Amantea

A village overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea

Amantea is one of the most renowned seaside resorts in Calabria. Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, with a medieval village perched on a hill, it offers visitors beautiful coastal beaches and seaside villas. The old town is carved into the rock. A flight of steps and winding streets lead to the medieval area, where you can find the 15th-century church of San Bernardino da Siena.

A path running along the sides of the hill offers stunning views of the labyrinth of alleyways. Be sure not to miss the 13th-century Church of St Francis of Assisi, the towers of the Byzantine fortress and the Cathedral of St Biagio, built on an earlier Greek church of St Pantaleo.

The modern city stretches along the coastline, where you can stroll or cycle among fish restaurants, cafés with outdoor seating and 19th-century bourgeois villas. The small square of Calavecchia connects the new part of the town with the medieval village.

We highly recommend strolling through the streets of Chianura, the old fishermen's quarter, to Catocastro, where you can find a large, natural cave. The most beautiful beaches are those of Coreca and Tonnara, while diving enthusiasts will be in paradise around the Isca rocks.