Latest news with #Tyrrhenian
National Geographic
6 days ago
- National Geographic
This hidden Italian town is perfect for a summer escape
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Imagine if the Amalfi Coast was all but unknown — that's the charm of Maratea. Bordered by Campania to the north and Calabria to the south, the municipality occupies the only portion of the Tyrrhenian coast in the whole of Basilicata. It's a near 20-mile stretch home to striking black-sand beaches, boat-fresh seafood and panoramic vistas overlooking the glittering Gulf of Policastro. But despite possessing all the hallmarks of the quintessential Italian seaside getaway, the Maratea area is yet to draw the crowds associated with its better-known coastal counterparts. It's also more accessible than ever thanks to recently launched British Airways flights from London to Salerno — located just an hour and 45 minutes by car or an hour and 15 minutes by train. Take time to explore Maratea's Centro Storico, or historic centre, and enjoy a coffee at one of the many outdoor cafes. Maratea is not one single town, but a collection of mountain and seaside hamlets dotted around an old urban core. This Centro Storico, or historic centre, is a maze of cobblestone streets, colourful medieval homes and narrow alleyways twisting toward the main square, Piazza Buraglia. Take some time to enjoy a coffee or aperitif at one of Caffe E Dolcezze Di Laprea's outdoor tables. And be sure to visit Pasticceria Panza, a bakery known for its traditional bocconotto (shortcrust pastry filled with cream and black cherry or chocolate). Shop for Lucanian (the term used to describe people or things from Basilicata) specialities at Divino Maratea, including wines making use of Basilicata's famous Aglianico grapes, as well as local spirits, including Amaro Naturale, which is made from the aromatic herbs that grow throughout Maratea. From the old town, take the winding, white-knuckle drive to the top of Monte San Biagio, where the marble-faced Cristo Redentore, an imposing Christ the Redeemer statue, stands with its arms stretched out towards the green Lucanian Apennines. Make a loop around the platform at the foot of the 69ft sculpture for incredible views of the rocky coastline and bright-blue sea below. The imposing Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the area's most recognisable attractions. Nearby, you'll find the Chiesa di San Biagio — one of 44 churches in the Maratea area, which is home to just over 5,000 people. The simple white basilica has housed the relics of San Biagio, the patron saint of Maratea, since the year 732 BCE. Up here, visitors can also wander around the crumbling ruins of the area's original settlement, known as Maratea Superiore, which also dates back to the seventh century. It was slowly abandoned during the 16th and 17th centuries as inhabitants moved further down the mountainside to establish the old town — also reachable via the myrtle-lined footpath just off the main road. A short distance away, the Port of Maratea was once a landing place for local fishermen. It now hosts luxury yachts and sailboats — and provides the departure point for boat tours. Dea Maris Boat Tour Maratea takes visitors along Maratea's dramatic coastline, which was featured in the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die. Keep an eye out for the Saracen Towers, cliffside forts built in the Middle Ages to defend the region from pirate attacks. You'll also get a good view of the two islands that hover off the coast of Maratea: Santo Janni and the even smaller La Matrella. In the waters surrounding the former, hundreds of Roman anchors and amphorae have been found on the seabed. To learn more about the area's ancient artefacts, head to Palazzo de Lieto museum, where exhibits occupy an imposing 18th-century palace originally built to house the old town's first hospital. From the water, you may also spy Maratea's famous black-sand beach, Cala Jannita, located just a 10-minute drive from the centre. To explore the fascinating caves around Cala Jannita — such as the Grotta della Sciabella — consider a kayaking tour with Fly Maratea. The port is also home to some of Maratea's best restaurants, including Lanterna Rossa. Situated in an old fisherman's house overlooking the marina, this elegant fine-dining spot sees young Lucani chef Dario Amaro serve classic dishes, such as sea urchin linguine and cuttlefish risotto, with modern flair. Toward the hamlet of Fiumicello, meanwhile, you'll find the cosy, family-run La Cambusa, which has been serving fresh local seafood since the 1950s. Hotel Santavenere's comfortable rooms and fragranced gardens offer a peaceful escape in the mountains. Nearby is Maratea's only five-star accommodation, Hotel Santavenere. Home to sprawling gardens and a secluded beach, the property was once a family villa owned by Count