Caulonia between the historic town center and the Ionian coast

Caulonia is a place where the historic town center, church art, festivals, and the Ionian coast come together to appeal to different travel interests.

Historic town center and church art

The remains of the four medieval town gates—Porta Pusterla, Porta Amusa, Porta Allaro, and Porta del Salvatore—are preserved in the historic town center. Emperor Charles V passed through Porta del Salvatore, also known as Porta Reale, which was built from sandstone, on his way through Caulonia. The Campanile Comunale next to the right-hand façade of the Chiesa Matrice is a square bell tower with four levels. Caulonia is one of the Greek colonies and subcolonies along the Ionian coast of southern Italy.

The Chiesa Matrice di S. Maria Assunta has medieval origins, bears the nickname “La Cattolica,” and was rebuilt and expanded between 1513 and 1717 at the behest of Vincenzo Carafa. It houses the Carafa Renaissance mausoleum, protected as a national monument and attributed to Antonello Gagini. The Chiesa del SS. Rosario stands on a rocky promontory with a wide panorama and originally belonged to the Dominican monastery. La Deesis is the surviving remnant of the Church of San Zaccheria; the depiction, created around the year 1000, features iconography derived from Byzantine models in the Mediterranean region. The path to La Deesis leads from Piazza Carmine into Via Vincenzo Niutta.

Festivals and traditional rituals

Several events shape the cultural character of the year. The Kaulonia Tarantella Festival takes place annually at the end of August in Piazza Mese and is dedicated to Calabrian folk music. The festival in honor of the town’s patron saint, Sant’Ilarione, takes place on the third Sunday in October; during the pilgrimage, the saint’s relic is carried to the hermitage in San Nicola. The Caracle tradition is a very long procession on Holy Saturday; the ritual has been preserved unchanged by the two participating archconfraternities for centuries. The Festa del libro has already held two editions in the historic center of Caulonia.

Hills, waterfalls, and marina

Caulonia Superiore lies on three hills. Its narrow streets and squares resemble terraces overlooking the sea. The Cascate di San Nicola can be reached by car; the final kilometer runs along an unpaved but passable road.

The Camillari Tower in Caulonia Marina was one of 72 towers that Fabrizio Pignatelli had built along the Calabrian coast. Off Caulonia, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) uses the sea to make its way into the open water after hatching. The Ionian beaches of Caulonia Marina are considered suitable for diving and scuba excursions because of the exceptionally good visibility on the seabed. The Sant’Ilarione hermitage in Caulonia Marina is regarded as an archaic element. In connection with the “Riviera dei Gelsomini” Regional Marine Park, the beach of Marina di Caulonia is among the child-friendly beaches awarded the Green Flag.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

For choosing your accommodation, the contrast offers practical guidance: the historic town center represents gates, churches, and squares, while Caulonia Marina stands for the coast, beach, and maritime history. Choose the focus of your days and base the location of your accommodation on it.

Discover more places

Oppido Mamertina, Ferruzzano, Melito Di Porto Salvo, Pentidattilo, San Roberto, Stilo, Condofuri Marina, and Agnana Calabra also offer further points of interest for planning your trip.

For the overarching travel overview: Reggio Calabria.