Maratea

Maratea is a town with 5140 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2012) in the province of Potenza and the Basilicata region.

• 3.1 Airports

Geography

The municipality of Maratea is a major tourist destination and the only city in the region of Lucania on the Tyrrhenian Sea, with about 32 km of coastline in the Gulf of Policastro; the panorama includes cliffs, Sandbaenke, caves, spacious beaches and lush vegetation of pines, olive trees, oaks, holm oaks, carob trees and bushes of rosemary, myrtle and broom ( the so-called macchia mediterranea ).

The town stands on a hillside of Monte San Biagio (Saint- Belasiusberg ) of the Apennine mountain range.

Attractions

Christ the Redeemer

The Christ statue of Maratea was created in 1965 by the Florentine sculptor Bruno Innocenti made ​​of white Carrara marble. It stands on the summit of San Biagio in front of the facade of the Basilica of San Basilio.

Churches

Because of its many churches and chapels Maratea is called "the city of 44 churches ".

• San Blasio Basilica. The main church of the city lies on the summit of the hill of San Biagio. It was built in the 6th and 7th centuries. It houses the relics of St. Blaise, in whose honor every 2nd Sunday held a procession in May. A silver statue of the saint is carried from the Basilica through the main streets of the old town.
• Santa Maria Maggiore, built in 1505, is the parish church of the old town.
• San Vito is the oldest church in the old city and dates from the 9th century.
• Santa Maria Annunziata, built in the 16th century
• Santa Maria Addolorata, built in 1620
• Maria Santissima Immaculata. In the crypt of this church an ancient predecessor, the church of San Pietro was found.
• Kalvarienkirche, built in the 15th century
• St. Anthony, built in 1615th In the church is a precious polyptych.
• Sant'Anna, built in the 14th century
• San Francesco di Paola, built in the 17th century
• Madonna del Rosario, built in 1575th This church is considered the most beautiful building in the city.

In the vicinity of Maratea are more churches and chapels.

• Maria Santissima Immacolata in Maratea. In the 1833 -built church is the grave of the revolutionary Costabile Carducci.
• Santa Maria Addolorata in Cersuta, built in the 17th century

The towers

On the coast of Maratea several historic towers have been preserved, both old lighthouses and watchtowers from the time of the Kingdom of Naples, which have been built to protect against pirates. They were built in the late 16th century.

• The Torre dei Crivi is north of Maratea on a rock on the SS 18 He is still quite well preserved from the outside.
• The Torre di Maratea is also located near Maratea on the promontory Rotondella. The tower is in poor condition because it has been used in recent times as a quarry.
• The Torre Apprezzami l' Asino is in the northern town Cersuta on a ridge near the SS 18 It has been recently restored .. His name he owes a local legend that a donkey has fallen because of the narrow path into the sea.

• The Torre Santavenere is considered one of the most beautiful towers from the time of the Kingdom of Naples. He stands on the territory of the municipality Fiumicello - Santavenere and is used for a redevelopment as a residential tower.
• The Torre di Filocaio was the Watchtower of the port of Maratea. After its renovation in the 20th century, it is used as a residential tower.
• The Torre Caina has a particularly picturesque location beside the sea on top of a large promontory in the south of Marina di Maratea.
• The Torre dei Crivi on a rocky cliff in the north of Acquafredda as can ruin even to recognize its former shape.

Transport

Airports

The nearest airports are:

• Airport Salerno- Pontecagnano ( QSR) 139 Km
• Naples Airport (NAP ) 211 Km
• Lamezia Terme Airport ( SUF) 217 Km