The name Maratea maybe comes from the Greek colonisers arrived here during Magna Graecia age, to recall a famous Greek town, Maratona. According to another hypothesis, the name comes from Thea Maris that is Sea Goddess. Maratea was first inhabited during Palaeolithic age. At the beginning of VI century b.C., some people coming from the inner territories of the region settled here. They created small rural villages. The mouths of the rivers (Bussento, Noce, Lao) were the natural landing place for many people, arriving there to created new colonies, for example Greek colonisers which met the local populations. According to tradition, around VIII century b.C. the town was founded on Mountain ("S. Biagio") by Greek colonisers. During Roman age, the near isle of S. Janni was used to produce "garum", a popular food at that age. Maratea was ruled by Romans, Angevin family, Spanish rulers, but it always preserved its privileges thanks to its position. In 1700 Maratea distinguished itself thanks to the cultural attitude of its inhabitants and to their education. In the meantime, it was becoming a very important commercial town. After the Unity of Italy, Maratea became an important cultural town, where young people of the surrounding town met.

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Written by Stefania Maffeo
Translation by Linda Liguori