Stefano Rivetti — a wool industrialist from Piedmont who made a new life in Maratea, opening the hotel to the public in 1953. Every Tuesday between May and October, one of its three restaurants, Le Lanterne, hosts a buffet-style meal featuring ingredients and wines from Basilicata, performances from local singers and demonstrations from libbani artists, who weave baskets and other objects from grass blades. Visitors can try this historic local craft for themselves at a workshop with New Mediterranean Libbaneria. It would be easy to whittle away time in Maratea on a sun lounger, but the region's upped its adventure cred in recent years — particularly with the opening of a via ferrata climbing route in 2021, which stretches from the historic centre to the top of Monte San Biagio. Ivy Tour Basilicata offers guided tours and equipment rental. Alternatively, set off on a day-hike to Monte Crivo. Starting just outside the village of Brefaro (about five miles from Maratea's old town), the trail takes travellers to an altitude of 3,783ft — offering sweeping views of Basilicata's mountainous countryside and the glimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. British Airways offers direct flights from London to Salerno. From here, Maratea is easily reachable by car or train. The 34-room Hotel Santavenere, with its colourful Vietri tiles, antique furniture and sweeping sea views, is a convenient base for exploring the area. From €440 (£347), B&B. This story was created with the support of Hotel Santavenere. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
10 most romantic wedding destinations in the world
Imagine saying 'I do' as the sun dips behind whitewashed buildings atop a cliff, or beneath a canopy of cherry blossoms in a time-honored shrine. Picture dancing at a cliffside infinity pool, the ocean breeze whispering destiny, or amidst terraced vineyards under a Tuscan sky. The world is brimming with places so romantic, they elevate weddings into epic love tales. From seaside dreamscapes to mountain-top marvels, the world offers a stunning array of settings that elevate romance into pure magic. Whether your dream is a cliffside Greek chapel, a palatial Indian celebration, or an ocean-whispered vow in the Maldives, these destinations offer a globally curated invitation to romance. Whether you're drawn to the laid-back charm of tropical isles or the regal elegance of royal palaces, these destinations promise to transform your wedding into an adventurous love story. In this guide, we journey through 10 of the most romantic wedding destinations on Earth – carefully selected for breathtaking beauty, unforgettable atmospheres, and that special spark of enchantment. So pack your dress, your best smiles, and your sense of adventure – because 'I do' could never get more breathtaking than this! Amalfi Coast, Italy Dramatic cliffs, sparkling Tyrrhenian views, and lemon-scented breezes make Amalfi pure romance. Terraced villas and luxury hotels like Monastero Santa Rosa host ceremonies with panoramic allure. Add world-class Italian cuisine, rich history, and golden light – your big day here becomes a cinematic masterpiece. Santorini, Greece Cliffside chapels, iconic blue domes, and those legendary sunsets: Santorini is visuals-meets-romance perfection. Say 'I do' perched over the caldera, filled with violet-pink sky reflections. Private terraces and luxury villas let you and your guests be immersed in Aegean bliss. Expertly described as 'a photographer's dream!' It's no wonder Santorini tops honeymoon and wedding wish lists. Tuscany, Italy Think rolling vineyards, olive groves, rustic villas, and world-class wine. Tuscany's charm weaves old-world romance with modern elegance: exchange vows in medieval castles or alfresco among cypress-lined paths. Candlelit dinners and farm-to-table feasts make each moment unforgettable. Bali, Indonesia Named 'Most Romantic Destination' by the World Travel Awards in 2024, Bali dazzles with jungle temples, serene rice paddies, and clifftop ceremony spots. Whether in Ubud's verdant forests or Seminyak's beachfront luxury, its exotic beauty and spiritual charm make every moment feel magical. Resorts like Alila Uluwatu and Ayana redefine eco-chic celebrations. Lake Como, Italy Palatial villas dot serene lakes under alpine silhouettes. Arrive by boat, pledge your love on manicured lawns, and dine beneath sculpted gardens. High-end elegance meets natural spectacle – a timeless embrace of luxury and lushness. Paris, France The City of Love needs no introduction. Supreme backdrops like the Eiffel Tower, Musée Rodin gardens, and historic chapels infuse every frame with romance. Opt for candlelit dinners in grand salons and strolls along the Seine – a swoon-worthy classic. Kyoto, Japan Cherry blossoms flutter as you exchange vows in a Shinto shrine. Kyoto's serene temples, mossy gardens, and minimalist