The Coasts of Calabria

The territory is completely surrounded by the sea on both sides. The fantastic coasts in Calabria are the main tourist destinations in the area thanks to their beaches, crystal-clear sea, and widespread hospitality throughout the territory.

Discover all the information about the coastal places in Calabria that absolutely deserve a visit. From the most famous to the lesser-known ones for a coast-to-coast trip.

Below is the list of the splendid 7 coasts that bathe Calabria:

Costa degli Dei

The Costa degli Dei or Costa Bella is the name given to part of the southern Tyrrhenian coast, entirely within the province of Vibo Valentia. It is the part of the coast, morphologically varied, that delimits the so-called horn of Calabria, a stretch about 55 km long. Long white beaches alternate with jagged rocks with small coves accessible only on foot or by boat. The coast is called "Bella" for its suggestive panoramas and the nearby Aeolian Islands or "degli Dei" because it evokes dreamlike images: transparent sea, seabeds rich in wonderful living forms, very white beaches. For a diver, nothing is more suggestive than diving into a flora and fauna of exclusive beauty. To visit. Pizzo Calabro is a fishing and bathing center perched on the sea in a picturesque and strategic position along the coast of the Gulf of S. Eufemia. Founded in the High Middle Ages, according to some sources on the site of the ancient Napitum, it is known for the Castle of Joachim Murat, renowned for its artisanal ice creams and spaghetti with cuttlefish ink. Tropea is one of the most frequented places by national and international tourism; it has a tourist port from which it is possible to reach the nearby Aeolian Islands and in particular the volcanic Stromboli, almost always visible from the southern Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. In July, the Bluefish and Red Onion Festival of Tropea, which has obtained the quality mark, takes place. The promontory of Capo Vaticano is located in front of Stromboli and the Aeolian Islands. It separates the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia from that of Gioia Tauro and includes the coastal area from the bay of Tono to the bay of Santa Maria up to the last offshoots of Monte Poro. A lighthouse has been installed on the promontory since 1870. The most suggestive bay is that of Grotticelle, formed by three contiguous beaches. The Venetian writer Giuseppe Berto, after traveling extensively, decided to settle in Capo Vaticano because "The stretch of coast that culminates in Capo Vaticano is full of history and beauty. It could be called Costabella with a pinch of regret and nostalgia". Capo Vaticano is also known for the production of red onions, also called red onions of Tropea, with a particularly sweet taste. Thanks to the substances contained in the soil "only those cultivated in Capo Vaticano are sweet". The tasty bulb is highly requested on the national and international market. The suggestive beaches and the crystal-clear sea with fish-rich seabeds make Capo Vaticano a mandatory destination for divers and Italian and foreign tourists also attracted by the fascinating hinterland that offers typical products such as 'Nduja of Spilinga and Pecorino of Poro.

Costa degli Achei

The Costa degli Achei, a clear reference to the Achaean presence in the area and the relative foundation of the ancient colony of Sybaris, develops along about 150 km of coast in the wide Plain of Sibari, enclosed between the mighty reliefs of the Pollino Massif to the north and the last foothills of the Greek Sila to the south. It is crossed by a myriad of torrential watercourses. The beaches of the upper Ionian Calabria, overlooked by the imposing mass of the Pollino, offer a spectacular scenario. The entire area of the Plain of Sibari is of interest for excavations that have allowed the discovery of precious testimonies of the past in the indigenous site of the Enotri of Francavilla Marittima, the ancient Cossa in the locality of Paludi, and in Sybaris itself, an important Magna Graecia colony, home to the homonymous Archaeological Park. The northern part of the Costa degli Achei is included between the seaside resorts of Roseto Capo Spulico, Amendolara Marina, and Trebisacce. Rocca Imperiale has been listed since 2006 in the prestigious Blue Guide of Legambiente and Touring Club Italiano with two sails. Bathed by the waters of the Ionian Sea for 7 km of beach alternating with rocks, pebbles, and fine golden sand towards the Lucanian border, the marina of Rocca Imperiale, just 4 km from the historic center, is a privileged destination for seaside tourism. Historically significant are the imposing warehouse, built in 1731 by Duke Fabio Crivelli as a testimony to the maritime and commercial importance of Rocca Imperiale, and the Watchtower dating back to the 16th century. In Roseto, a satellite city of Sybaris in the Magna Graecia era, roses were cultivated whose petals were used for the mattresses of the Sybarites. Roseto, already in the Blue Guide of 2009, two sails for the tourist offer and three stars for environmental protection and landscape conservation, was also listed with two sails by the same Guide in 2010. The beautiful and cheerful town is also known for the Castrum Petrae Roseti, Castle of the Stone of Roseto, a fortified castle defending the coast of the Upper Ionian Cosentino, among the most imposing in the whole of Calabria. Dating back to the Norman era, the medieval castle perched on the sea (13th century) is a place of cultural interest at the national level. Sybaris is among the most famous seaside resorts of the Costa degli Achei. Rich in numerous tourist villages, it offers many activities and services. The very fine sand alternates, a few kilometers away, with gravel and stones; characteristic places close to the sea or in the coolness of the pine forests offer excellent services. Of considerable importance are the Lakes of Sibari, an area along the coast of over 420,000 square meters and 2,800 berths for the shelter and maintenance of boats. To visit Schiavonea, Rossano Scalo, with the large and famous water park in the locality of Zolfara, the historic Amarelli licorice factory, and the homonymous museum.

