The Costa Viola: Scilla, the castle and the turquoise sea

The area · Tyrrhenian Calabria

Around
geolja

The places of Tyrrhenian Calabria within reach of the house: villages, nature and sea, with distances and directions.

This page gathers the places of Tyrrhenian Calabria that can be reached from geolja in a day: what they are, when to go, how far they are. A selection, not a complete list.

Gioia Tauro sits in a handy position: the Costa Viola to the south, the Aspromonte behind, the centuries-old olive groves of the Piana all around. Within an hour's radius there is much to see, of very different kinds.

Distances are measured from the house and the notes are practical: best times, access, useful stops.

Places to visit

Towns and villages within a day's reach. What to see and when to go.

Village · Costa Viola

Chianalea — the houses on the water, golden hour

42 km from geolja 45 min by car

Scilla Chianalea

Scilla (RC) · 38°15′ N — 15°43′ E

A seaside village on the Costa Viola. The Chianalea quarter is made of houses facing the water, with boats moored beneath the windows; above the town stands the Ruffo Castle. On clear days, Sicily is visible across the sea.

Good
to know Best in the late afternoon, when the coaches leave. Local speciality: swordfish.

Viewpoint

The Monte Sant'Elia viewpoint over the Strait

18 km from geolja 25 min by car

Monte Sant'Elia

Palmi (RC) · 38°20′ N — 15°50′ E

A belvedere on a headland dropping sheer to the sea, with views over the Strait, Mount Etna and the coast. At the foot of the mountain, Palmi keeps the masks and objects of the Varia in its Casa della Cultura.

Good
to know Reached from the panoramic road. In spring the pine wood is the best time.

Village · Food

Pizzo from above — the castle and the colourful houses

55 km from geolja 50 min by car

Pizzo Calabro

Pizzo (VV) · 38°44′ N — 16°09′ E

A village over the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia, known for the Murat Castle — where Joachim Murat was executed — and for the tartufo di Pizzo, a chocolate ice cream with a soft heart.

Good
to know Just outside, the little church of Piedigrotta is carved into the tuff: worth the detour.

City · Sea

Lungomare Falcomatà at sunset, palms and the Strait

55 km from geolja 55 min by car

The seafront of Reggio

Reggio Calabria · 38°06′ N — 15°39′ E

The provincial capital, with its tree-lined seafront facing the Strait and the National Archaeological Museum, home to the Riace Bronzes: two Greek bronze statues recovered from the sea.

Good
to know The Bronzes are best seen right when the museum opens, with few crowds.

Villages & nature

The inland and countryside around Gioia Tauro: stone, fields, mountains.

Village · Crafts

A ceramics workshop in Seminara — masks and jugs

12 km from geolja 20 min by car

Seminara

Seminara (RC) · 38°20′ N — 15°52′ E

A town known for centuries for its ceramics: earth-coloured jugs and apotropaic masks, the grotesque faces hung outside homes against the evil eye. Several workshops are still active.

Good
to know In the workshops you can often see the wheel at work.

National Park

A beech-wood trail in the Aspromonte, light through the trees

45 km from geolja 70 min by car

The Aspromonte

Aspromonte National Park · 38°10′ N — 15°55′ E

The massif behind the Piana rises to almost two thousand metres. In a short distance you pass from orange groves to beech woods; in winter there is snow an hour from the sea. Gambarie is the main resort.

Good
to know Several marked trails start from Gambarie. At altitude you need a heavier layer even in summer.

III

Beaches & sea

The Costa Viola and the area's beaches, from the nearest to the farthest.

Beach · Costa Viola

The Tonnara di Palmi and the Scoglio dell'Ulivo in the sea

16 km from geolja 25 min by car

The Tonnara of Palmi

Palmi (RC) · 38°20′ N — 15°50′ E

A beach on the Costa Viola, among the best known in the area: clear water, the Scoglio dell'Ulivo rising from the sea and Mediterranean scrub behind. It is also the closest to the house.

Good
to know The side towards the rocks has the best seabed for mask and fins. Best early in the morning.

Seaside town

A spadara at work in Bagnara, the swordfish boat gangway

28 km from geolja 30 min by car

Bagnara Calabra

Bagnara (RC) · 38°17′ N — 15°48′ E

A seaside town tied to swordfish fishing and torrone. In spring the passerelle come out, the boats with tall masts used to spot swordfish. The beach is long, pebbled, with deep water.

Good
to know Typical products: Bagnara torrone and mulberry granita.

Beach

A cove at Capo Vaticano, white sand and turquoise water

72 km from geolja 70 min by car

Capo Vaticano

Ricadi (VV) · 38°37′ N — 15°50′ E

A granite headland with coves of white sand and water from green to turquoise; on the horizon, in the evening, Stromboli is visible. Just to the north lies Tropea.

Good
to know Among the coves, Grotticelle and Praia i Focu are the best known. Worth a whole day.

Within reach

The distances

Measured from geolja. Tap a place to go back to its card.

01 Scilla Chianalea Scilla (RC) 42 km / 45′ 02 Monte Sant'Elia Palmi (RC) 18 km / 25′ 03 Pizzo Calabro Pizzo (VV) 55 km / 50′ 04 The seafront of Reggio Reggio Calabria 55 km / 55′ 05 Seminara Seminara (RC) 12 km / 20′ 06 The Aspromonte Aspromonte National Park 45 km / 70′ 07 The Tonnara of Palmi Palmi (RC) 16 km / 25′ 08 Bagnara Calabra Bagnara (RC) 28 km / 30′ 09 Capo Vaticano Ricadi (VV) 72 km / 70′