Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Le Castella
This town is named for its impressive 16th-century Aragonese
castle
(admission €3; 9am-
midnight summer, 9am-1pm & 3-6pm winter)
, a vast edifice linked to the mainland by a short
causeway. The philosopher Pliny said that Hannibal constructed the first tower. Evidence
shows it was begun in the 4th century BC, designed to protect Crotone in the wars against
Pyrrhus.
Le Castella is south of a rare protected area (Capo Rizzuto) along this coast, rich not
only in nature but also in Greek history. For further information on the park try
With around 15 campsites near Isola di Capo Rizzuto to the north, this is the Ionian
coast's prime camping area. Try
La Fattoria
( 0962 79 11 65; Via del Faro; camping 2 people,
car & tent €23, bungalows €60; Jun-Sep)
, 1.5km from the sea. Otherwise,
Da Annibale
(
0962 79 50 04; Via Duomo 35; s/d €50/70;
)
is a pleasant hotel in town with a splen-
did fish
restaurant
(meals €30; lunch & dinner)
.
For expansive sea views dine at bright and airy
Ristorante Micomare
(
0962 79 50 82; Via
lunch & dinner)
.
Vittoria 7; meals €20-25;
Gerace
POP 2830
A spectacular medieval hill town, Gerace is worth a detour for the views alone - on one
side the Ionian Sea, on the other dark, interior mountains. About 10km inland from Locri
on the SS111, it has Calabria's largest Romanesque
cathedral
. Dating from 1045, later al-
terations have not robbed it of its majesty.
For a taste of traditional Calabrian cooking, the modest and welcoming
Ristorante a
Squella
( 0964 35 60 86; Viale della Resistenza 8; meals €20)
makes for a great lunchtime stop
that serves reliably good dishes, specialising in seafood and pizzas. Afterwards you can
wander down the road and admire the views.
Further inland is
Canolo
, a small village seemingly untouched by the 20th century.
Buses connect Gerace with Locri and also Canolo with Siderno, both of which link to the
main coastal railway line.
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