The medieval borgo of Maratea sits high on the hillside above the sea, a tight cluster of stone lanes, arched passageways, and small piazzas that has changed remarkably little in character since the Middle Ages. The village is almost traffic-free — cars are left at the edge and the borgo is best explored on foot, getting pleasantly lost in the narrow caruggi.
The main square, Piazza del Gesù, is anchored by the church of Santa Maria Maggiore with its ornate 18th-century facade. A short walk further up brings you to the ruins of the castle and the start of the path to the Cristo Redentore. The borgo is genuinely inhabited rather than purely touristified — residents dry washing between the windows, cats sleep on doorsteps, and the few restaurants and bars serve the same food and wine whether or not tourists are around. In summer, the evening passeggiata through the lanes is a pleasure.