Hotel Settebello

I came to the Settebello by chance after leaving Naples late one afternoon, and stayed alone for a week in October 2006, just before the autumn break. The hotel then closed until the Christmas and New Year celebration. As a single man driving across Europe, I felt no embarrassment staying here alone. That's high praise, since solo travellers can sometimes get insulting treatment or staff who don't appreciate them. The welcome at the desk was attentive and reassuringly professional, the sort of calm efficiency an ex-hotelier notices. I settled into a comfortable room, took a shower, then wandered to the restaurant, where dinner felt like another attraction, almost right on the beach. The food was delicious, satisfying and artfully presented. In summer, you can eat in a charming veranda on the beach, designed to keep the wind down. Comfortable, unhurried dining seems part of the Italian way here, from both staff and guests. The hotel feels like it might have been built in the optimistic sixties and has settled gently into its role. Its car park doesn't dominate the place, but invites you to leave the car in what could pass for a garden. There's a modest bay for swimming and dramatic cliffs behind it. Through small tunnels, you catch glimpses of modern transport, with the main road above the train line as it winds artistically through the granite toward Naples. I first spotted a sign from the winding road; it pointed away from the beach, and I had no idea where the lane ended. It crept north, then turned west under the main road, and the beach appeared, followed by Hotel Sottebello. If you want a quiet rest on the drive from Naples to Sicily, or a week to recharge without feeling financially milked, stay at the Hotel Settebello in Maratea. There are attractions nearby, but you could easily decide to stop driving and stay put. Why not?

A wonderful place, with a dreamlike beach and sea. The welcome was warm, the staff courteous, everything spotlessly clean, and the service excellent. It's very easy to get around, with car parking and a delicious breakfast too. Recommended for everyone! Warm greetings to all the staff from Tampere, Finland. Gerry and Saara.

Horrible. They served everything on plastic plates with plastic cutlery. A fork snapped while I was eating salad, and I nearly swallowed it. When I complained, the waiter laughed. Avoid.

I only visited the bar, not the hotel. Lovely place, lovely people.