Sometimes getting lost is a good thing.
While attempting to find our B&B in Maratea (see here for details on this gem) we found ourselves at the end of a dead end street, with only a couple of horses for company. While attempting to extricate ourselves from this pickle I noticed a sign pointing to a beach …
Which surprised me, as the coastline here is cliff-like and rocky.
The next day we went back to investigate.
There’s a hand-painted sign that can be seen if you’re heading towards Calabria on the SS18, but it doesn’t give much away. It could be a sign for anything really.
It’s a steep walk down, and looking over the edge you get your first taste of the sea below.
By now we’re back at that sign we first saw yesterday and follow the arrow down some stairs until we get to a makeshift concrete path that meanders between boulders and across rock pools.
The tide is high today so we sometimes have to time our jumps across rocks between crashing waves.
The further we get, the more dodgy it looks … but we keep going …
Along the way we pass a fig tree growing between the rocks
So we stop and forage for figs, which are delicious, probably all the more so because we stole them!
After about 10 minutes of walking, we sadly come to the end of the road …
That day the sea was rough and the tide was high, so unfortunately we couldn’t make it that last little bit. If you look carefully you can see the beginning of the black sand beach, which is mostly covered by water.
So reluctantly we turn back and retrace our steps…
Once back at the road we follow the path the other way for a bit, admiring the lovely views.
And wave goodbye to the secret beach, which we’ll save for another visit.
If you’d like to find this secret beach for yourself, head along the SS18 from Cersuta heading south towards Maratea, and when you see the hand-painted sign turn right, follow the road to the end, and you’re on your way!
Until next time, safe travels,
The Travelling Pantaloni
Wow, che bella spiaggia! I love getting lost and finding surprises like this. ‘U nastru’ would mean ‘the ribbon’-do you have any idea why the name? Ciao, Cristina
Hi Cristina, I’m glad you liked it! Possibly because it’s a tiny ribbon like shape of sand. Thanks for the translation!
That makes sense. In case you ever need duct tape in Italia, like if your valigia breaks open. it’s called ‘ nastro americano’. It took me a long time to figure that one out and asking for ‘quello scotch argento. Buon Natale, Cristina
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