The Ionian coast of Calabria stretches from the Ionian part of the province of Reggio Calabria to Roseto Capo Spulico. From south to north, the landscape of Ionian Calabria changes profoundly, alternating between rivieras with names evocative of local characteristics.
Leaving the coastal area of Bovesìa, or the coast of the Greeks of Calabria, which is home to the "Caretta Caretta Turtle Recovery Centre" (Brancaleone), we come to the "Costa dei Gelsomini", as far as the blue sea of Locri.
The name of this stretch of the Ionian coast of Calabria recalls the history of the Calabrian jasmine, the gatherers of the fragrant creeper that abounds in the area. It is one of the most uncontaminated and wildest coastal areas in Italy, which for almost all of its 90 km offers the rare charm of the free beach, with its low, sandy shoreline and typical Mediterranean dune flora, with no less than 6 Green Flags (Bianco, Bova Marina, Bovalino, Locri, Roccella Jonica and Siderno, the last one also a Blue Flag).
Then we come to the province of Catanzaro with the "Riviera degli Angeli" and the "Costa degli Aranci".
The first, under the banner of "slow living", includes some authentic villages of hospitality, revitalised by foreigners and "return tourists", such as the village of Badolato.
The Costa degli Aranci boasts one of the matiest resorts in Ionian Calabria: Soverato, the "Pearl of the Ionian Sea", combines nightlife and well-equipped beaches with the "Baia di Soverato" Regional Marine Park (or of the Hippocampus, due to the special presence of seahorses). Among the beaches not to be missed are Caminia, Pietragrande and Copanello (Stalettì).
The Costa dei Saraceni, in the province of Crotone, is one of the most striking coastal areas in Ionian Calabria. It stretches between the Protected Marine Area of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, among the largest in Europe, and the Crucoli Torretta beach. A short stretch of fine reddish-coloured sand, overlooked by Torre Melissa and Cirò Marina (both Blue Flag and Green Flag).
Finally, the Costa degli Achei recounts the beauty of Ionian Calabria in the province of Cosenza, stretching from the medieval village of Cariati (Green Flag) to Roseto Capo Spulico (Blue Flag together with Trebisacce and Villapiana). Along this stretch of Calabria's Ionian coast stretches the flourishing Sibari Plain, near which are the so-called Lakes of Sibari, among the most beautiful and well-equipped seaside resorts in Ionian Calabria.