18 19 COASTS AND BEACHES 20 ourists choosing Calabria as their journey destina- tion are for the most part (92%) attracted by its 800 Tkm Region coasts with its well-equipped, sunny and wild beaches, offering all kinds of holidays’ solutions as well as relax, privacy, sports and animation proposals. The morphology of Calabrian coasts and beaches, from white sand to cliffs, offers different seaside resort opportu- nities within few kilometres distance. In the following pages we introduce you those seaside re- sorts and those towns on Calabrian wide coasts and bea- ches, which for their particular landscapes and touristic sites are first-class holiday places. 21 22 23 “Wild cliffs alternate with sandy shores” THE IONIC COAST THE COAST OF ACHAEANS From ROSETO CAPO SPULICO to ROSSANO The coast of Achaeans clearly refers to the Achaeans’ settlement in this area and the re- lative foundation of the ancient Sybaris colony. The total length of this coast is about 150 kilometres of shores in the Sybaris Piana within the Pollino high mountain northwards and the last spurs of the Greek Sila southwards, ploughed by a myriad of torrent-like water-courses. Calabrian high-Ionic beaches lie down the bulky Pollino Mountain, thus offering a real- ly extraordinary coup d’oeil. But in all the Sybaris Piana area there are very important archeological sites like the native site of Francavilla Marittima Enotri, the ancient Cossa 24 in Paludi area and Sybaris itself , where the namesake archeological park is precious witness of the ancient Magna Graecia civilization. The Nothern part of Achaeans coast is among the seaside resort sites of Roseto Capo Spulico, Amendolara Marina e Trebisacce. Roseto Capo Spulico HOW TO REACH BY CAR SS106 Jonica – A3 Sa-Rc BY PLANE Lametia Terme airport BY TRAIN Sybaris railway station DISTANCE From the airport 150 Km From Sybaris railway station 4 km 32.007 ROCCA IMPERIALE in tha Guida Blu with two sails. It is also known for its You can find Rocca Imperiale in the prestigious Gui- Castrum Petrae Roseti ( Roseto’ Stone Castle), a for- da Blu and Italian Touring Club since 2006 with two tified castle, one of the most important monuments sails. The Rocca Imperiale Marina is on the shores in Calabria to defend the High Ionio Cosentino co- of Ionio Sea for 7 km and its coast alternates cliffs, ast. Dating back to Norman times, this medieval ca- shingles and golden sand towards Lucania. It is only stle overlooking the sea (XIII century) is a place of 4 km far from the old town and it is a first-class holi- cultural interest at a national level. day destination thanks also to a wide range of diffe- rent seaside beach facilities. Of important historical SYBARIS significance is the massive warehouse built by the Among the most popular seaside resorts of the Duke Fabio Crivelli in the XVIII century (1731) to- Achaeans coast, Sybaris is rich in touristic villages gether with the Torre di Guardia in the XVI century offering high quality facilities. The fine sand of its be- (1563-69), both witnessing the maritime and com- aches leaves place to gravel and stones at a few km mercial relevance of Rocca Imperiale. distance. This part of the Ionic coast differs from the others for its wide beaches full of bars and kiosks ROSETO CAPO SPULICO near the sea as well as for wild and free beaches At the time of Magna Graecia Roseto was one of the close to the pinewoods. Going southwards you can Sybaris’ satellite cities. In Roseto a lot of roses were visit the dock of the Sybaris Lake, a 420.000 square 25 cultivated, because their petals were used to fill Sy- metres area very close to the coast with 2800 berths baritic people’s mattresses. Roseto is in the 2009 for mantainance and shelter for boats. The Achae- Guida Blu with two sails for its touristic facilities and ans coast continues southwards with Schiavonea, it has three stars out of five for its environmental Rossano Scalo and its famous Zolfara waterpark, its and landscape conservation. Again in 2010 it is still Amarelli ancient liquorice factory and museum . THE SARACENS COAST From CARIATI to ISOLA CAPO RIZZUTO Among the wildest and richest areas of the Ionic coast there is the very eastern one in Calabria between Cariati and the area all around the hills of the Crotone Marchesato. The different morphology of the Saracens coast is characterized by alternating headlan- ds and bays. Furthermore wide areas close to the sea, often rich in plants and marine pinewoods, have permitted a very fast touristic development of high-level guest accom- modations, to enjoy blue sea and natural attractions. The whole coast is rich in historical artifacts referring to the Hellenic civilization and in medieval and Byzantine buildings (castles, fortified cities, churches, etc). The all around landscape’s beauty, the blue sea (2009,2010 blue flag), the wide range of typical food products, the Sila mountains nearby, make Cariati a very appreciated touristic site, visited every summer by thousands of people. 