A dive into the sea of Tortora, on the Riviera dei Cedri

Crystal clear sea, welcoming beaches, nature to explore. But also excellent food, traces of ancient history and many interesting cultural attractions.

This year, come and discover Tortora, a wonderful village nestled like a precious stone in the Riviera dei Cedri.

It is located between Calabria and Basilicata, which is why Tortora's roots are steeped in different histories and cultures, making it doubly fascinating. This village stretches across a plain overlooking the Gulf of Policastro and, like many other municipalities on the Tyrrhenian coast, has a marine area at the bottom and the old town, the heart of the village, at the top, a few kilometres away.

The beach is narrow and long, made up of coarse sand mixed with gravel and pebbles. The Tortora sea, awarded the Blue Flag, is crystal clear and will surprise you with its changing colours, from turquoise to cobalt blue. You can choose from numerous tourist facilities equipped for families with children, couples or groups of young people. The beach establishments offer services and amenities and the opportunity to spend the whole day at the beach, relaxing and enjoying refreshing swims.

The village of Tortora welcomes you with its maze of narrow streets, squares, churches, ancient buildings and modern, colourful murals. In the upper part of the village is the beautiful Franciscan Convent, dating back to the 16th century, which also includes the Church dedicated to the S.S. Annunziata and a cloister. A portal surmounted by a triangular sail with a painting depicting the Annunciation inside leads into the sacred building, which houses a wooden statue of St. Anthony of Padua and several paintings depicting scenes from the Bible.

Continuing on, you can admire the Feudal Palace with its medieval tower, as well as the many churches that embellish the historic centre. The Church of the Souls in Purgatory is the oldest, while the Mother Church, built in the 14th century, has a striking neoclassical façade with three rectangular portals and a characteristic spired bell tower with a clock and bells. Inside, you can admire sacred silver objects, several wooden statues, including that of the patron saint San Biagio, frescoes and paintings, including one attributed to artists from the school of Mattia Preti.

Don't miss a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Blanda, located inside Palazzo Casapesenna. Take a journey through the traces of the various civilisations and cultures that have shaped the history of this borderland between two regions since the Palaeolithic era. In the museum, you can view the exhibits in 3D, covering a period from the Bronze Age to the late Roman Empire and originating from a series of excavations.

Once your hunger for knowledge has been satisfied, all that remains is to discover the typical flavours of Tortora, which have an undisputed king: Zafarana, the sweet red pepper with its characteristic goat's horn shape, which is used both in powder form and whole in many classic gastronomic preparations and even in desserts. Restaurants and trattorias offer dishes based on ancient, simple and tasty recipes, many of which are made with handmade pasta.

Along the road leading to the village, you can stop to admire the Roman ruins of the Mausoleum of Blanda Julia, while on the banks of the Toce River stands Nava Tower, a watchtower dating back to the Saracen era.

We are in the Pollino National Park, and you are spoilt for choice among the many tourist resorts on the coast or in the mountains. Praia a Mare, where you can enjoy the sea and relax, and Aieta, at an altitude of 1,463 metres, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, with its magnificent Renaissance Palace, are certainly worth a visit.