Acquafredda Beach
Twin pebble-and-sand coves at the northern edge of the Maratea coast, backed by pine woods and cliffs riddled with sea caves.
Overview
Acquafredda is the northernmost frazione of Maratea, and its beach is really two beaches in one: Anginarra and Luppa, separated by a narrow ridge of rock but functioning as a single stretch of coast. Anginarra is the wilder, sandier half with over 200 metres of shoreline, while Luppa is pebblier and better equipped, with small kiosks and rental huts.
Good for
Public access
Both beaches are free to access. Luppa has small rental huts for loungers and umbrellas at average local rates, plus free sections; Anginarra is largely open and undeveloped, reached by a path down to the water or by boat.
Beach clubs available: Yes — sunbeds and umbrellas can usually be rented in season.
How to get there
By train: Acquafredda station sits right on the coast, about 5.4 km from Maratea's main station and part of the same local coastal line that also serves Marina di Maratea.
By bus: SITA Sud's regional line 135 (Maratea to Sapri Scalo) stops at Acquafredda
Parking: Both free and paid parking areas sit near the main coves, including a larger free lot reached via the narrow Via Luppa. Arrive early in peak season, especially for Luppa.
On foot: Anginarra is reached by a path down from the coast road. Luppa is more directly accessible from its parking area.
Facilities
Practical tips
More about Acquafredda Beach
Acquafredda takes its name from a rare freshwater spring that surfaces in the sea near Marizza beach further along the coast, cold enough to be noticeable against the surrounding seawater. The frazione itself is Maratea's northernmost, a belt of pine forest running from the mountains down to a coastline of steep cliffs, hidden coves and sea caves, some reachable only by boat. Anginarra and Luppa are the two main swimmable beaches here, twins separated only by a low ridge of rock. Anginarra takes its name from Greek, meaning roughly "full of sea urchins," and it's the larger and wilder of the pair, backed by a cliff that holds a cave where Pleistocene-era animal remains were once found. Luppa is calmer and better serviced, with small rental kiosks and easier access, extending toward Punta San Pietro, where Villa Nitti, once home to Italian statesman Francesco Saverio Nitti, looks out over the water. For the best experience, pair a swim at Luppa with a walk or short boat trip toward Anginarra and the caves further along the coast, particularly if snorkelling is the goal. The clearer, calmer months of June and September make the most of both beaches without the peak-August crowding around Luppa's parking.
Location
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