 Maratea: Corso with the Chiesa madre | ||
| Maratea | ||
| region | Basilicata | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 5.088 (2018) | |
| height | 300 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Maratea is a small town in the Basilicata; it is the only city in this region on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The only 26 km long beach section is characterized by steep cliffs and small beaches.
background
The small town Maratea is the only town in the Basilicata region facing the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west coast. The city was built on a plateau with some distance to the coastline, not visible from the sea. This is surrounded by mountainous elevations like a basin. In addition to the town center with numerous churches, the Basilica of San Biagio and above all the 22 m high statue of Christ on the mountain above the town are worth seeing.
There are various small hamlets around Maratea, which also belong to the municipality. The most important are the coastal towns 1 Marina di Maratea and 2 Castrocucco in the south and 3 Fiumicello, 4 Cersuta and 5 Acquafreddo to the north. After that, the territory of the Basilicata region ends again and the territory of the province begins Campania.
getting there
By plane
The closest airports are those of Naples airport
(IATA: NAP) and Lamezia Terme Airport(IATA: SUF) in the south.
By train / bus
Maratea is relatively easy to get to by train. The station 1 Maratea FS lies on the main line along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea on a short above-ground route between two tunnel sections. There is a bus connection to the center of the village.
In the street
The coastal road 
runs partly in tunnels along the entire coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The road, which is relatively narrow for a main road connection, is difficult to drive on for trucks and also wide mobile homes. Acquafreddo even has a signal-controlled one-way system. The coastal route is not a good choice for a quick trip south. But if you want to visit the beaches on the Basilica coast, this is the right place for you.
By boat
- The Porto Turistico Maratea, Via Banchina Porto 32, I - 85046 Maratea PZ. Tel.: 39 0973 877307. is a popular marina on the coastal strip. Ferry traffic that could be used to get here does not operate here.
mobility
The place can be explored on foot. The distances to the beaches and up to the Basilica of San Biagio are relatively long. A private car or taxi will make the visit easier.
Tourist Attractions
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- On the 623 m high local mountain Monte San Biagio is the 1 Basilica di S. Biagio. According to legend, it was built on the ruins of a pagan-Roman Temple of Minerva, of which, however, no traces have ever been found. A chapel had been on the mountain since the 7th / 8th centuries. Century passed. According to legend, relics of St. Blaise were buried here in 732. The oldest part of the building is today's presbytery. Around 1562/1618 a new chapel was built with Romanesque vaults. In the 17th century the chapel had to be renewed after a lightning strike. From the 18th century. dates the porch with the two columns. Pope Pius XII awarded the place of worship the status of a basilica. It was restored in the 1960s. Inside are the fresco of the Madonna and Child (with a pomegranate in hand) from the 15th and the baptismal font from the 16th century. as well as the Regia Cappella with the silver statue of St. Biagio are worth seeing. Next to the basilica, devotional objects are offered in a souvenir shop.
- 2 Redeemer statueChristo Reddentore stands in front of the mountain top. The 22 m high statue made of concrete made of Carrara marble was created by Bruno Innocenti in 1965 and is considered the tallest statue in Italy. The gaze of the blessing Redeemer is not directed to the sea, but inland.
- In a northerly direction, a footpath leads past the church 3 Madonna degli Ulivi down through the steep slope to the town of Maratea.
- On the southern flank are the ruins of 4 Maratea Vecchia. The historic center below Monte San Biagio, also called Castello was the original core of the settlement and was given up in favor of the more conveniently located settlement in the valley floor.
Maratea Borgo
In the Middle Ages, a second settlement center arose in the basin below Monte San Biagio. Due to the better accessibility there developed in the "Borgo" what is still the center of Maratea today.
- The parish church 5 S. Maria Maggiore was built on the foundations of a previous building from the 13th / 14th Century built around 1505; the tower top came only in the 18th century. to. In 1831 the tower was damaged in an earthquake and was rebuilt in 1885.
- The 6 Chiesetta di San Vito was the oldest church in the Borgo in 10./11. Century built and is located on the edge of the forest. It was restored in 1883.
- The 7 Chiesa dell'Addolorata with a baroque facade was built in 1620. The obelisk in front of it was erected by Gerardo Laurelli on the occasion of the disappearance of a son in 1788.
- The 8 Chiesa dell'Annunziata: Around 1585 the chapel in the Borgo was in dispute with the Chiesa madre and a separate parish was founded. Today the church is used as the parish church of Maratea during the winter months. The lions on the facade come from an older church building.
- The 9 Chiesa dell'Immacolata was in the 18th century. built on the foundations of an older church. Remnants of this previous building, S. Pietro, form the crypt.