26 CIRÒ MARINA Punta Alice, Ciro Marina, the ancient Krimisa, near Ciro, are among the most famous touristic destina- tions of the coast, they speak and have Greek ori- gins. In 2010 Ciro Marina gains the Blue Flag for its beaches for the tenth time. CAPO COLONNA The Crotone beach area goes from the city port northwards to the Colonna Cape headland, its sho- re is characterized by long sand tiziano-coloured Crotone beaches. From Colonna Cape archeological site a short but wonderful series of headlands made of sandstone mixed to clay begins alternating with plain sandy inlets. Colonna Cape, Cimiti Cape, Rizzuto Cape and Punta Cirò Marina Le Castella are the most important touristic attrac- tion centres of all the Saracens coast. All the zone is in the Rizzuto Cape marine reserve, 40 ha long with 27 a rigid system to protect waters and the numerous species inhabiting them. HOW TO REACH BY CAR Ionic SS106 – SS107 Sila- Crotone , connecting Crotone to Paola trough Cosenza. BY PLANE Crotone s. Anna airport Lametia Terme airport BY TRAIN railway line from Reggio Calabria to Taranto (trough Roccella, Catanzaro, Crotone, Sybaris) DISTANCES From the airport Crotone S. Anna airport 10 Km Lametia terme airport 90 km Posti letto 17.229 28 Copanello THE ORANGES COAST THE SQUILLACE GULF Whereas the geographical extreme points of this coast are characterized by low and plain beaches made of sand and shingles, mainly near the rivers ‘ estuaries, the very central part of the Oranges coast is made of rocky white-granite headlands that gently slope toward the sea. Opposed to the pebbly long beaches of Botricello, Cropani and Sel- lia Marina to the North, of Isca on the Ionio sea and Badolato Marina to the South there is the massive headland of Staletti, offering the most suggestive glimpses of the whole Oranges coast. This headland rises southwards on the long Squillace beach and follows northwards to Copanello beach, softly sloping toward the white sands of Montepaone and Soverato. In the middle of the headland there is Caminia in the town of Staletti, well known for its granite cliffs on the blue sea creating small and big coloured caves. The natural beautiful landscape of the Oranges coast is the ideal frame for the whole archeological heritage of the Squillace Gulf with its beautiful well-equipped seaside resorts like Soverato ,Caminia and Copanello. This area also offers artistic and mo- numental signs of an ancient past, like the Squillace 344 m high medieval town , overlooking the same gulf or the archeological park of Scolacium ,where you can visit 29 the remains of an ancient Roman colony as well as the monumental Basilica in S. Ma- ria of Roccella, built in the XI century by Normans and still considered one of the most important templar churches in Italy. COPANELLO shortly interrupts the beach. It is in the very heart of the Oranges coast on the Its beach is wide and its marine waters, typical of Squillace Gulf and it is connected to other eight the Ionic coast, are clear and blue, because of the villages you can reach by SS 106. The most fa- presence of plankton which makes them rich in mous are: Copanello, considered the pearl of the fish. There are also many hotel facilities and re- whole coast, Caminia, Pietragrande and Soverato. sorts equipped for an elite tourism. Copanello is one of the most important seaside The other sites in the Staletti coast present more resorts in Calabria. or less the same characteristics: wide beaches in a The town is on a very high cliff on the sea which sea-hill frame of an uncontaminated nature. Soverato CAMINIA OF STALETTI cularly clean waters of these natural tanks; the S. It is a wonderful bay which lies on a strip of coast, Gregorio cave. famous all over the world for its particular unconta- minated natural beauty, representing an exclusive PIETRAGRANDE 30 destination for many tourists . Its ivory-coloured In the middle of the Oranges coast, at a very few sand is surrounded by a beautiful grey- granite cliff. km from Catanzaro and Soverato, Pietragrande is In summer season it represents a touristic meeting known as one of the highest-level seaside resorts point for young people, in winter a paradise recrea- for over 30 years , one of the most famous beaches ting the man-nature fusion. in Italy and abroad for its beauty and its particular Between Caminia and Copanello there are different discos facilities. Its natural cliffs and crags end in a sites like the famous Vasche of Cassiodoro where real blue sea and some of its beaches can be rea- the Romans raised eels, whose seabed is made of ched only by boat.