Summer in Ricadi, what to see besides the beaches

Nestled at the foot of Mount Poro and nestled in the splendid Costa degli Dei, in the province of Vibo Valentia, the beaches of Ricadi are among the most popular seaside destinations in Calabria.

The Santa Maria di Ricadi Beach and the Riaci Bay are among the "musts" for sea lovers. However, they are not the only attraction for those who choose to combine diving with a bit of history, art and archaeology.

Let's discover together what to visit in Ricadi on a holiday to suit all tastes... 

Rich in archaeological finds and the site of important cultural events, Ricadi is one of the best-loved and most popular resorts on the Vibonese coast.

If the beaches of Ricadi are a real object of desire, the cultural sites, often hidden from mass tourism, are no less so.

What to see in Ricadi besides the beaches? Here are a few pointers that take us back in time...

Before the "tourist boom" that has taken Ricadi's beaches by storm, the town was a simple fishing village, frequented since antiquity by Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. At least this is testified by the archaeological remains found in the area.

Antiquities enthusiasts should not miss a visit to the Marrana Tower in Ricadi, an evocative viewpoint as well as an all-season archaeological and multifunctional area. Part of the defensive system of coastal watchtowers against the Saracens, Torre Marrana dates back to the 16th century and is known as "cavallàra", since a soldier on horseback was in charge of spreading the alarm from one tower to another.

Several Bronze Age tombs have been found in the vicinity, and on the promontory the remains of a Greek farmhouse, a Roman complex from the late Republican period and the port structures of the ancient Portus Erculis mentioned by Pliny and Strabo.

Archaeology and contemporary arts come together at the foot of the Marrana Tower, a space where events, festivals and markets are held all year round: from the usual summer open-air theatre festival, "Avvistamenti Teatrali", to the Christmas markets. 

What to visit in Ricadi town? Two places above all represent the artistic and cultural ferment one breathes: the MuRi and Casa Berto.

The former is the acronym for the Municipal Museum of Ricadi, a museum network consisting of five different exhibition centres, all located in the territory to tell its history, traditions, art and nature.

The second, in the hamlet of Capo Vaticano, is a true "place of the soul". As its name suggests, the House-Museum of the Veneto writer and playwright Giuseppe Berto is a window on the intimacy of a solitary character, who made this place his "buen retiro", composing some of his masterpieces (Il male oscuro, Premio Campiello 1964). Here, every summer, the "Summer at Casa Berto" festival is held, linked to one of the most important literary prizes in the region, the "Giuseppe Berto" Literary Prize.

Capo Vaticano is also home to the evocative Garden of the Gods, a public park that can be visited free of charge and consists of shrubs and aromatic plants endemic to the Mediterranean. Created inside the Belvedere dei Cannoni, this garden represents a true act of recovery and restitution of a green space to the community, the work of the Calabrian brand ‘Acqua degli Dei’ eau de parfum, with the collaboration of the municipal administration and Fabio Muzzupappa, the project's creator.

Moving on to another hamlet of the Ricadi municipality, in contrada Lampazzone, we admire a glimpse of rural life through an ancient mill that is still active, a rare 18th-century testimony capable of grinding wheat, maize and barley with its heavy wheels.

Finally, let's not forget that we are in an area rich in food and wine excellence to be sampled, from the ‘Nduja di Spilinga to the prized Pecorino di Monte Poro PDO, passing through the production of the famous local bitter named after the Cape to which it refers, and the PGI Tropea Red Onion, to which a festival is dedicated in the streets of the town on 13 August.  

An unspoilt paradise, Ricadi's beaches are the pride of the area. All different, from sheer cliffs to fine sandy coves, Ricadi's beaches cater to the tastes of those who enjoy adrenalin-pumping dives, diving, sailing trips or simple relaxation.

The unmissable ones? Santa Maria di Ricadi beach, Riaci Bay and Grotticelle beach, but there are many others, from Formicoli to La Ficara, all waiting to be discovered!

• Santa Maria di Ricadi beach

The beach of Santa Maria di Ricadi is named after the Madonna, to whom a small church on the seafront is dedicated. It offers the beauty of a group of rocks known as the Galea, which, according to legend, housed chained convicts.

• Riaci Bay (Ricadi)

The Riaci Bay is a long, wide, very sandy beach. Its main feature is the presence of the Riaci rock (or Scoglio Grande), joined to the mainland by a tongue of sand. 

• Grotticelle (Ricadi)

The Grotticelle Beach is an inlet at the foot of Capo Vaticano. Secluded below the majestic cliffs, it is the perfect place for a sunset aperitif and pleasant walks among the caves.