Santa Maria Di Castellabate: Sea, History and Tradition

Santa Maria Di Castellabate combines coastal landscapes, an underwater world and a remarkable history. The Santa Maria a Mare sanctuary is located in the Santa Maria district near Marina Piccola beach, while the marine protected area and Secca della Bella add special appeal for nature-oriented days by the sea. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth considering first whether your trip should focus more on the sea, culture, festival traditions or a combination of these themes.

Marine Protected Area and Underwater World

The Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area was established in 2009 within Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. It covers 7,095 hectares of sea and 2 hectares of coastline. The Posidonia oceanica meadows provide shelter for numerous fish and crustacean species and make the marine environment interesting from a natural-history perspective as well. The remains of a villa from the Greek-Roman period and a fish-farming basin from the same period are also visible on the seabed.

Snorkeling is possible at Secca della Bella because of the shallow water. This gives you a clear choice for planning your day: you can focus on the coastal and marine landscape or include cultural sites in the Santa Maria district. Especially when traveling with different interests, this combination helps make your stay varied without losing sight of the character of the place.

Historic Sites in the Santa Maria District

The Santa Maria a Mare sanctuary is located in Castellabate, in the Santa Maria district, near Marina Piccola beach. The sanctuary has been documented since as early as 1102. Another historic name is the Porticciolo de “Lu Travierso”, also known as Porto delle Gatte. The site is associated with the earliest documented settlement in Santa Maria di Castellabate. The rooms of Le Gatte were used as warehouses for trade with the ports of Cava and Naples.

Le Gatte also served as a filming location for the movies “Cavalli si Nasce”, “Noi Credevamo” and “Benvenuti al Sud”. Le Gatte can be viewed from the outside; access to the restaurant is reserved for guests. This detail is important for your planning if you want to combine historic locations and film connections without treating the site as an ordinary attraction with generally accessible interiors.

Villa Matarazzo is also part of Santa Maria’s history. It dates from the 19th century and was once a summer residence. Its park contains a rose garden with more than 220 varieties of old roses. The entrance to Villa Matarazzo is located at the northern entrance to Corso Andrea Matarazzo in Santa Maria. For culturally interested travelers, this area therefore provides another specific point of reference when choosing accommodation and planning daily destinations.

Pedestrian Street, Town Center and Festival Traditions

Corso Senatore Andrea Matarazzo is a pedestrian street with shops, bars and restaurants. It connects the northern entrance of Santa Maria with Piazza Lucia in the town center. If being close to the town center is important to you when looking for a holiday apartment, you can use this area as one of the reference points for choosing your location. Another travel plan may instead place greater emphasis on the marine landscape or historic sites.

The cultural calendar includes fixed dates in August. The Palio della Stuzza takes place every year on August 14 at Lungomare Perrotti in Santa Maria di Castellabate. The religious patronal festival of Santa Maria a Mare follows every year on August 15. In 2025, the Antico Palio della Stuzza was added to the inventory of the intangible cultural heritage of the Campania region. Anyone wishing to experience these traditions should coordinate their travel dates specifically with these events.

Choosing the Right Base

Santa Maria Di Castellabate is a suitable search destination for travelers who do not want to view the coast and history separately. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore define your focus: the marine protected area, snorkeling and the visible underwater remains favor nature-oriented days; the sanctuary, Le Gatte and Villa Matarazzo provide cultural highlights; Corso and the town center offer a different point of reference for your stay. In this way, the search for a holiday apartment or holiday home is guided by a specific question: Which experiences should shape your holiday from your accommodation?

Discover More Places

For your further search, you can also consider Cannicchio, Acciaroli, Minori, Castinatelli, Laureana Cilento, Altavilla Silentina, Atrani and Bellizzi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Salerno.