Maratea and the Christ the Redeemer
The Lucanian Tyrrhenian coast dominated by the great statue on Monte San Biagio
On the short stretch of Tyrrhenian coast of Basilicata, only about 30 kilometres long, between Campania and Calabria, Maratea is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in southern Italy, called the "Pearl of the Tyrrhenian". Here the mountains drop steeply into a sea of extraordinary clarity, creating a coast of cliffs, coves, beaches of dark sand and pebbles, sea caves and small islands, covered with Mediterranean vegetation. The town is divided into several hamlets: the historic centre, on the slope of the mountain, with its lanes, small squares and dozens of churches, so many that Maratea is called the "city of 44 churches", the picturesque harbour, with its restaurants and boats, and the seaside hamlets of Fiumicello, Acquafredda and Marina di Maratea.
On the top of Monte San Biagio, at about 600 metres, above the town, stands the symbol of Maratea: the great statue of the Christ the Redeemer, about 21 metres high, created in 1965 by the Florentine sculptor Bruno Innocenti, in white concrete mixed with Carrara marble chips. Unlike other statues of Christ, it turns its back to the sea and looks towards the mountain and the basilica of San Biagio, with its arms open. From the esplanade at its feet, which can be reached by a spectacular winding road, the view over the whole Gulf of Policastro and the coast is breathtaking. The sea of Maratea is ideal for boat trips to discover the caves and coves, such as the Grotta della Sciabica and the island of Santo Janni.
Tip: drive up to the Christ the Redeemer at sunset; take a boat trip along the coast from the harbour.
Where it is
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