Santa Caterina dello Ionio

Santa Caterina dello Ionio, the caress of slow tourism

Sea

The town of Santa Caterina dello Ionio, in the province of Catanzaro, preserves its original medieval structure from the Saracen period in its historic centre.

Of the original defensive structure with four entrance gates, only one, the Porta dell'Acqua, is preserved today. A stroll through the alleys, small squares and panoramic belvederes allows one to appreciate the more ancient layout of the town, rich in granite portals that embellish noble palaces and churches.

The churches are a treat to visit: the Mother Church is home to one of the confraternities that administer the various religious celebrations, first and foremost the feast of the patron saint, St Catherine of Alexandria, for which a big celebration is held in the town on 25 November.

Other baroque churches are San Pantaleone, Immacolata, del Rosario, della Neve and, of course, Santa Caterina.

Descending into the Marina of Santa Caterina dello Ionio, we visit the Sant'Antonio Tower, a 13th century ‘ knight’ type tower, part of the Calabrian coastal tower system.

The beach of Santa Caterina dello Ionio, almost entirely free and preserved in its natural state as a Mediterranean dune, is among the places on the coast where Caretta Caretta turtles nest every year in summer.