Sailing to Basilicata

A map of the best ports and anchorages

The coast of Basilicata

The Basilicata region has two coastlines: a 30-km stretch on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania and Calabria, and a longer coastline along the Gulf of Taranto between Calabria and Apulia. The coastlines of Basilicata, though small, has always been a safe haven for travellers. Greek settlers first set foot here around 600 BC, establishing colonies that thrived thanks to the fertile soil and abundant fishing grounds. They built temples and towns, while the Romans later used these shores as part of their sprawling empire.

The region’s isolation helped preserve much of its authenticity. For centuries, Basilicata was a land of shepherds and farmers, and its coastal areas were often overlooked by the bustling trade routes that favoured larger ports in neighbouring regions. This allowed its culture to develop a unique flavour, untouched by the frenetic pace of modernity that swept across other parts of Italy. One town that perfectly captures the essence of Basilicata’s coastal allure is Maratea, sometimes called the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian.”

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