Brancaleone Superiore: Coast, Culture and Jasmine Tradition

Brancaleone Superiore can be explored through its coastal landscape, jasmine tradition and specific cultural sites. Around Brancaleone Marina there are beaches and an extensive seafront promenade, while a church, a museum, castles and an archaeological site offer different insights into the history of the area.

Dunes, beaches and the long seafront promenade

The Spiaggia di Brancaleone beach is located in the vicinity of Brancaleone Marina. It is designated as Natura 2000 site IT9350160 and includes sandy dunes stabilised by vegetation that is resistant to salty winds.

Brancaleone Marina has one of the longest seafront promenades along the entire coast. The Spiaggia dello Scoglio Cuzzufri beach is also located nearby. The Spiaggia di Torrevarata and Spiaggia di Bianco beaches are situated around Brancaleone Marina. When planning an individual stay, the long seafront promenade and the individual beaches in Brancaleone Marina can be considered as separate coastal destinations for day trips.

Marine animals and local sites

The Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine is located in Brancaleone Marina in the former ticket office of the railway station at S.S. 106, Piazza Lorenzo e Gilla, formerly Piazza Stazione. The Museo del Mare also has a total of three rooms; these rooms contain dioramas of marine animals.

For school groups travelling along the Ionian coast, travelling by train is recommended, as the train stops at the Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine.

Jasmine, architecture and Cesare Pavese

The first jasmine plants were introduced in Brancaleone in 1927. The plant is also connected with the local economic history: distilleries that were used to process jasmine and bergamot are still operating in Brancaleone. The introduction in 1927 and the distilleries that still exist connect the beginnings of the jasmine story with the town’s economic history. Thus, you encounter jasmine not only as a botanical topic, but also in connection with the town’s former processing facilities.

The Chiesa Arcipretale dell’Annunziata contains remnants of a valuable 16th-century altar made of polychrome marble. Cesare Pavese lived in exile in Brancaleone from 1935 to 1936 in a house on Via Marina in Brancaleone Marina.

Excursions in the surrounding area

The hills of Torre Sperlongara are associated with several excursion options. This hilly area differs from the coastal area of Brancaleone Marina. The Parco archeologico urbano di Brancaleone Vetus archaeological site is also located in the vicinity of Brancaleone Marina. Other destinations in the surrounding area include Castello dei Carafa, Castello di Palizzi Superiore and Castello Normanno di Bova.

Further destinations in the same regional context: Camini, Stilo, Portigliola, Taureana, Polistena, Saline Joniche, Siderno, Riace Marina

To the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.