Costa dei Saraceni

It is among the wildest and historically richest coastal areas of the Ionian coast, extending in the most eastern part of Calabria between Cariati and the hills of the Marchesato of Crotone. The varied morphology of the Costa dei Saraceni is characterized by the alternation of promontories and more or less wide gulfs. Vast areas bordering the sea, rich in Mediterranean vegetation and pine forests, have allowed the construction of large and high-quality accommodation facilities. The entire coast is rich in historical artifacts of the great Magna Graecia civilization and numerous medieval and Byzantine testimonies. The beauty of the landscape, the very clear sea, the nearby Sila, and the goodness of typical products make Cariati an appreciated tourist center. The origins of Cirò Marina (Punta Alice), the ancient Krimisa, a fraction of Cirò, speak Greek, among the main destinations of seaside tourism on the Ionian coast of Calabria. The seaside area of the municipality of Crotone extends south of the port to the promontory of Capo Colonna. The beaches are characterized by fine sand of a particular Titian color. The archaeological treasure chest of Capo Colonna is followed by short splendid promontories of sandstone mixed with clay and wide inlets with low and sandy beaches. Capo Colonna, Capo Cimiti, Capo Rizzuto, and Punta Le Castella are the main tourist attractions of the Costa dei Saraceni. The entire area is included in the Capo Rizzuto Marine Reserve, which covers an area of 40 hectares of Mediterranean scrub, with a strict system to protect the seabeds and the numerous species that populate them.

