Beaches
Beaches and Coves
Maratea offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Basilicata, each with unique features and crystal-clear waters. From large sandy shores to small coves, each beach offers a different experience. Some beaches are nestled among Mediterranean vegetation and are ideal for those seeking tranquility and contact with nature. Accessible by land or sea, Maratea’s beaches are perfect for swimming, relaxing, or exploring seabeds rich in marine life.
beaches and coves
Stunning beaches nestled between rocks and hidden coves
Maratea offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Basilicata, each with unique features and crystal-clear waters. From large sandy shores to small coves, each beach offers a different experience. Some beaches are nestled among Mediterranean vegetation and are ideal for those seeking tranquility and contact with nature. Accessible by land or sea, Maratea’s beaches are perfect for swimming, relaxing, or exploring seabeds rich in marine life.
Anginarra
With its 200 meters of sandy shoreline, it is one of the largest beaches on the Maratea coast. It is bordered to the north by a spectacular cliff that houses the homonymous cave and to the south by a flat reef that separates it from Luppa beach. The name refers to a place rich in “angine,” or sea urchins.
Luppa
It’s a wide beach that extends from the cliff separating it from Anginarra Beach to the rocky platform of Punta San Pietro, near Villa Nitti. Easy access and the beauty of the seabed make it one of the best-known and most popular beaches in Maratea.
Fiumicello
It extends between the tip of Ogliastro, home to the Fiumicello caves, and the pebble landslide of ‘Mpedi i Canni, near the Santavenere Tower. The beach is divided into two sections by the stream that gives its name to the beach and the district. Extremely easy access and the presence of numerous services make it one of the most popular beaches on the Maratea coast.
Vranne
It’s a long sandy stretch accessible only by sea. Its seabed is home to a vast meadow of Posidonia Oceanica, a very important habitat for the underwater biological balance. At the southern end of the beach lies Giorgio’s Cave.
Cala Jannita
Also known as Black Beach for the distinctive color of its sand, it is located opposite the island of Santo Janni, and it is accessed via a beautiful trail that crosses the dense Mediterranean scrub. From here, you can swim or kayak to the Sciabella cave, which houses a small beach.
Cala di Don Nicola
Also known as Macarro Beach, after the charming area behind it, it’s one of the most beautiful and popular beaches on the Maratea coast, facing the Jumenta shoal, and it is accessed via a path through the Mediterranean scrub.
A Scala
Also known as Calaficarra, it’s a lovely open beach nestled between splendid white dolomitic limestone rock formations. On the northern side of the beach there is a small cave, where you can dive and admire the reflections of light on the vaulted ceiling.
Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa Beach, or Cala di Don Carlo, is the largest and most popular beach in the district of Marina di Maratea. It is adorned with small land caves on the northern side and the distinctive Falchetto (that it means small falcon) rock, located in the center of the beach, atop which falcons often nest.
Ricciulillu
Ricciulillu beach is a tiny stretch of sand surrounded by rocks and rocky ravines, accessible by land via a staircase built into the rock.
Cala Vecchia
Cala Vecchia is a sandy beach located on the southern side of the Ilicini promontories. This stretch of coast was used as a landing place by ancient Roman sailors, as evidenced by the presence of tanks used for the production of Garum on the island of Santo Janni.
La Secca
Secca di Castrocucco beach is located in one of the most picturesque corners of the coast. It is protected from sea currents by the cliffs of ‘u tuppu, a small island covered in broom plants. Near the beach is the Baronial Palace, with an adjoining chapel dedicated to San Pasquale. On the peak behind the beach stand the ruins of Castrocucco Castle.
A Gnola
It is the largest sandy beach on the Maratea coast. It consists of a long stretch of sand downstream from the Castrocucco plain, which extends beneath the slopes of the Serra, creating a small bay that serves as a mooring point. Bordered to the south by the Noce River, which divides Basilicata and Calabria, it is among the most popular beaches on the coast.