Ed.: The Inspired Stays series highlights hotels we love around Italy. Each property is independently reviewed by an Italy Magazine writer, who is generally hosted on a complimentary basis. Our contributors do not accept compensation or gifts in exchange for specific types of coverage. We only showcase properties we would genuinely recommend overall.
With the winter chill currently in the air, this month the series is spotlighting chic coastal stays to put you ahead of the curve in your 2025 travel planning. This featured property reopens in mid-April.
Why we love it
This expansive seaside resort in Basilicata is the perfect place to relax and unwind far from the crowds of Italy’s more famous coastal destinations.
What to expect
It’s all about understated luxury here. The main building is perched on a hill with sweeping views of the coast and the verdant grounds where bougainvillea and other Mediterranean plants bloom. Golf carts are available to shuttle guests down to the beach and back up again. In 2024, Santavenere became the first member of the Leading Hotels of the World in Basilicata, so you can expect high standards across the board.
Background
Built in the 1950s for Count Stefano Rivetti, scion of one of the wealthiest families in the Piedmontese wool industry, the property hosted concerts by musicians like Domenico Modugno and celebrities including Anita Ekberg in its Dolce Vita heyday. In 2020, the resort’s management was entrusted to Aldo Melpignano, the visionary hotelier behind Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, who modernized it for today’s sophisticated travelers.
Location, location, location
Santavenere is located on the Tyrrhenian coast about a 10-minute drive from the historic center of Maratea, one of the Borghi più Belli d’Italia. It has a beach club with a restaurant, sunbeds and umbrellas on a secluded cove and easy access to the charms of Maratea — the best of both worlds. You could take a taxi to the center of town, but if you want to explore further, it’s best to rent a car.
Where you’ll sleep
The 34 rooms and suites feature tile floors, crisp white walls and antiques and paintings, some of which are original from Count Rivetti’s days. My room had a private terrace with a table and chairs where my husband and I could sit and admire the beautiful views of the sea. An Illy espresso machine, water and a little tray with sweets sat atop an antique commode. Non-alcoholic drinks in the minibar, including Chinotto and aranciata, are complimentary.
Dining & drinks
The buffet breakfast at Le Lanterne has a wide variety of bread and pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, cheeses and salumi. On our first evening, we enjoyed spaghetti with clams and turbot all’acqua pazza at the beachfront restaurant, Il Carrubo. Gli Ulivi, near the pool, serves pizza, salads and other light dishes and has a great view of the sea peeking through the woods. To celebrate our anniversary, we had a romantic private dinner on a secluded terrace overlooking the sea, complete with candlelight and a three-course menu that we paired with a bottle of local rosé by Elena Fucci.
Service notes
The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to be accommodating, even bringing the gelato we enjoyed at Il Carrubo up the hill to Gli Ulivi so we could eat it again at lunch. Many staff members are from Maratea and they’re happy to share their insider tips with guests.
Spa time
We didn’t get a chance to use the spa, but it offers a variety of face and body treatments and has a steam room, sauna, Himalayan salt room, cold plunge pool, sensory shower and a heated pool with hydromassage and chromotherapy.
Family perks
The waves down at the beach were a bit too rough for little kids, but we saw some children hanging out by the pool with their families. Amenities like cribs, a diaper disposal unit, bottle warmer and welcome snack are provided free of charge and babysitting services are available for a fee.
You should know...
The hotel helps guests immerse themselves in the local culture with a variety of experiences, such as wine tasting, cooking classes and excursions on a traditional wooden gozzo boat. My husband and I loved doing a tour of the town with a pair of local guides who brought us up to the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Monte San Biagio.
Accessibility
- The hotel has elevator and has ADA friendly rooms and bathrooms
Features & amenities
- Waterfront
- Seaside
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Free parking
- Pool
- Spa
- Garden
- Fitness room
- Pets allowed
- Family friendly
Contacts
Santavenere Hotel Maratea
Via Conte Stefano Rivetti 1, Maratea (Potenza)
Tel. +39 0973 876910
Website
