The hermitage Madonna degli Ulivi, also known as Madonna della Neve or Santa Maria Ad Nives, is located behind the Basilica of San Biagio, between the top of the mountain of the Saint and the rock of Suda, 552m above sea level. From here it is possible to admire the meeting between sea and mountains, in particular the “Golfo di Policastro” under the Monte Cerreta (1083m) , and on the right the Monte Coccovello (1505m) and Monte Crivo (1277m), that surrounding the valley.
The history of the Eremo has its roots in the high Middle Ages, but in the apse, during the restoration works came to light frescoes dating back to the XIV-XV sec,. It’s known that the devotees of St. Basil the Great fled from their land of origin, starting from the VI century BC, they took refuge in an area that included a part of southern Cilento, Maratea, the Lucan hinterland and the northern part of the Calabrian coast. Moreover, given the strategic location of the hermitage, it probably appeared as a resting place for the religious men who travelled the road that passes where the Madonna degli Ulivi is located. This route was the most important of that period because it connected Castrocucco, where was the port of Blanda, at the pass of the Colla, thus representing one of the lines of penetration from the coast to the hinterland. But not only travelers coming from the coast of Castrocucco passed through the hermitage: another important path started from the coast near the Santo Janni Island.
The single-nave and rectangular building is not only a church, but it has also spaces for residential and warehouse use, prefiguring itself as an autonomous unit for a multifunctional use. The high altar is carved from an olive root, hence the name of the church. Behind the altar, inside the apse, is placed the wooden statue of the Madonna degli Ulivi.
In the apse there is a fresco depicting a "Christ on the throne blessing "or "Christ Pantocrator ", unfortunately headless, with inscriptions in Greek. In the lateral niches there are a “Madonna with Child” and a figure of a Saint, probably Saint Catherine of Alexandria. On the right wall is well preserved another fresco of "Madonna with Child". The representation of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is motivated by her role as protector of the ancient fraction of Maratea where the church is located. The Saint is represented with the crown on her head and dressed in royal clothes to emphasize her princely origins. In the traditional iconography the image of the Saint is depicted while holding a palm, symbol of martyrdom, and the book that recalls her wisdom and her function as protector of studies and teaching. Christ Pantocrator is the traditional name given to Jesus by the oriental tradition, which means “the one who sustains all the thing in the world”. In Byzantine iconography the Christ is depicted with a monumental bust, with a deep and sweet look, and a bulging neck,, sign of the Holy Spirit resting in Verb. Also in Maratea the icon of Christ, who is seen as the "sovereign and heavenly judge", holds the Gospel in his left hand. In addition to the presbytery areas, the rest of the interior as well had to be frescoed, but only a few traces of color are preserved. Concluding the analysis of the artistic works of the church we can remember the presence of a painting unfortunately lost nowadays. Some documents prove his presence until the middle of XIX century. The painting represented “The bandits persecuted by the Marateoti, S. Blasè who put them on the run and the Saint Virgin Mary who from above the clouds protected Maratea”.