Idyllic In Italy

Nicky Pellegrino Shares The Spot That Inspires Her.

- Nicky Pellegrino

In the south of Italy is an area that has been only lightly touched by tourism. Basilicata is filled with mountains, forests and history. You’ll find sunshine, beautiful food, great wine and friendly locals – but what you won’t find is too many people.

The place I keep going back to is Maratea, a small hill town on the rugged Tyrrhenian coast watched over by a huge white 1960s statue of Christ the Redeemer on the summit of Monte San Biagio. This is the most scenic spot, and if you brave the road’s scary hairpin bends, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view.

The town itself is a tangle of steep narrow streets and churches – it famously has 44 of them, some dating back to the 15th century. At its centre is the Piazza Buraglia and there you will find several cafés with outdoor tables where you can stop for a coffee, gelato or delicious pastry.