Based on archeological findings, the first settlements in the Maratea region date back to the Paleolithic era. Over time, the region grew as a small trading center under Roman rule. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the local inhabitants moved to Mount San Biagio for safety. The remains of Saint Blaise are still kept in Maratea's Basilica. The town expanded with the founding of the Borgo in the 11th-12th century for a growing population. Maratea entered a period of progress in the 18th century, though it struggled with poverty later on until investments and tourism improved its economy in the 1950s.