architecture offer culturally rich tranquility. It's an intimate reflection of nature, tradition, and enduring love. Maui, Hawaii, USA Sun-kissed beaches, cascading waterfalls, and lush valleys create diverse backdrops. Opt for barefoot ceremonies on sandy shores, garden parties beneath tropical blooms, or intimate gatherings at cliffside estates. Maui blends aloha spirit with elemental beauty. St. Lucia – Jade Mountain, Caribbean For couples seeking isolation with jaw-dropping views, Jade Mountain on St. Lucia, known as the Amalfi Coast's Caribbean twin, offers private infinity pools set against twin peaks and ocean vistas. Limited to intimate parties, its sanctuaries break the mold of cookie-cutter resorts – intimate, immersive, extraordinary. Udaipur, India The 'Venice of the East' entices with lake palaces like Oberoi Udaivilas and City Palace grandeur. Royal flair blends with Indian hospitality – vows echoed across Lake Pichola beneath domed archways, elephant processions, and centuries of regal romance. World's most enchanting monsoon destinations Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Euronews
28-06-2025
- Euronews
The quiet coastline where Italians in-the-know holiday
At the railway station in Salerno, the city known as the eastern gateway to the Amalfi Coast, a crush of floppy-hatted tourists crowds the platform where the train to Naples will arrive. On the opposite platform, only an elderly lady and a family with two small children wait with me for the train heading in the other direction. We board the nearly empty regionale service, which winds down the Tyrrhenian coastline, arriving in Maratea after just under two hours. It's a grab-a-window-seat kind of journey, travelling through valleys flanked by thickly forested angular hills on one side and the glittering sea on the other. There are plenty of tempting seaside stops en route, but I'm headed to the short strip of coastline of the Basilicata region that is squeezed between Campania and Calabria. Italy's 'forgotten' southern region Basilicata is one of Italy's 'forgotten' regions, historically a poor area with an economy that revolves around agriculture. It remains predominantly underdeveloped in terms of tourism - many would say thankfully so. Most international visitors only recently became aware of its existence thanks to the awarding of its eastern city of Matera as European Capital of Culture in 2019. This troglodyte warren of caves now receives many tourists, but mostly those hopping over the border from the more established destination of Puglia. Over on the western side, the (confusingly similarly named) town of Maratea is a breathtakingly beautiful yet remarkably peaceful spot where Italians in-the-know have holidayed for decades. Although neither upper Maratea nor the waterside Porto di Maratea can claim the precipitous drama of Amalfi Coast towns like Positano, the coastline stretching out on either side is, for me, superior in terms of its natural landscape. Plus, even in the height of summer peak season, it is a dreamy oasis of tranquillity and slow living, devoid of crowds. Quiet luxury at a historic hotel For many Italian holidaymakers, Hotel Santavenere is synonymous with Maratea. The property, the only five-star on the coastline, opened in 1953, and has had a major influence on the kind of tourism the area promotes and attracts. It was practising quiet luxury long before it became a buzzword on social media. From the electric golf buggies that pick guests up at the station a few minutes away to the natural pebble beach, it reassures guests it hasn't changed its approach. Hotel Santavenere feels like the kind of discreetly glamorous accommodation many tourists want to find along the Amalfi Coast, only to find few can offer that sense of space, solitude and serenity without a hefty price tag. In fact, Santavenere's surrounding parkland that slopes steeply to the sea is something the Amalfi Coast's clifftop properties cannot offer. In the early morning, I wander down the snaking trail through the maritime pine-shaded garden to the shore, preceded by darting rustles of iridescent green lizards dashing into the undergrowth. At the water's edge, sun loungers are laid out in little natural terraces amongst the rocks, and a ladder gives access to the dark blue sea. A little way along is the natural pebble beach with shallow water to paddle in. The hillside rises steeply above, tangled in trees and crowned by an ancient watchtower. A pretty port and a hillside hike Halfway back up the lung-busting ascent through the gardens of the hotel, there is a gate opening out to a curving road. This winds down to Porto di Maratea, a clutch of houses gathered around a little marina. Lining the road that curves around the port are little stores like a pottery workshop and a boat supplier. The town also has a surprising number of excellent