Southwestern Basilicata - Italy

Maratea is one of the most most beautiful seaside villages in Southern Italy. Founded in the Bronze Age, it’s situated on the slopes of Mount San Biagio, overlooking the Gulf of Policastro.

The village alone has a record number of 44 churches! It features six coastal watchtowers, a picturesque harbour and the “Grotta delle Meraviglie”, the Cave of Wonders.

Maratea is also famous for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, realised in Carrara marble on the top of Mount St. Biagio. It’s the third tallest statue of Jesus in Europe and the fifth tallest in the world. It is 21.20 metres high, the head is 3 metres in height, and the arm-span is 19 metres from fingertip to fingertip.

More information: Maratea Municipality

The Pinus heldreichii, also known as Pinus leucodermis, is typical for the habitats chosen for protection by the EU programme Natura 2000. This particular pine can be found only in the Balkans and in Italy, more specifically only in the Calabrian-Lucanian Apennine region, around the Pollino National Park area. The Pinus heldreichii was chosen as the symbol of Pollino National Park.

The pine present in this area is a thick tree whose branches usually form a sort of flag to protect themselves from the whipping winds. This species is particularly adaptable to cold and arid environments. In younger specimens, the cortex is smooth. Meanwhile, in the older ones, it’s split into trapezoidal plates that make it look like they’re covered in Ancient Roman armour, hence the Italian name “pino loricato” (“lorica” being a Latin word referring to body armour).

The branches show scars caused by falling needles, which, due to their peculiar rhomboidal shape, give the branches a sort of “marbled” effect, as if they were a snake’s skin. The main feature of the pino loricato, however, is its ability to adapt to the coldest environments on the highest peaks, where it took refuge in order not to succumb to the beech, which prevails at lower altitudes.

Older pino loricato trees are especially eye-catching with their wraithlike silhouette. They’re technically dead but remain standing thanks to the cortex’s resin, which protects the trees from decomposition.

More information: Pino Loricato