La Secca di Castrocucco
A sheltered, lagoon-like cove at the southern tip of the Maratea coast, framed by a small green islet and known for calm, crystal-clear water.
Overview
La Secca sits in Castrocucco, the southernmost frazione of Maratea, close to the Calabria border. The bay takes its name from a rocky reef running about a kilometre along the coast here, historically hazardous enough to have caused shipwrecks. Today it's known for the opposite reason: unusually calm, clear water that visitors regularly compare to a natural swimming pool.
Good for
Public access
There's no free public section at La Secca itself, only the two beach clubs
Beach clubs available: Yes — sunbeds and umbrellas can usually be rented in season.
How to get there
By train: Maratea's main station, on the Rome-Naples-Reggio Calabria line, is the nearest for long-distance trains; from there it's a drive or taxi down to Castrocucco.
By bus: Maratea's local urban network (Rocco Autolinee, orange-liveried buses) includes a "Bus Costa Sud" route connecting the historic centre with Marina and Castrocucco. In July and August, a separate seasonal beach line run by Autolinee S.L.A. (Lagonegro to Praia a Mare) also stops at Castrocucco
Parking: Paid parking sits right by both beach clubs
On foot: There's a coastal path, the Sentiero del Mediterraneo, that starts near here and runs toward Marina di Maratea, more of a hiking route than a practical way to arrive with beach gear. For the beach itself, most visitors drive or taxi in rather than walk.
Facilities
Practical tips
More about La Secca di Castrocucco
Castrocucco marks the far southern end of Maratea's coastline, and some historians place the ancient Greek city of Blanda, believed to be an ancestor of modern Maratea, in this area. The ruins of Castrocucco castle look down over the bay from above, and the Palazzo Baronale Labanchi, a former noble residence with an attached deconsecrated chapel, sits close to the shore. Local tradition also connects the palazzo to Garibaldi, said to have stayed there during the Expedition of the Thousand, though that's the kind of local legend worth treating as colour rather than confirmed history. The bay's shape, a kind of miniature gulf enclosed by rock, is what gives the water its calm, warm character even late into the swimming season. A small islet called U Tuppu, covered in green scrub, sits just offshore and anchors most photos of the place. Two beach clubs share the cove, Lido La Secca and Il Mirto, each with its own terraces, sunbeds and bar service, and reviews consistently point to the water quality and setting as the draw, while opinions on staff and value vary between the two. For the best experience, come prepared to pay for a full beach club day rather than hunting for a free stretch, bring snorkelling gear for the reef the bay is named after, and stay through to sunset, which several visitors single out as the single best reason to linger here rather than heading back to central Maratea for the evening.
Location
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