Day trips

Ancient city on the Gulf of Policastro of the Greek era, is the only portion of the region Lucania on the Tyrrhenian Sea, where it extends for about 30 km., Spectator and creator of an enchanting coastline, varied with rocks and shallows, creeks and caves, of large and small beaches and dotted with pines, olive trees, oaks and carob trees.
The centuries-old vegetation, with a riot of wild rosemary, myrtle and broom, hugs the slopes of the surrounding mountains, now standing out on the sea with the solemnity of the abyss, now curving up to melt into the Appennine mountain range.
Perched on the side of Mount St. Biagio, the country under the banner of the ancient reddish roofs, narrow little streets winding under ancient arches and worn stairs, out into the sea, on whose clear waters and a myriad colors, from emerald to turquoise to periwinkle, turn off the fiery sunsets. Among the scenes of a handful of fishermen's cottages dozing beside the water, the port, refuge of old fishing boats and modern, collects the voices and sounds of a tourist class, under the gaze of the Redeemer who seems to orchestrate, in its white tunic, the impressive spectacle of nature.

"Perhaps there is no landscape in Italy and most superb views. Imagine dozens and dozens of miles of rugged cliffs with caves, rocks, cliffs and gentle beaches in front of the most spectacular of the seas, now opened wide and open, now closed in small bays such as docks. The dolomite separated by a chain, all flesh-colored rocks, dotted with semi-abandoned villages, crumbling castles and ancient Saracen towers, a wooded slope broken by rivers and streams and buried under the foliage of oak and chestnut trees. "
(Indro Montanelli, 1957 article in the newspaper "Il Corriere della Sera”)

Places to visit:

The "Redeemer"
The Statue of Christ Redeemer of Maratea is a piece of Carrara marble sculpture depicting Christ the Redeemer just after the Resurrection. Was commissioned by Count Stefano Rivetti di Val Cervo, who wanted to make a gift to all citizens of Maratea. The statue rests on a reinforced concrete skeleton, which traces its foundation to several meters deep. The outer coat, often around 20 cm, is made of concrete mixed with slivers of Carrara marble. The size makes this statue of its kind dedicated to Christ, the largest in Europe, while the world only follows that of Cochabamba and Rio de Janeiro: is 21.13 meters high.

The Castle
The Castle is the name by which the Marateoti indicate the old town of Maratea, located on top of Mount St. Biagio. This ancient town, now deserted, was probably born in high-medieval age and there are also some traces of Roman settlements. The nickname Castle is due to the fact that the town was placed on top of a cliff protected by walls, ramparts and towers defended by numerous attacks in 1400 but were destroyed after the resistance of 1806. The difficult living conditions of the site, exposed to weather and lightning, together with the commuting of the peasants who cultivated the lands of the valley below, were the preconditions for the emergence of the new Maratea.

The Basilica of St. Biagio
Legend and popular tradition that the church is readjusting to the Christian religion was born a pagan temple, of uncertain origin, dedicated to the goddess Minerva. In 732 he received the relics of the Saint Armenian and became the shrine of the saint, who was elected patron of the city. The celebration of the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St. Biagio lasts an entire week, the first Saturday in May until the second Sunday of the month.

The "Village"
The Village is the historic center of Maratea. It is perched on a rocky ridge of Mount St. Biagio making it invisible from the sea, and then, in ancient times, safe from the threat of Saracen pirates.

The "Port"
The port, located in the village of the same name, is a welcome port in the Mediterranean. In a strategic position in the Gulf of Policastro, may contain more than 500 vessels and provides various services (tours and boat trips, boat rentals with or without driver). There are numerous bars and restaurants with local cuisine based on fish.

Fractions
In addition to the "Castle" and "Hamlet", the territory is divided in 9 marateoto fractions: Acquafredda (It was the summer residence of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of italy Francesco Saverio Nitti and place of the martyrdom of the revolutionary Costabile Carducci), Cersuta, Fiumicello-Santavenere, Porto, Marina (there are the "Caves of Marina"), Castrocucco and follow the mountain hamlets of Saint Caterina, Massa and Brefaro.

The 44 churches
The town of Maratea is known for the many churches that dot the territory, a tangible sign of centuries of strong religious traditions. The area with highest density of church buildings is the Old Town, where he was for ever greater presence of Christian communities, however, there are emergencies in remote areas more or less accessible, and experience related to the hermitage of monks Brazilian. There are also a number of smaller churches and chapels that feature streets and alleys, and even though they are less important than the mainline churches are still very interesting to visit..

Curiosity:

• In 2003, the Sunday Times pointed out as "one of the ten hidden gems of Europe, and in 2006 the Financial Times the definition of 'a" gem ".

• Maratea is twinned with the town of Cento, Carosino, Bolzano and Avetrana.

• On 21 September 2002 Alessandro Lolli Rigrani Maratea has established the world record in free diving.

• On 10 December 1990 the President of the Republic Francesco Cossiga has awarded the town of Maratea with the honorary title of "City."

