From quiet beaches to James Bond: The Italian town set to be the new Amalfi thanks to new British Airways flights
NEW British Airways flights to Italy are expected to make a quiet coastal town a much more popular destination with Brits.
The new flights from London Gatwick to Salerno have made holidays to the Amalfi Coast much easier.
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But it is also known as being extremely busy during the summer season.
Yet around an hour from it is the town of Maratea, which has far fewer crowds.
James Bond fans will notice it featuring in the No Time to Die film.
And the Old Town is the main attraction, with multicoloured shops and stalls as well as 44 churches.
It even has it's own 70ft tall Christ the Redeemer statue, although on a much smaller scale than the one in Rio.
It is still worth the 90-minute hike, as it is the fifth tallest of its kind in the world.
Otherwise the town port is the best spot for the evening for an Aperol Spritz when the sun goes down.
Local hotel owner Aldo Melpignano told T+L: "It's a hidden gem where you can truly disconnect from the hustle of everyday life and embrace the timeless allure of authentic Italian charm."
Visit in July for the town's annual film festival Marateale: Premio Internazionale Basilicata.
And expect far fewer crowds at the beaches, with La Secca being a quiet lagoon beach.
A look at Italy's spectacular Amalfi Coast
Called by tourists as a "corner of paradise," it is great for kids too as the protected cove means the sea is always calm.
If you're wanting to stay in town, of the fanciest places to stay is Hotel Santavenere, a the area's only five-star resort.
Along with 26 rooms, the recently refurbished hotel has a private beach club as well as an outdoor pool with views of the coast.
Aldo Melpignano, founder of the group behind the hotel, praised the local setting as being the reason behind it's up-and-coming nature.
He told Forbes: "This is why we see considerable potential for development in Maratea, a spectacular destination that is still little known, especially abroad.'
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Cheaper hotels and B&Bs can be fond for around £80 a night.
when it opened last year.
Jet2, who also launched flights, scrapped them back in March.
The airport, which closed back in 2016, reopened after a £400million renovation and will be fully operational by next year.
Here's another beautiful Italian city that has been "frozen in time".
Want to stay in the UK? Here is a free attraction that l ooks more like an Italian villa.
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