Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
www.volodellangelo.com
; per person €35-40, couples €63-72)
, a heart-in-mouth ride where you are su-
pended, belly down, in a cradle harness, and whizzed via cables across the gorge. The or-
ganisers factor in time to explore whichever town you land in before the return cable ride.
You can spend an eerie night in Pietrapertosa at a delightful B&B,
La Casa di Penelope e
Cirene
( 0971 98 30 13; Via Garibaldi 32; d from €70)
. Dine at the authentic Lucano restaurant
Al
Becco della Civetta
( 0971 98 62 49;
www.beccodellacivetta.it
; Vicolo I Maglietta 7; meals €25; Wed-Mon)
in Castelmezzano, which also offers traditionally furnished, simple whitewashed rooms
(double €80).
You'll need your own vehicle to visit Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Basilicata's Western Coast
Resembling a mini-Amalfi, Basilicata's Tyrrhenian coast is short (about 20km) but sweet.
Squeezed between Calabria and Campania's Cilento peninsula, it shares the same beguil-
ing characteristics: hidden coves and pewter sandy beaches backed by majestic coastal
cliffs. The SS18 threads a spectacular route along the mountains to the coast's star attrac-
tion, the charming seaside settlements of Maratea.
Maratea
POP 5220
Maratea is a charming, if confusing, place at first, being comprised of several distinct loc-
alities ranging from a medieval village to a stylish harbour. The setting is lush and dramat-
ic, with a coastal road (narrower even than the infamous Amalfi Coast road!) that dips and
winds past the cliffs and pocket-size beaches that line the sparkling Golfo di Policastro.
Studded with elegant hotels, Maratea's attraction is no secret and you can expect tailback
traffic and fully booked hotels in July and August. Conversely, many hotels and restaur-
ants close from October to March.
Sights & Activities
Your first port of call should be the pretty
Porto di Maratea
, a harbour where sleek yachts and
bright-blue fishing boats bob in the water, overlooked by bars and restaurants. Then
there's the enchanting 13th-century medieval
borgo
(small town) of
Maratea Inferiore
, with
