The most beautiful beaches in Magna Grecia

Calabria is bordered by the sea on three sides and enjoys many renowned beaches, known for their connection to myths and legends.
View of the beach of San Leonardo di Cutro

Imagining Italy as a boot, Calabria would be its ‘toe cap’. This region is bordered by the sea on three sides and enjoys many renowned beaches, known not only for their natural beauty and clear waters, but also for their connection to myths and legends. 

Calabria has 800 kilometres of coastline where you can come across solitary bays, cliffs, fine white sandy beaches and sheer cliffs. They all offer wonderful landscapes.

Lungomare Falcomatà, Reggio Calabria.

Chianalea beach in Scilla, Marina beach on the island of Tropea, and Grotticelle beach in Capovaticano are some of the best-known and most beautiful beaches in Calabria.

Chianalea is a splendid beach and is part of a village included in the list of the most beautiful borghi (old villages) in Italy, in particular it is the oldest village in Scilla. Many refer to Chianalea as ‘little Venice’, because of its picturesque fishermen’s cottages, set in the rock. Here, between a dip in the sea and a stroll through its old alleyways, time seems to have stood still. Watching over Chianalea is the Ruffo castle. Built for military purposes, it later became the residence of Count Paolo Ruffo, who took over from the previous lords in 1532. From the top of this fortress it is also possible to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Aeolian Islands and the Sicilian coast.

Between the Isola Bella cliff and Rotonda beach there is Marina dell’Isola belonging to Tropea, an open-air work of art. The beach is accessed by descending from the cliff dominated by the church of Santa Maria dell’Isola, walking down narrow alleys and steps. The more daring and courageous may also circumnavigate Isola to visit the Grotta del Palombaro, very suggestive but difficult to access by land. The best thing is to rent a small boat and reach this bay by sea.

Grotticelle beach consists of three discreet bays with unique colour contrast between the green vegetation on the rocks, the turquoise sea water, and the fine white sand of both the beach and the seabed. Grotticelle is part of Capo Vaticano heritage, which also includes Salamite beach from which you can take a boat to explore caves and bays along the coast.

A summer trip to Calabria means being concurrently lulled by art, culture and the sea!