Costa degli Aranci

While the geographical extremes of this vast coastal stretch are characterized by low beaches mixed with sand and pebbles, especially at the mouths of the bordering rivers, the central part of the Costa degli Aranci is characterized by the presence of rocky promontories of white granite that gently slope towards the sea. The pebbly beaches of the long beaches of Botricello, Cropani, and Sellia Marina to the north and Isca on the Ionian and Badolato Marina to the south contrast with the mighty promontory of Stalettì, which offers the most beautiful and suggestive views of the entire coast. The promontory, which rises south of the long beach of Squillace Lido, bordered by the beaches of Copanello to the north, gently slopes south towards the white beaches of Montepaone Lido and Soverato. In the center of the promontory Caminia, a locality of the municipality of Stalettì, is characteristic for its beautiful granite cliffs that, overlooking the crystal-clear sea, form small and colorful marine caves. The natural and scenic beauty of the coast is the ideal setting for the archaeological heritage of the entire Gulf of Squillace and well-known and well-equipped seaside resorts such as Soverato and Copanello. Rich in artistic and monumental testimonies of the ancient and glorious past is also the medieval village of Squillace itself, perched at an altitude of 344 meters, dominating the gulf. In the Archaeological Park of Scolacium, you can admire the remains of the ancient Roman colony and the monumental Basilica of Santa Maria della Roccella, built in the 11th century by the Normans and considered one of the largest Templar churches in Italy. The heart of the Costa degli Aranci, the stretch that overlooks the Gulf of Squillace, includes eight hamlets, all crossed by state road 106. Among these, the most famous are: Copanello, considered the gem of the entire coast, Caminia, Pietragrande, and Soverato "The Pearl of the Ionian". Copanello is one of the most important seaside resorts in Calabria. The high cliff on which the village stands, briefly interrupting the vast and spacious beach, juts out into the clear and fish-rich sea, rich in plankton. The hotel and beach facilities are particularly well-equipped to satisfy even the most demanding tourists. The other localities of the Stalettì coast have similar characteristics: the endless beaches are immersed between the sea and the hill in an uncontaminated nature. Caminia di Stalettì is a wonderful bay lying on a strip of coast known internationally for its particular beauty. An exclusive destination for many vacationers looking for breathtaking places and beaches with crystal-clear water, it is one of the most suggestive places on the coast with the long ivory-colored beach set in the splendid gray granite cliff. Enchanting for seaside tourism, a meeting point for young people in the summer months, it is a place capable of restoring the perfect balance between man and nature in every season of the year. Between Caminia and Copanello are the famous Vasche di Cassiodoro used by the ancient Romans for the breeding of moray eels, the seabeds are characterized by very white sand. The great variety of concretions that cover the rocks, the presence of arches, dens, and cracks that serve as refuges for sea bass, bream, and groupers, are a real paradise for diving, especially at night. The area, among other things, has a very significant historical and archaeological value. Not to be missed: the famous "Spiaggetta" more easily reachable by sea, the Torre del Palombaro – very popular with divers and those who want to bathe in the clean and warm waters of the natural pools – and the Grotta di San Gregorio. Pietragrande, located in the heart of the Costa degli Aranci, a few kilometers from Catanzaro and Soverato, has been known for over 30 years as a high-level seaside and tourist center. Its beach, cliffs, unique in the Ionian belt, traditions, and history are the splendid setting for an unforgettable holiday. It is among the most renowned places in Italy and the world for its beauty: cliffs and cliffs alternate above a crystal-clear sea; many small beaches, accessible only by sea, are real environmental oases. Located in the southern part of the Gulf of Squillace, Soverato is one of the most famous tourist centers on the Ionian coast. The city enjoys a mild and pleasant climate in all months of the year thanks to a combination of favorable environmental factors. It has numerous and well-equipped beach facilities and significant tourist-accommodation facilities. During the summer season, it is animated by important cultural events including the Magna Graecia Film Festival. The sea offers a great variety of fish. Typical of the area is the veal fish or "cow" fish provided by fishermen directly to local restaurateurs. In August, events, festivals, shows, welcoming places capable of meeting the needs of the very young, young, and less young make the full house of tourists. Badolato Marina is a charming hamlet in rapid development thanks to seaside tourism and the small port. The beach is characterized by a bay between the tourist port and a small natural promontory covered with oleanders. The sea is fish-rich and rich in plankton, the sand is white and fine. Lying on a hill, 240 meters above sea level, is Badolato. The suggestive medieval village has a Byzantine layout with numerous churches arranged in the shape of a Latin cross and characteristic alleys. Its strategic location offers the tourist the possibility to move in a few minutes from the sea to the mountains.

Costa dei Gelsomini

A name that is already a dream, Costa dei Gelsomini. It evokes scents and ancient stories, like the famous revolt of the "gelsominaie", the jasmine and poppy pickers, between clean sea and Mediterranean scrub. We are in the Riviera dei Gelsomini, in the Lower Ionian in the province of Reggio Calabria, between Capo Spartivento and Punta Stilo, the stretch of beach preferred by Caretta Caretta turtles that come here every year in summer to nest after crossing ocean distances. An intact landscape, perfect for nature lovers between free beaches and dune vegetation. Here extends the scenario of the Ionian badlands, clay-marl formations that offer unique excursions, on the edge of the most beautiful beaches of the Costa dei Gelsomini. Part of the Riviera dei Gelsomini is inhabited by the Grecanic ethnic minority, the "Greeks of Calabria", who preserve the ancient language and musical and gastronomic traditions in the area of the so-called "Bovesìa", around the municipal territory of Bova and Bova Marina. Another large cultural area of ancient origins is the Locride, which includes the neighboring municipalities of Locri, among the most important cities of Magna Graecia (Locri Epizefiri, Gerace, Stilo, Bova, Gallicianò). The last stretch of Costa dei Gelsomini includes very famous and frequented tourist resorts, such as Riace Marina, the stretch of sea where the famous Riace Bronzes were recovered in the 1970s.

