectural emergencies main are the ancient palaces of the nobility marateota: Palazzo De happy, that from 1734 it hosted the first hospital of Maratea, Calderano Palace, Palazzo D'Orlando, Palazzo De Filippo, Palazzo Heirs Picone and Palazzo Gennari. The viability, closed in tortuous but picturesque alleys, opens in a long course, said the Piazza, at whose ends are located two votive columns, enlarged in the twentieth century with the opening of two squares: Piazza Biagio Vitolo and Piazza Buraglia Gennaro.

Village of Maratea
Municipality of Maratea
Province of Potenza
Region Basilicata

Inhabitants: 5.139 marateoti
Altitude center: 300 m a.s.l.

The Municipality is part of:
 I Borghi più belli d'Italia 

Città dei sapori
Unione Lucana del Lagonegrese

Awards
Bandiera Blu

Municipality
Piazza Biagio Vitolo 1 - Tel. +39 0973 874111

= distances as the crow flies

The typical cuisine of Maratea è a mixture of flavors of fruits of the earth and the sea. The ancient recipes marateote, some of which have disappeared becauseé replaced by modern eating habits, are based on traditions that bound a particular dish to a certain period of the year or to a particular occasion. Among the various dishes, deserve a special mention the lagàne: these are a particular dough of flour, oil, salt and eggs, cut in strips of 5 cm in width. These are derived directly from the lagàni of the ancient Romans. Among the recipes più common, we find:

  • Zirpule (donuts). Typical cake of the Christmas tradition marateota, unique in the regional panorama for dough and preparation, presents itself in the form of 8 or and must be consumed warm, covered with local honey or sugar grains.
  • Mozzarella di Massa. A particular type of mozzarella, worked with artisanal method and woven close, it must be consumed within a day from preparation.
  • Lagàne and ciciri (lagàne and chick peas). After the fact to sit in the chickpeas overnight with the addition of a tablespoon of bicarbonate, boil them in abundant water and a slow fire together with the celery. Then fry the bacon with oil, garlic, tomatoes and parsley. Then join the lagàne to chick peas and cook for a few minutes then serve with pepper and pepper. This dish was traditionally consumed Wednesday of ashes.
  • Omelet 'i cipuddine (Omelet with onions). Prepares as an omelet with fries, substituting the potatoes onions. This dish was traditionally consumed the day of easter monday.
  • Vermicelli cu' the patedde (vermicelli with limpets). Prepare the sauce with limpets cleaned, and then serve with the vermicelli.
  • Anchovies to scapice' (anchovies to scapece). Fry the anchovies till they become golden brown. Then pour over a marinade of oil, garlic, pepper and oregano. After add fresh mint and leave to rest for a day. Whatì prepared, the dish can be preserved for over a week. This dish was traditionally consumed during the festivitiesà San Biagio.

Translation of the relics of Saint Biagio

lasts from the first Saturday of May to the second Sunday of the month. Is celebrating the arrival of the relics of the holy in Maratea, occurred, according to some, in the month of May 732. In 1695 was established, with the consent of the bishop of the diocese of Cassano allo Ionio, the protocol of the event.

On the first Saturday of the month is held the first procession of the silver statue of the saint, said San Biagio goes to the earth, that takes place in the streets of the Castle. After a few days of prayer, the second Thursdayì of the month is held the second procession, said San Biagio drops from the castle, where the statue is conveyed through an ancient trail, from the castle to the village. This is a procession really particular in so far as the simulacrum of the saint is covered by a red cloth until the arrival to the localityà said Capo Casale: We occurs because the act of passage of the statue between the two parishes of Maratea is something strictly private, as established in 1781 after a quarrel between the two Pastors, in fact the priest who leads the statue not wearing cotta or stola. At Capo Casale The statue is stripped and delivered to the responsibility the mayor, who here delivery to the holy the keys of the city, making it symbolically the maximum authority of Maratea. Immediately after the statue is transported in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The second Saturday of May takes the third procession, in which the Silver bust of San Biagio crosses in great pomp the streets of the village. Arrived at the Sunday that follows takes the last procession, said San Biagio back to the castle, where the statue, again covered by red mantle, retraces backward the ancient path to return to the Basilica to the Castle, its habitual seat. As a result of the relocation of the statue in the Basilica, occurs occasionally the phenomenon of manna, already certified in a papal bull of 1562.

Sleep, eat, buy...

= distances as the crow flies
= distances as the crow flies
= distances as the crow flies
= distances as the crow flies

Events

from
saturday
4
may, 2024
to sunday 12 may 2024

Translation of the relics of Saint Biagio

sunday
5
may, 2024

San Biagio

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