L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 20 L'Italo-Americano I t is so blazing hot in Italy this August -- a n a n t i c y c l o n e d u b b e d L u c i f e r s w e p t a c r o s s t h e country -- that you want to lie forever on the magic, wild beaches of Maratea, t h e s o - c a l l e d " P e a r l o f the Tyrrhenian Sea." In this place, nature is a pow- erful force. The light is clear, and t h e b r e a t h t a k i n g r o c k y canyons are full of cooling, sparkling waterfalls. One made up of delicate cas- cades is named Capelli di Venere or "Hair of Venus." Sophisticated tourists are back along the Gulf of P o l i c a s t r o , w h e r e c h i c Maratea sits. They enjoy a unique environment in a paradisiac corner of the Basilicata region, the arch and instep of Italy's boot, where forests, beaches, and volcanic mountains collide to form one of the world's most seductive landscapes. Here, whichever way you look, there are stunning views. A n d w h a t a n a r r a y o f beaches! They range from golden sandy beaches fre- quented by turtles to the b l a c k , v o l c a n i c p e b b l e b e a c h e s s u c h a s C a l a Jannita, where you can float amid igneous boul- d e r s w h i l e g a z i n g u p a t soaring peaks. I had fun climbing to il Cristo Redentore, or Christ t h e R e d e e m e r , a v a s t , c l i f f t o p s t a t u e o f J e s u s Christ, arms outstretched. F r o m M a r a t e a b o r g o , I took a steep path (number 1) with glimpses down to t h e c r y s t a l b l u e s e a a n d into the forest, with its old o a k s , p i n e s , r o s e m a r y , holm oaks, carob trees, and wild fennel. The path starts f r o m V i a C a p p u c c i n i . Alternately, a scenic, wind- ing asphalt road leads up there if you want to drive. The 73-foot-high statue i s b o t h t h e c u l t u r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l s y m b o l o f M a r a t e a . I t i s s l i g h t l y s m a l l e r t h a n t h e i c o n i c Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. F l o r e n t i n e s c u l p t o r B r u n o I n n o c e n t i d e s i g n e d t h e C h r i s t Redeemer between 1963 a n d 1 9 6 5 . T h e m a j e s t i c s t a t u e o v e r l o o k i n g t h e azure sea is made of rein- forced concrete faced with Carrara marble. It sits atop 6 4 4 m - h i g h M o n t e S a n Biagio (Mount St. Blaise), right in front of the Saint Blaise Basilica. This upper a r e a o f M a r a t e a i s a l s o known as Castello. Entering the beautiful cathedral, which was built in the 6th century over the r u i n s o f a p a g a n t e m p l e dedicated to the goddess MARIELLA RADAELLI Minerva, I am mesmerized b y w h a t I d i s c o v e r : t h e mortal remains of St. Blaise -- his "sacred chest" and other parts of the body. In 732, they were placed in a marble urn and shipped to R o m e f r o m S e b a s t e a , Armenia, where St. Blaise, a 4 t h - c e n t u r y p h y s i c i a n and bishop, had lived until he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded on F e b r u a r y 3 , 3 1 9 A D . A Continued to page 22 An alleyway in beautiful Maratea, Basilicata (Photo: Milla74/Dreamstime) On the beaches of Maratea with St.Blaise and Matt Dillon ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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