Reggio Calabria
Art, Ancestry, and Aspromonte Adventure
A region where Greek bronzes, wild mountains, and ghost villages invite soulful discovery.
Reggio Calabria is both cultural capital and coastal haven. See the world-famous Riace Bronzes, stroll “the most beautiful kilometer in Italy” along Il Lungomare, and hike Aspromonte’s rugged trails with panoramic views. Explore ghost villages like Pentedattilo or taste refined cuisine on the Costa Viola.
Highlights
- World famous Riace’s bronzes
- The picturesque Scilla
- Aspromonte National Park
Go for This
Riace’s bronzes, Scilla and local food
The province of Reggio Calabria lies at Italy’s southernmost tip. Its capital, Reggio Calabria, welcomes visitors with palm-lined promenades (poet Gabriele D’Annunzio called its lungomare “the most beautiful kilometer in the world.”) and sweeping views of Sicily, but the true highlight is the Archaeological Museum, home to the world-famous Riace Bronzes. Along the Tyrrhenian Costa Viola, sunsets paint the sea violet, while Scilla enchants with its pastel houses clinging to the rocks in Chianalea, a village steeped in Homeric myth.
Food and wine reveal the province’s soul: swordfish fresh from Scilla’s waters, bergamot-based delicacies unique to this land, and the sweet Greco di Bianco wine all capture the essence of Calabria’s deep traditions.
But Try This
Aspromonte National Park, Stilo’s Cattolica, Bivongi and MUSABA museum
Venture inland, where the Aspromonte National Park reveals a wilder Calabria made of rugged peaks, chestnut forests, and villages where traditions endure. Bova, the heart of the Grecanic area, preserves the ancient Greek language and culture, while Stilo captivates with its Byzantine treasure, the Cattolica. Not far away, Bivongi surprises with thermal springs and its peaceful Byzantine monastery, a hidden spiritual retreat in the mountains. For a completely different cultural experience, the MUSABA Museum near Mammola is an open-air park of contemporary art, blending sculpture, color, and nature in striking harmony.
Favorite Hotels
- Altafiumara Resort and Spa in Villa San Giovanni
- Gambero Rosso boutique hotel in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica
- Hotel Parco dei Principi in Roccella Ionica
- Grand Hotel Excelsior in Reggio Calabria
- Casa Qafiz in Santa Cristina D’Aspromonte
Favorite Restaurants
- Qafiz in Santa Cristina D’Aspromonte
- La Collinetta in Gioiosa Ionica
- La Cascina in Roccella Ionica
- Gambero Rosso in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica
- Il Casato Sea View Restaurant in Scilla
- Il Pirata in Scilla
- Officina del Gusto in Reggio Calabria