• Was the location of several films, including "The widow" with Peppino De Filippo, "Behind closed doors" by Dino Risi, "Every left is lost" by Piero Chiambretti and “Basilicata Coast to Coast" by Rocco Papaleo.

Rivello
Rivello, an ancient medieval village perched on 3 hills at 500 meters high, is located in the Valle del Noce. The historic center is characterized by the countless alleys and the typical ups and downs of stairways that connect the old quarters. The visitor explores a charming and elegant architecture of ancient portals and wonderful wrought iron balconies adorned with colorful geraniums.
Places of interest are the Convent of S. Anthony of Padova, the church of St. Barbara and St. Michele's Church of the Greeks, in the Byzantine style and containing a polyptych of the Neapolitan school of 1614.
Things of interest is the former Convent of the Friars Minor (XV cent.), In which are stored a wooden choir of the XVII cent. by Hilary Montalbano and carvings depicting scenes of life and local crafts. In early times, the country was known for copper working.

Trecchina
Church of St. Michele Arcangelo: built in 1857, is the parish church of Trecchina and is one of the largest churches in Basilicata. It is located in the middle of the Piazza del Popolo.
Sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso: small church located on top of Mount St. Maria (altitude 1089m above sea level). Visit the Church of St. Giovanni and the Church of St. Antonio.
DO NOT MISS: CHESTNUT FESTIVAL (October)

Certosa di San Lorenzo
The Charterhouse was, in 1998, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2002 was included in the group of the Campania Region Great Cultural Attractions. The architectural structure of the Certosa di Padula, is divided into two zones: the first consists of the workplace, and the second, however, is the residence of the monks. A large wall surrounding the enormous religious building. Around the courtyard there was the grocer, the house of the apothecary and the guest. Within the walls also the Parco della Certosa di Padula, once the "Garden of enclosure." In the Church of St. Lorenzo Charterhouse the monks found themselves in one of the rare moments of community life. On one side sat the monks who made ​​no vow of enclosure close to the presbytery sat fathers instead of seclusion that there came through an internal passageway. Of particular interest are the high altar and the door of cedar wood, dating back to 1374. Unfortunately, as in other places in the Church of the Certosa, many empty spaces testify to the suppression of the Certosa by the French in the early nineteenth century, which caused the dispersion of many artistic treasures. In one corner of the Cloister of the small ancient cemetery, which the fathers of seclusion crossed to reach the Church, there is the Founder's Chapel which contains the tomb of Thomas Sanseverino (XVI cent.).
When this area of ​​Certosa fell into disuse, the monks decided to build a new Cloister. The latter, called "great" because of its size, was built starting in 1583, and is on two levels: at the bottom, on the porch with the cells of the fathers; at the top, the gallery windowed used for the weekly walk.
An elliptical staircase double ramp, Vanvitellian style, with eight large windows, it combines the two levels of the Great Cloister. At the Prior's cell is reached after passing a gate that separates the cell area of the fathers of all circles described up to now. The site, unlike the small and austere monks' cells, is a ten-room apartment, is mainly characterized by direct access to one of the most well-stocked religious libraries of the world, which previously housed thousands of books, illuminated codices, manuscripts. A striking spiral staircase in stone, opens like a fan and door to anti hall of the library of the great Certosa di Padula, of which, however, there remain only two thousand volumes.

Pollino National Park
The National Park of Pollino, between Basilicata and Calabria, is the highest and interesting mountain range of the Southern Apennines.
With great forests remained intact since they were born, rare trees such as Pino Loricato and the protected animals that live in freedom and harmony with people.
Offers the testimonies rupestrian thousand years old. (The ancient countries of Albanian origin). From Maratea Pollino is an hour and a half by car. In the park are possible on request guided walking tours.

Cilento National Park
The Cilento National Park is a protected area, UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the province of Salerno. The area extends to the ends of Basilicata and is easily accessible from Maratea. The karst lands Cilento and the consequent wealth of caves has undoubtedly supported the human presence since the Middle Palaeolithic (500,000 thousand years BC). And it is through these ancient paths that took probably start the great adventure of the first communities that seamlessly and for thousands of years, they established contacts and exchanges and intertwined relations with the Peoples of the sea and with those of the Apennines. Today, the park of Cilento, offers visitors tours and excursions through nature and history. As the valley of Mingardo.

Lucano Apennines Park
The National Park of Appennino Lucano-Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese is a wide range of protected area entirely within the territory of Basilicata. Its geographical location makes it a perfect environmental corridor between two large natural reserves of the National Park of Pollino and Cilento National Park, in the center of the regional system of protected areas. The Park has a varied geology and geomorphology with tectono-karstic basins, temporary lakes, sinkholes, caves, springs, areas rich in fossils and evident geological structures that testify to the highlights of the evolution Lucano Apennines.
Visit Grumentum: the archaeological excavations and the Val d'Agri museum which preserves in addition to the Roman remains, material from the prehistoric period.