- The 10 Chiesa Madonna del Rosario was built in 1575 as part of a monastery complex and has a nave in the late baroque style.
- The 11 Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate as part of a Capuchin monastery was built in 1615.
- The 12 Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie is located in the forest near the former Capuchin convent on the ascent to Monte Biagio.
From civil architecture have meaning:
- The 13 Palazzo de Lieto, which served as a hospital for a long time and which now houses permanent exhibitions after the restoration.
- The 14 Palazzo Picone with a loggia on the top floor of the tower
Fiumicello
In the new quarter, the street leads through residential areas down to the beaches
- 1 Spiaggia di Fiumicello (Beach bar, some parking spaces and underground parking)
- 2 Spiaggia sutt.
Acquafredda
- On the way to the north you get ahead Cersuta to a tunnel that crosses a rock ridge. That’s on it 15 Torre apprezzami l'Asino. According to legend, the path along the coast was so narrow that two loaded donkeys could not cross each other. The owners had to agree on the value of the donkeys and the inferior animal was thrown into the sea ...
- The 16 Villa Nitti rises south of the beach of Acquafredda and was rebuilt from a small country estate in 1920/21 under Francesco Nitti in neo-Gothic style into the present form. It came into the possession of the Basilicata region, which now runs training courses there.
- The 3 Spiaggia d'Acquafredda sits down after 4 north away.
- The 5 Spiaggia Portacquafredda and 6 Spiaggia Pietra Caduta are small beach bays further south.
To the south are:
Marina di Maratea
With the beaches
- 7 Spiaggia nera with dark sand
- 8 Spiaggia Macarro with a beach bar
- 9 Cala Ficarra
- the double bay with the 10 Spiaggi di Santa Teresa
- the little one 11 Spiaggia sotto l'Orto is only accessible from the sea.
Castrocucco
- The 12 Spiaggia la Secca is small and managed.
- The largest beach on the Basilicata coast is the 13 Spiaggia d'a Gnola with beach bars, parasol rental and, in summer, chargeable but shaded parking spaces.
- The ruins of the 17 Castello di Castrocucco can be climbed on a footpath.
activities
- Visit of Monte Biagio with the statue of "Reddentore"
- Bathing on the various beaches on the cliffs
Hike: Maratea to Christo Reddentore (5.8 km) 
On a path that is reasonably well signposted for southern Italy, you can go up to the statue of the "Reddentore" in a half-day tour.
- From the town center resp. Via dell'Unita d'Italia, a few steps lead up to the Chiesa Madre. There the pilgrimage route "Cammino di San Biagio" up to Monte San Biagio is described on an information board. First of all it goes up some stairs (sign "Christo"). It is worth the short detour to the Romanesque one Chiesetta di San Vito.
- A path leads to a serpentine of the driveway to San Biagio. Shortly after the bend, the stone-paved pilgrim path descends and slowly climbs up the hill in the shade of individual trees. From here there is a great view down to the coastline of Basilicata in several places. Halfway there is the entrance to a not yet fully explored karst cave.
- After about an hour, the serpentine of the car access road is reached. You climb right in the curve on a red and white marked gravel path to the ruins of the abandoned after earthquake damage old Maratea and through the old walls to the path to the statue of Christo Reddentore created in 1965.
- After enjoying the view from the feet of the statue, visiting the souvenir shop and pilgrimage church Basilica di San Biagio can be descended on the modern road (or the ascent path) to the modern car park.
- This is where the path to Madonna degli Ulivi church. From the forecourt, the path leads diagonally along the slope briefly in a westerly direction, then turns right and leads down the old mule track accompanied by red and white markings to Maratea.
- In the forest you come across the church Madonna delle Grazie. The path leads further down, leaves the forest and past the fountain of the Fontana Vecchia you get to the road that leads back to the Corso and the town center.
shop
- There are several souvenir shops and boutiques in the center of Maratea
kitchen
- 1 White Horse Ristorante Pizzeria Maratea, Via Marina Nazionale, 85046 Maratea. Tel.: 39 0973879009.
- 2 Ristorante La Tana, Contr. Castrocucco, Via dell’amicizia 22, 85046 Maratea. Tel.: 39 0973871770. Open: 13: 00-14: 30, 20: 00-22: 30 h.
nightlife
accommodation
- 1 Villagio Camping Maratea, Loc.tà Castrocucco. Tel.: 390973871680, Email: [email protected]. Open: May - October.
security
Caution: there is a great danger of forest fires in the summer months: do not light a fire outdoors, watch out for smoke!
health
- 1 Ospedale di Maratea has an emergency station ("Pronto Soccorso")
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
http://www.comune.maratea.pz.it/ - Official website of Maratea
