Maratea is a town in Southern Italy with narrow streets, a small piazza, and winding alleys where old and renovated homes offer an Italian wandering experience.  It is a bustling summer community that closes down in October. Our hotel, Locanda della Donne Monache, will close for the season October 16th and reopen in April.  Despite the tourist season coming to an end, we were able to keep busy during our stay, thanks in large part to good weather.

We hiked almost two miles to the top of Monte San Biagio to see the large statue of Jesus Christ, “Christo Redentore.” Ro is pictured standing in front of the nearly 70 foot statue. It is a scenic walk with spectacular views of the cliffs and towns overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.  I was startled twice by small slithering snakes.  Ro noted that we saw no snakes when we climbed Ireland’s most holy mountain, Croagh Patrick in Murrisk, County Mayo,  where it is said St. Patrick spent 40 days. Per Christian lore, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Per Italian lore, when a snake appears on a path to a holy place, it is the devil trying to impede the progress of the walkers.

Because many restaurants were already closed for the season, we took our second long walk of the day to eat dinner at Trattoria Da Biagio restaurant and enjoyed some of our favorite dishes. We shared an appetizer of soppresseta, casciocavallo cheese, and pickled vegetables.  Ro had a first course of fusilli with tomato and basil followed by stuffed eggplant, a house specialty (photo at right).  I had a first course of  pacchieri with tomato sauce and local sausage, followed by grilled spigola (a European sea bass) and greens in lemon juice (photo below).  In the photos, notice the wine, served in a small juice glass as is often done at the family table.  And with no bread dish, it was okay to spill crumbs on the table.  In all, the cost of our dinner including wine at this no frills trattoria was 44E.