Cetraro: Coast, Old Town and Paths through Nature

Cetraro combines a distinctive coastline with a historic town center, sacred architecture, museums and paths through mountainous landscapes. On your trip to Italy, you can combine cultural sightseeing, coastal experiences and loop trails to create a varied travel itinerary.

Coast with distinctive rock formations

The Scogliera dei Rizzi is the Natura 2000 site IT9310038 and was designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in June 2017. The cliff has a vertical extent of more than 100 meters. At its foot, numerous boulders, short beaches and many caves shape the coastline. The Cetraro coastal loop trail runs along the coast and passes the Testa del Leone rock and the Grotta dei Rizzi. It also reaches Lampezia Beach, which is equipped with bathing facilities and connected to a modern waterfront promenade.

Old Town and Sacred Buildings

Cetraro’s historic center is characterized by narrow lanes, arches and impressive views. It can be accessed through the three gates known as di Mare, di Basso and di Sopra; the gates testify that Cetraro was once fortified.

The Torre di Rienzo was part of the coastal defense system ordered by Viceroy Pedro de Toledo around 1535 to counter pirate attacks. Its square ground plan measures 10 × 10 × 20, and it has three vaulted floors. The Chiesa di San Benedetto was first mentioned in a document from 1104 and soon developed into a Cassinese priory. The Chiesa del Ritiro is also known as Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Francesco and was founded in 1454 by the Observant Friars Minor. It features Renaissance design, a marble altarpiece from the same period, a Gothic portal and elements of the late Baroque.

Museum and Monte Serra

The Museo dei Brettii e del Mare is located in the Palazzo del Trono. It includes an archaeological department, a cartographic department and a library. Its maritime section contains an amphora recovered from the sea off Cetraro. The Santuario di Santa Maria del Monte Serra stands on Monte Serra in the municipality of Cetraro at 600 meters above sea level and was declared a diocesan sanctuary on July 16, 1988. The feast of the Santuario del Monte Serra in Cetraro is celebrated every year on August 5.

Loop Trails between Sea and Mountain Landscapes

The Anello dei Laghi del Monte Caloria loop trail passes Laghetto di Pressico, the only lake in the municipality of Cetraro. Another mountainous loop trail runs through Santangelo and forests of Douglas firs, pines, beeches and firs to Passo della Contessa at an elevation of 921 meters. This gives you both coastal landscapes and lake and forest sections to include in your plans.

Harbor and Choosing Accommodation

In July 2009, a tourist marina with floating piers and water and electricity connections opened in the port of Cetraro. It could accommodate around 500 berths and had toilets and showers. When choosing your hotel in Cetraro, you can therefore first decide whether to focus your trip on historic sites, coastal paths, the sea or mountainous loop trails.

More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Santa Sofia D'epiro, Calopezzati, Pietrafitta, Mormanno, Marina Schiavonea, San Lorenzo Bellizzi, Cerisano and Tessano.

For the overarching travel overview: Cosenza.