Belvedere Marittimo: Coast and Historic Streets

Belvedere Marittimo combines the Tyrrhenian coast of the “Riviera dei Cedri” Regional Marine Park with its medieval town center. A walking tour dedicated to sacred art can be taken through its streets and narrow lanes. The walking tour of Belvedere Marittimo’s medieval town center can be easily included in your plans. This brings coastal landscapes, historic paths and religiously inspired works of art together in one place.

Coast, Sandy Areas and Calanchi

Along the northern coast of Belvedere Marittimo, there are sea terraces, yellow sandy areas and landscapes shaped by clay badlands. Together with its location on the Tyrrhenian coast, this creates a landscape that makes a stay about more than just the beach. The characteristic Calanchi are among the area’s notable landscapes and provide a striking accent alongside the coastal formations.

The equipped beach resorts of Belvedere Marittimo offer bathing facilities for families with children. This aspect complements the cultural and historical sites and makes the coast a distinct focus when planning a trip. Those traveling with varied interests can therefore view Belvedere Marittimo both as a coastal destination with sandy areas and beach resorts and as a historically shaped town with art and buildings.

Historic Center and Buildings

In the historic center, several buildings draw attention to Belvedere Marittimo’s history. The Castello di Belvedere Marittimo dates in its present form from the late 15th century; at that time, it was expanded and fortified by the Aragonese. The Chiesa SS. Crocifisso stands on the edge of the historic center, on a rocky promontory. Its construction began in 1599 by members of the Congregazione di Santa Maria del Pianto. The Porta di Mare was considered the most important entrance to the fortified town.

Sacred Art and Local Traditions

The sacred character of the town is also reflected in the “Via dell’Amore,” inaugurated in 2017. It includes ceramic works and bas-reliefs dedicated to love and the patron saint San Valentino, installed in the lanes and streets of the historic center. The Convento dei Cappuccini also houses a vial containing the blood and bone fragments of Saint Valentine. It has been kept there for more than 300 years. The maritime procession of the Madonna di Porto Salvo is considered a characteristic tradition of Belvedere Marittimo.

When choosing a hotel in Belvedere Marittimo, you can decide on your priorities in advance: should the trip focus primarily on coastal landscapes and swimming, or would you like to set aside time for the town center, castle, church and sacred art? This allows you to base your accommodation choice on your preferred balance of coast, beach resorts, landscapes and historic center.

Other Places

Other places: Altomonte, Pietrafitta, Lupia, Papasidero, Firmo, San Donato Di Ninea, La Bruca, Vaccarizzo

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.