Acquafredda is the northern coastal hamlet of Maratea, close to the Campania border and wrapped in the steep, green scenery that makes the Costa di Maratea so different from a conventional beach resort. Its name means "cold water", a nod to the freshwater springs that helped shape the settlement and its beaches.
The appeal is simple: clear Tyrrhenian water, small coves, rocks, and a less polished feel than the famous Italian resort coasts further north. The beaches around Acquafredda are best reached with a little patience, and some involve steps or short paths down from the road, but that effort keeps the place from feeling overrun.