Maratea Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Medieval Village

A 21-meter Christ statue and a marble-clad basilica in a hilltop village that feels frozen in time.

A private walking tour of Maratea in Basilicata begins at Mount San Biagio, where a 21-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer dominates the landscape with views over sea and mountains. You visit the Basilica of Saint Biagio, home to a fresco of the Madonna and Child, then walk through the medieval village's narrow alleys and ancient stone houses. A licensed guide leads in English or Italian.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Maratea's highlights

• Visit Statue of Christ the Redeemer
• Tour Basilica of Saint Biagio
• Walk through medieval village

The experience

How do you see a Christ statue as tall as a six-story building without fighting crowds or losing the story behind it? This tour starts where most visitors miss the real detail: Mount San Biagio, the highest point in town, where the statue stands 21 meters high with an arm span of 19 meters. Made of reinforced concrete covered in white Carrara marble and created by artist Bruno Innocenti in 1965, it is the second-largest statue of its kind in the world after Rio de Janeiro's. The views from here sweep across the sea and mountains, and a guide in English or Italian explains what you are standing in front of instead of just pointing.

From the statue, the tour moves to the Basilica of Saint Biagio, dedicated to Maratea's patron saint and located on the same mount. Inside, the most important work is a fresco called the Madonna of the Pomegranate, depicting the Madonna and Child. The basilica's simple, sober style reflects its ancient origins, though it has been modified over centuries. Then you walk through the medieval village itself: narrow alleys, arches, ancient stone houses with local stone, small squares opening between them. This is not a museum village. It is a working town where the streets still feel like they did centuries ago.

What’s included

• Private walking tour with a licensed guide in English or Italian.
• access to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount San Biagio.
• entry to the Basilica of Saint Biagio.
• panoramic views over the sea and mountains from Mount San Biagio.
• exploration of the medieval village's narrow alleys and ancient stone houses.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by ITALYGONIA TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows the story behind the statue and the village, rather than walking alone. The two-hour pace lets you linger at the views and in the basilica without rushing through the medieval streets.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What is the Christ the Redeemer statue in Maratea like compared to the one in Rio?

Maratea's statue stands 21 meters tall with a 19-meter arm span and a 3-meter face, making it the second-largest of its kind in the world. It was created by artist Bruno Innocenti in 1965 from reinforced concrete covered in white Carrara marble, and it dominates the landscape from Mount San Biagio with views over the sea and mountains.

Can I visit the statue and the basilica on the same tour?

Yes. The tour starts at the statue on Mount San Biagio, then moves to the nearby Basilica of Saint Biagio, where you see the fresco of the Madonna and Child inside, before walking through the medieval village.

What is inside the Basilica of Saint Biagio?

The basilica preserves valuable artworks, most notably a fresco called the Madonna of the Pomegranate, depicting the Madonna and Child. The building itself has a simple, sober style and dates to ancient times, though it has been modified several times over the centuries.

What does the medieval village of Maratea actually look like?

The village is a network of narrow alleys, arches, and ancient stone houses built from local stone. Small squares open between the streets, and the atmosphere is peaceful and characteristic of the past, without modern intrusions.

Do I need a car to do this tour?

Yes. A car is essential to reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount San Biagio. The tour includes the walking portions through the basilica and medieval village, but transport to the statue itself is not included and must be arranged separately.