Libbani Beach Club, Maratea

We found this year’s novelty in Basilicata on the Tyrrhenian coast, in Acquafredda, a hamlet north of Maratea. Libbani is a top-tier beach club that will add further prestige to this locality also known as the “pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea”. On Porticello beach, in a cove of dark pebbles and crystal-clear waters, Libbani takes its name from the ancient plant-fiber ropes that fishermen used to moor their boats. The beach setups are the best available on the market, with teak bases, super-comfort mattresses and macramé umbrellas, personalized towels and the added bonus of supervised parking. Bookable online, Libbani offers services that meet expectations, such as the possibility to have lunch or simply enjoy a drink under the umbrella, although we recommend trying the lunch experience on the terrace. Among the dishes on the menu: trio of tartares, charcuterie board, various choices of pokè and acquasale, octopus tentacle with eggplant cream and semi-dried tomatoes, eggplant parmigiana, chef’s pinse and club sandwich. The desserts venture beyond the region, featuring a Pizzo Calabro truffle and an Amalfi sfusato. A good cocktail menu, with several non-alcoholic options, tempts you with aperitifs strongly oriented towards the Libbani spritz. The wine list is well-structured and balanced between sparkling wines, whites, reds and rosés, with labels from Basilicata, Italy, France and even some names from the rest of Europe. Many events are organized during the summer, from “music on the water” concerts to DJ sets, to dinners in collaboration with wine companies.