San Leonardo di Cutro between the Sea and History

San Leonardo di Cutro between the Sea and the Hilly Countryside

San Leonardo di Cutro is a tourist coastal town by the sea within the municipality of Cutro. At the same time, the town lies on a hill near the Ionian Sea. Extensive wheat fields surround San Leonardo di Cutro, while calanchi – geological formations typical of the area – shape the landscape. The coastal location, hilly terrain and open agricultural landscape give the town a distinct spatial character.

A Stage of the Cammino della Magna Graecia

For orientation on a journey through this coastal area, Stage 14 of the Cammino della Magna Graecia is a notable reference point. The 30.77 km-long stage begins in San Leonardo di Cutro, leads via Le Castella and Capo Rizzuto to Marinella, and reaches a maximum elevation of 90 m.

Jesuit Foundation and Historical Traces

The history of San Leonardo di Cutro dates back to its foundation period toward the end of the 16th century. The Jesuits founded the settlement to house colonists who would cultivate their lands. The Torre di San Leonardo stands in the settlement of the same name; its construction began in 1597 on the Jesuits’ orders. The historic Quartiere Vaglio, the oldest district, also contains the remains of a defensive tower. Borgo San Leonardo di Cutro is associated with Giovanni Astengo as its principal author. The foundation, tower and district thus offer different ways of accessing the town’s past.

Patron Saint’s Festival and Chiesetta del Turrazzo

The annual patron saint’s festival is also part of San Leonardo di Cutro’s calendar and takes place in the last week of April. The procession passes through the town to a chapel dedicated to the patron saint in the Turrazzo area. San Leonardo is also home to the Chiesetta del Turrazzo, a small chapel on a terrace overlooking the sea. The festival, procession and chapel connect religious sites with a fixed date in the annual calendar.

Praialonga and the Harbour

Praialonga is San Leonardo di Cutro’s free beach: a long coastline with fine sand that is conveniently accessible by car in its vicinity. The harbour of San Leonardo di Cutro has 60 berths for boats up to 12 m long. Alongside the hilly location, this highlights two clearly recognisable maritime facets: the sandy beach and the harbour.

Accommodation Suited to the Purpose of Your Trip

When choosing your hotel or accommodation for a stay in San Leonardo di Cutro, you can use your personal focus as your criterion. The range between a planned stage, historical traces, an annual event and maritime destinations allows for different travel plans. If you would like to combine several facets, you can adjust the length of your stay to your own interests and preferred travel rhythm. What matters is which aspect of San Leonardo you want to shape your trip.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

For further orientation, you can also explore Cutro, Petilia Policastro, San Nicola Dell'alto, Strongoli, Torre Melissa, Sant'Anna, Belvedere Di Spinello and Marina Di Strongoli.

For the higher-level travel overview: Crotone.