The charm of the picturesque scenery, the transparency of the waters, ranging through a myriad colours from emerald to turquoise to periwinkle, are crowned by the glorious sunsets, setting the visitor's heart ablaze in a fever reminiscent of the nostalgia for Africa; such is the passion born of the magical atmosphere, halfway between reality and dream.

Maratea displays a coastline of unusual charm and beauty. Enlivened with rocks and shallows, creeks and caves (those of Marina are particularly interesting), big and small beaches, tailored, as it were, for human beings, sandy or pebbly, ferrous or calcareous, the coast is dotted with pines, olive trees, oaks, carobs and holm-oaks, often leaning over the sea as though they longed to plunge their leafy heads into it and slake their thirst with immortal waters to keep them ever cool and fresh.

In a charming cleft in the cliffs, against the background of a handful of cottages huddled together and painted in different colours, where the few fishermen and the occasional tourist live, the Port, ancient centre linking Maratea and its hinterland with the rest of the world, still harbours old fishing craft and modern boats, many of which are moored along the mole.