Costa Viola

The "Little Paradise": this is how the writer Leonida Repaci defined the stretch of coast that extends from Palmi to Bagnara. In ancient times it had already been baptized "Costa Viola", due to the color that the sea waters take on at certain times of the day. We are in the final part of the tip of the boot, a coast to be discovered. The sea is open, deep, and without shelters. The clear waters hold, with numerous artifacts, the centuries-old history of the ancient civilizations that have stopped in Calabria or settled there. The seabeds of Cavaianculla, Pietrosa, Chianiti, Pietragalera, and Capo Barbi still hide and protect archaeological and natural treasures of great interest. Lying on a terrace sloping towards the sea and sheltered to the south by the hill of Sant'Elia, Palmi is considered a city of sea and mountain because it benefits from both. In addition to the golden beaches of Tonnara, Pietrenera, and Scinà, the extensive granite coast dotted with enchanting coves and wonderful seabeds, a favorite destination for divers, Palmi offers the visitor refreshment in the pine forests of its mountain, indescribable and suggestive panoramas, naturalistic excursions along ancient paths. To visit the site of Taureana with the early Christian crypt of the 4th century and the church of San Fantino, the first Saint of Calabria. Exciting are the explorations in the Neolithic caves of the grandiose monastic-Byzantine rock settlement of Tarditi, around which myths, legends, and tales of buried treasures hover. Palmi is home to the Diving Center for those who want to get to know the splendid seabeds of the Costa Viola up close. Bagnara stands out for the beauty of its beaches. The hill of Marturano divides the beach into two, which extends for over a kilometer from Monte "Cucuzzo" to Torre Ruggiero. North of its port, the landscape is dominated by the protrusions and recesses of the mountains that reach the sea. In the area, there are beautiful and famous natural caves. In a sea that the reflections of the sun and rocks color purple, the "Grotta del Monaco" and the "Grotta delle Rondini" are interesting destinations for boat trips. In the heart of the coast, at the bottom of a wide inlet between the hills overlooking the sea, in a splendid and peculiar position, set like an ancient amphitheater among the vineyards, Bagnara Calabra reflects on the waters of the lower Tyrrhenian. The enchanting view of the Strait of Messina, Stromboli, and the Aeolian Islands is one of the most beautiful panoramas in Italy, according to the description of Eduard Lear, dated 1847. At the end of July, the Swordfish Festival takes place. It is also known as the homeland of nougat. Produced still according to the ancient tradition of the first artisanal nougat factories that arose near Bagnara, it is one of the most appreciated Calabrian sweets in the world: what makes it different is the toasting of the almonds and the particular type of cooking with honey. Cut into bars, the nougat is covered with white, dark, or gianduia chocolate and garnished with wafer, hazelnuts, or orange. Made famous by Homeric and Virgilian Ulysses, Scilla, in the province of Reggio Calabria, is a delightful town rich in history and maritime culture. Pearl of the Costa Viola, it extends its territory to the Aspromonte foothills from which it draws artisanal traditions, typical crops, and gastronomy. In addition to its 5000 inhabitants, numerous tourists are added in the summer period attracted also by the characteristic swordfish fishing that, already from late spring, is carried out in the Strait with the walkways, boats heirs of the luntri used for catching swordfish with lookout and harpoon, according to the ancient Phoenician method.

Costa dei Cedri

The name, "Riviera dei Cedri," is quite evocative. It brings to mind the scent of orange blossom and the golden yellow of a sun-kissed fruit, which on this stretch of the Alto Tirreno coast in Cosenza offers splendid sunsets.

Here, the prized Cedro di Calabria DOP finds its ideal habitat, a native citrus fruit with unique characteristics: smooth and shiny skin, large size, autumn flowering, used in pastry and cosmetics. Thanks to the presence of this fruit, the Riviera dei Cedri hosts rabbis from all over the world every year, who come here to choose the best fruits for the Jewish festival of Sukkot (or Feast of Tabernacles), which involves the use of the etrog (the citron) in its most prized variant.

The Riviera dei Cedri (or Costa dei Cedri) is renowned for its beaches, from which you can reach the two Calabrian islets: Dino Island (Praia a Mare) and Cirella Island (Diamante), two true natural paradises and an integral part of the Regional Marine Park "Riviera dei Cedri"