Capo Vaticano (Ricadi)
Most of our Calabrian stock is on this granite headland south of Tropea. Coves such as Grotticelle and Praia di Fuoco have pale sand and clear water, though some are reached by steep paths or steps. On a clear evening the Aeolian Islands, including the cone of Stromboli, sit on the horizon. Tropea is 15 to 20 minutes away, and Lamezia airport about an hour.
Best for: Families and couples who want sandy coves and sunset views of Stromboli
Not for you if: You want to walk to a town: most houses are on the headland, a drive from Tropea's restaurants.
Tropea, Parghelia and Zambrone
Tropea's old town sits on a cliff above long sandy beaches, with the church of Santa Maria dell'Isola on its own rock below. In summer, day boats run to Stromboli and Lipari. Parghelia and Zambrone, just to the north, have their own coves and are quieter, with Tropea a short drive or, from Parghelia, a long walk. Lamezia airport is around 50 minutes to an hour away.
Best for: A lively old town above the beach, with boat trips to the Aeolian Islands
Not for you if: You dislike crowds: Tropea is Calabria's busiest resort in August.
Pizzo and Amantea (around Lamezia)
Pizzo is a fishing town on a cliff, known for tartufo ice cream and the Piedigrotta church carved into a sea cave. Its castle is where Napoleon's brother-in-law, Joachim Murat, was executed. Amantea, north of the airport in the province of Cosenza, has a long beach below a ruined hilltop castle. Both are around 25 to 30 minutes from Lamezia, and choice of houses here is small.
Best for: Short stays and anyone who wants to be close to the airport
Not for you if: You want the clearest water on the coast: the beaches near Lamezia are less dramatic than Capo Vaticano.
Soverato, Badolato Marina and Girifalco (Gulf of Squillace)
On the Ionian side, Soverato is a lively seaside town with a long promenade and a sandy beach. Badolato Marina is quieter, below the old hill village of Badolato. Girifalco is inland, in the hills between the two seas, and is the choice for space and cooler nights rather than a beach on the doorstep. Lamezia airport is roughly 45 minutes to an hour away.
Best for: Families who want long sandy beaches and a gently shelving Ionian sea
Not for you if: You want a pretty resort: much of this coast is modern holiday building along the main road.
Locri and Gerace (the Locride)
Locri has the excavated remains of the ancient Greek city of Locri Epizefiri, with a museum, beside the Ionian sea. Gerace, 10 kilometres inland, is a walled medieval town on a rock with a large Norman cathedral and views to the coast. Beaches here are long and pebbly or sandy, and rarely crowded. We have only a handful of houses in this area.
Best for: History lovers who want Greek ruins and a medieval hill town
Not for you if: You want a short transfer: this is around an hour and a half from Lamezia or Reggio.
The north Ionian coast (Strongoli, Corigliano, Mirto Crosia) and Palmi
Strongoli is a hill town north of Crotone. Corigliano and Mirto Crosia sit on the plain of Sibari, near the old town of Rossano, whose diocesan museum holds a sixth-century illuminated gospel. Palmi, in the far south-west, overlooks the Costa Viola, where steep terraces drop to deep blue water near Scilla. Expect a long transfer: two hours from Lamezia to the north Ionian is normal.
Best for: Repeat visitors who want something away from the main resorts
Not for you if: You are on a first trip: these are scattered single houses, far from each other and from Lamezia.
