Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro between cedar cultivation and the coast

Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro combines the Tyrrhenian Sea coast with a regional culture in which the cedar plays a special role. Santa Maria del Cedro lies at the centre of the Riviera dei Cedri Regional Marine Park on the upper Tyrrhenian Sea in the Province of Cosenza. The beach is approximately 2 km long: its southern section is called Chiatta in Ferro, while the northern section, Abatemarco, lies at the mouth of the river of the same name.

Coast, beach and seafront promenade

The beach consists of fine sand, which is replaced by gravel in places, especially along the shore. The seabed gradually becomes deeper towards the open sea. Along the seafront promenade, you will find free beach sections, managed beach resorts and equipped bathing establishments. For 2026, the beach sections Santa Maria del Cedro, Chiatta in Ferro and Abatemarco are listed in the Blue Flag programme. This makes it possible to clearly consider the coastal area according to its different beach sections and forms of bathing services.

The cedar as a culinary and cultural point of reference

Cedro di Calabria PDO is the product that gives the Riviera dei Cedri its name. The Liscia Diamante cedar variety cultivated in Santa Maria del Cedro is considered the most valuable cedar variety in the region. Cedars from Santa Maria del Cedro are used for liqueurs, extracts, creams, jams, yoghurt, desserts, ice cream and sorbets. In this way, you encounter the cedar not only in the landscape, but also in a wide variety of culinary forms.

Museum, cedar groves and Jewish tradition

The Museo del Cedro presents the history of the lemon and its close connection with Jewish religious tradition. It is housed in a building dating from the 15th to 16th century, historically known as the Carcere dell'Impresa. All year round, the museum offers permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions and cultural events, guided tours, meetings with citrus growers, and tastings of handcrafted cedar products.

The programme of the Museo del Cedro and the cedar groves also includes a guided tour through cedar groves and a meeting with a cedar grower. Every year, rabbis come to Santa Maria del Cedro; afterwards, the cedar fruits are taken to other countries and used during the Sukkot festival, the Feast of Booths. This religious connection is one of the town's distinctive cultural themes.

Archaeological and medieval traces

The Museo del Cedro includes an artistic route through the historic town centre, as well as an archaeological route leading to the Parco Archeologico di Laos. The park is located in the hamlet of Marcellina and documents the ancient settlement of Laos, dating from 510 BC. The excavated areas include the Casa della Rampa and the Casa della Zecca. The Parco Archeologico di Laos is considered an ancient colony of Magna Graecia and displays remains of residential buildings, walls and archaeological finds that bear witness to the way of life of past civilisations.

Another historical site is the San Michele complex, also known as Abatemarco. It includes the ruins of the Castello di San Michele and the Basilian church of the same name.

Cycling tour and cultural events

For active planning, the Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro circular cycling route offers a clearly defined framework: it is 19.7 km long, has 120 metres of elevation gain, is considered an easy cycling tour and runs mainly on paved paths. The Arena dei Cedri, on the other hand, is an open-air venue in Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro for major cultural and musical events.

When choosing a hotel for your trip, you can compare your personal priorities: the beach, cedar culture, religious connections, archaeological sites, historic buildings, cycling and cultural events offer different perspectives on the same stay. This makes Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro interesting both for coastal relaxation and for a trip focused on culture and the region.

More destinations for planning your trip

More destinations for planning your own trip: Cutura, Roggiano Gravina, Rovito, Belvedere Marittimo, Roseto Capo Spulico, Calopezzati, Brunetta and Amendolara.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.