Nestled between the mountains of Basilicata and the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea, Maratea is a jewel of timeless charm. Known as the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea” and famous for its 44 churches, it combines unspoiled nature, spirituality and tradition in a unique landscape where the sea blends with history and culture.
Nestled on the slopes of Mount San Biagio and overlooking one of the most striking stretches of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Maratea is a town of extraordinary beauty that combines art, nature and spirituality. Known as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the city of 44 churches, it is the only town in Basilicata to have an outlet to the Tyrrhenian Sea, boasting no less than 32 kilometers of coastline, including enchanting bays, steep headlands, sea caves and beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters.
Maratea's coastal landscape is a veritable spectacle: wild and intimate coves alternate with equipped and easily accessible shores, offering a wide range of solutions for those seeking relaxation or adventure. Among the most iconic beaches are Fiumicello beach, framed by Mediterranean vegetation, the black beach of Cala Jannita, and the Bay of the Sirens, accessible only by sea. The seabed, untouched and rich in biodiversity, is a paradise for diving enthusiasts.
Towering over the entire area is the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, 22 meters high and second only to the one in Rio de Janeiro, placed on the peak of Mount San Biagio at an altitude of 650 meters. Also located here is the Basilica of San Biagio, built on the remains of ancient Maratea and custodian of the relics of the patron saint, which arrived - according to tradition - in 732 on a ship from Armenia.
The historic center, known as Il Paese, is a cluster of picturesque alleys, houses leaning against each other, stairways and angiports opening onto breathtaking views. Here, every stone tells centuries of history: from the Middle Ages to the Risorgimento uprisings, passing through the Norman era and Angevin rule. Of great charm are the ancient noble palaces such as Palazzo De Lieto, formerly the civil hospital, Palazzo Gennari and Palazzo D'Orlando, witnesses to a noble and cultured past.
Maratea boasts a unique artistic and religious heritage: its 44 churches, chapels, monasteries and hermitages-including the striking Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the very ancient Church of San Vito-are custodians of frescoes, statues, Baroque altars and stories of faith that span the centuries. Also among the must-see stops is the Grotta dell'Angelo, an ancient place of worship hidden in the clearings of the mountain.
The territory is also marked by a significant archaeological presence: remains of Roman villas such as that of Secca di Castrocucco, necropolis, and evidence of ancient Marathìa dating back to Oenotrian and Roman times, among which stand out the sea and land caves - as many as 131 - many of which are still unexplored. The most famous is the Grotta di Marina, with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
Maratea's tourist port, modern and functional, is an important landing point for boaters, but also a meeting place for those who want to enjoy the liveliness of summer evenings, among clubs overlooking the sea and restaurants offering the excellence of Lucanian cuisine. Not to be missed are the marateote sausages, handcrafted and preserved in oil or suet, a true feather in the cap of local gastronomy.
Within a short distance you can explore the peaks of the Pollino National Park, the villages of the Lucanian hinterland, or go as far as the Cilento and Vallo di Diano Park, a UNESCO heritage site, for a journey through nature, history and culture.
Maratea is much more than a tourist resort: it is a village suspended between sky and sea, where every glimpse is a postcard, every stone a page of history, and every experience a memory to carry in the heart. It is an ideal destination for those looking for a complete vacation: relaxing but stimulating, spiritual and authentic, full of beauty and respect for nature and traditions.
Village of Maratea
Municipality of Maratea
Province of Potenza
Region Basilicata
Inhabitants: 5.139Â 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 -Â Tel. +39 0973 874111
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 lagà ne: 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 lagà ni of the ancient Romans. Among the recipes più common, we find:
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.
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