There is always a lot to see and do in Calabria and we are going to look at some of the best Beaches and Attractions in the region that are worth the visit.
Beaches
Calabria is most known for its pristine beaches - from long sandy stretches to pebbly coves. It has about 500 miles of coastline, which takes in all the geographical variations of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas.
If one follows the twisting Via Grotticelle near Capo Vaticano’s lighthouse for a selection of beaches tucked into the curves of the Tyrrhenian coast, then the final one is reached by travelling between the rocks. Further up the Tyrrhenian coast, towards the border with the Basilicata region, is an almost unbroken stretch of beach resorts covering more than 60 miles. Amantea is an old-fashioned seaside fun destination with fine sand and play areas for children. The train from Naples to Reggio Calabria stops here, which makes for a good day trip if you are staying in Pizzo or Tropea.
The Ionian side has just as bewildering a choice of beaches as its counterpart. Caminia shelters beneath the cliffs of the Pietra Grande, with fine gravel sand and an abrupt dip into deeper water. Another five miles south is the larger and livelier Soverato, where colourful fishing boats break up the neat lines of sun loungers.
Attractions
Arcomagno, San Nicola Arcella
The beach Arcomagno is actually a small cove which is reached through a rocky path. Located near a promontory that descends to the sea, it is about 1 km from San Nicola Arcella.
Castello Aragonese, Le Castella
What looks like a giant sandcastle at the end of a spit of land is a mainly 16th century Aragon fortress used to repel attacks from the Ottoman Turks. There are a few historical displays inside, but the main attraction is the view from the top. The village of Le Castell has a beach of pale ochre sand and is architecturally more charming than many of the Ionian coast resorts.
Chiesetta di Piedigrotta, Pizzo
It is an underground cave full of carved stone statues. It was carved into the tufa rock by Neapolitan shipwreck survivors in the 17th century. Other sculptors added to it and it was eventually turned into a church. It’s a bizarre, one-of-a-kind mixture of mysticism, mystery and kitsch.
Santa Maria dell'Isola, Tropea
Historic seventh century monastery that is perched on a reef almost out into the sea. It continues to be one of the most iconic views of the stunning city of Tropea to this day.
San Giovanni Theristis, Bivongi
The edifice is an example of transition between the Byzantine and Norman styles in architecture in southern Italy. Norman elements include the four corner pilasters closed by four arches, which support the dome, two of them being ogival. Clearly Byzantine is the exterior, in particular in the external walls, in the fake columns of the apse, which forms ogival arches, and in the 16 small columns decorating the dome's tambour. The interior also houses traces of Byzantine frescoes, such as that portraying St. John Theristis.
La Cattolica, Stilo
The Cattolica was built in the ninth century, when Calabria was part of the Byzantine Empire. The name derives from the Greek word katholiki, which referred to the churches provided with a baptistery. It is one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture, together with the church of San Marco in Rossano Calabro.
Castello Ruffo, Scilla
Six of Odysseus’s crew met a sticky end at the hands of a six-headed monster at Scylla, as this pretty Tyrrhenian coastal village was called in classical times. These days, the wide sandy beach is the scene of gentler action, with pastel-coloured houses winding up to the main village at the top of the hill. At the edge is a high promontory, where the imposing Castello Ruffo has panoramic views.
Riace Bronzes, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Reggio Calabria
The stars of the national museum are two bronze statues of Greek warriors dating from the fifth century BC that were found in the Ionian Sea near Riace in 1972. They are compelling works of art, and it’s rare to find such large statues in such good condition.
Pentedattilo
It is a ghost town that was once inhabited. It is situated at 250 m above the sea level, on the Monte Calvario, a mountain whose shapes once resembled that of five fingers (hence the name, from the Greek penta + daktylos, meaning “five fingers”).