Ivan Gillis

Tucked Away in Southern Italy

Seaside Gem of Maratea Offers Reasonably Priced Real Estate

Coastal Apartments in the Mid-$200,000s

Maratea, Italy

Ancient Maratea (population 5,600) is a delightful hilltop town along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in southern Italy's Basilicata region.    Mostly off the tourist-beaten path, Maratea is a small port that caters to pleasure craft and is surrounded by hills, mountains and thick vegetation.  The old town has been restored and has a maze of wonderfully narrow, mediaeval streets and alleyways.  There are two main plazas, and wine bars, open-air cafes; stores, restaurants and gelato shops line the streets.  The village is safe and clean, and hidden beaches (20 of them), caves, rugged cliffs and exquisitely clear water add to Maratea's considerable charm.

While it is not dirt cheap, real estate for sale in this picturesque spot is less expensive than in many other Italian seacoast destinations.  Generally speaking, homes are priced from around $200 per square foot (and go higher).   For example, currently for sale is a small home with roughly 550 sq. ft., plus 1/3 of an acre and sea views; the price is $105,000 USD.  Slightly more expensive, a 65 square meter (695 sq. ft.) modern apartment, completely furnished, with two bedrooms and two baths, a terrace and a parking space (a good thing) is currently selling for $270,000 USD. 

Maratea closes down from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. everyday, as is customary in most southern Italian towns, but restaurants and shops stay open late into the night.   Eateries serve delicious fresh seafood and pasta dishes, and in many ways the cuisine and lifestyle of Maratea remind one of Greece more than of northern Italy.

There are no major cities in Basilicata and relatively few people in the entire region; it is, in fact, one of the least populated areas of Italy.  It used to be one of the poorest regions in the country, but the discovery of offshore oil has changed that, and the area is starting to attract attention.  More tourists are starting to come during the summer months (swimming is only possible from May to November), but the place is left to local residents the rest of the year.   English is not heard too often; one would have to learn Italian to be comfortable here.

Getting to Maratea can take a little time and patience.  Trains service the town, and the A1 coastal highway runs through the region, but one has to drive 100 miles north to Naples to find an airport.  Roads are in decent shape, but the drive through the hills to get here can be an adventure.

To find real estate for sale in Materea, go to www.google.com or www.yahoo.com and search on "maratea basilicata italy real estate for sale."    Foreigners may purchase property in Italy as long as Italian citizens may buy property in the purchaser's home country.