restaurants, including the Laterna Rossa, which serves refined dishes like a cannolo with raw prawns, ricotta mousse and gazpacho or pasta stuffed with catch of the day, local provola cheese and lemon. High up on the hillside above is upper Maratea, a town of narrow, sloping streets, ice-cream coloured houses and an impressive 44 churches, hugged by rugged mountains. I sit in the square with a summery-looking spritz on a maiolica table, preparing myself for the afternoon hike up to Maratea's most iconic monument. A little over an hour's climb up from the town is a 21-metre-high white statue of Christ the Redeemer, his arms outstretched. It's hard to say whether Rio's version or Maratea's has a better view - from the top, I take in a panorama of the coves and juts of the coastline, the forested mountains, and the Tyrrhenian Sea stretching to the horizon. Discovering Basilicata's 'cucina povera' My favourite view of Maratea's coastline, however, is from the terraces of Hotel Santavenere. An abundance of bold purple bougainvillaea means every vista is framed by flowers, including the al fresco dining area. As the light fades, I take a culinary journey through Basilicata with chef Giovanni Fiorellino's new menu. I begin with the raw amberjack with Lucanian (the ancient name for the Basilicata region) black pig guanciale, and 'formaggio dei poveri' - fried and seasoned breadcrumbs known in Basilicata as the cheese of the poor. I follow it with the palette-awakening beetroot risotto with mussels, buffalo blue cheese and coffee powder, and then Lucanian pork shoulder with a reduction of the local Amaro Lucano liqueur. On my post-dinner walk down to Porto di Maratea, all I can hear are the chirping cicadas and the waves below - a far cry from the honking of buses and crowded pavements of the Amalfi Coast.
Barnama
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
1000 Miglia Returns With Iconic Route, Expanded Programme
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The 1000 Miglia is set to return from June 17 to 21, with 420 classic cars tackling a 1,900-kilometre (km) route across Italy in a five-day event that echoes the spirit of its epic pre-war editions. Departing from Viale Venezia in Brescia, this year's route forms a symbolic figure-eight, connecting the eastern Adriatic and western Tyrrhenian coasts while preserving the classic Brescia-Rome-Brescia path. Highlights include stopovers in San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna), Rome, Cervia-Milano Marittima, and Parma, before the grand return to Brescia for a final parade in Piazza Vittoria, coinciding with Festa della Musica. Meanwhile, the passage through the Naval Academy in Livorno will seal the partnership with the Italian Navy, showing the collaboration and closeness that the Armed Forces and Police have always reserved for the 1000 Miglia. The 1000 Miglia 2025 convoy will be preceded by 123 Ferraris from the Tribute 1000 Miglia and 1000 Miglia Green electric cars, accompanied by the Politecnico di Milano's robo-driven cars reflecting on the introduction of autonomous driving for optimising urban transport. The pre-race programme started on June 15 with the inauguration of the 1000 Miglia Village in the historic setting of Piazza Vittoria featuring children from the 'La 1000 Miglia goes to school' project that decorate the car dedicated to the initiative, travelling behind the convoy. Furthermore, the 1000 Miglia Charity Car, with La Zebra Onlus, will raise public awareness of the purchase of a latest-generation ultrasound scanner to be donated to the Children's Hospital in Brescia. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
All Set For The 1000 Miglia 2025
BRESCIA, Italy, June 16 (Bernama) -- The countdown is almost over. The 1000 Miglia returns, 17-21 June with an eight-shaped route inspired by the epic pre-war editions, linking the eastern Adriatic and western Tyrrhenian coasts, besides the Brescia-Rome route and return. 1900 km and 5 racing days for the 420 jewels of the world's only travelling museum. After leaving Viale Venezia in Brescia, the first leg will end in San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna). On Wednesday, the cars will arrive in the capital, then, returning north, the third leg will end in Cervia-Milano Marittima. On Friday, the crews will cross Italy from east to west: reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea, the passage through the Naval Academy in Livorno will seal the partnership with the Italian Navy, showing the collaboration and closeness that the Armed Forces and Police have always reserved for the 1000 Miglia. In Parma, the conclusion of the fourth leg will precede the grand finale on Saturday 21st: from midday, the cars will return to Viale Venezia before waving goodbye to the public in Piazza Vittoria with a parade in the festive Festa della Musica atmosphere.
