The Tracciolino Trail in Calabria: from Palmi to Bagnara Calabra

The Tracciolino Trail (Calabria) is a scenic nature trail in the province of Reggio Calabria, suspended between the sky and the sea of the Costa Viola.

The Tracciolino Trail joins the towns of Palmi and Bagnara Calabra, passing through the Mediterranean maquis of the coastline, overhanging some of the most beautiful coves and sea caves in southern Italy, opening up to the Strait of Messina and the Aeolian Islands. A route that links man and nature, the Tracciolino Trail skirts the characteristic terraces of dry stone walls (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), among the longest in the Mediterranean. Structures that tell of an ancient world, dedicated to the cultivation of zibibbo and the fine Costa Viola IGT wines.

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From a hiking point of view, the Tracciolino Trail is classified as ‘’Level E‘’, i.e. suitable for those with good trekking training, considering the presence of two more exposed stretches, which can however be overcome with ease. Along the route, hikers have the possibility of stopping at panoramic viewpoints and equipped camping and picnic areas.

A route that can be walked safely and independently by moderately experienced walkers, the Tracciolino does not have any signposts, which is why it is always preferable to rely on experienced local guides. The Tracciolino Trail can be walked in different ways, including the ‘’ring‘’ circuit, varying in length between 7 and 17 km depending on the mode.

To experience the hike along the Tracciolino Trail as comfortably as possible, it is advisable to wear sportswear that is comfortable and breathable (long trousers and a light fabric T-shirt), with a hat and hiking shoes. The Costa Viola is sunny all year round, so it never hurts to bring plenty of sun cream and water.

The first section of the Tracciolino Trail, Palmi-Mount Sant'Elia is a spectacular climb into the blue! Created as an engineering work to bring water from the Olmo spring to the Palma fountain in the town centre, the Tracciolino in Palmi starts from Piazza Primo Maggio. From here, it takes a picturesque path to the place known as Acqua dei Cacciatori, a vertiginous precipice at the foot of Mount Sant'Elia. From this magical place, the Tracciolino Trail begins to offer breathtaking views of the Costa Viola. 

From 405 metres above sea level, you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the Strait of Messina, immersed in a route of ancient memory, which was used by the farmers of the coastline to reach the land in the hills through the mule tracks of the time. An emotion that grows as you approach the summit of Sant'Elia, where the Tracciolino in Palmi becomes even more evocative, amidst cliffs and reefs: a coastline recognised by Legambiente as one of the 17 most beautiful in Italy, which is arranged around the Rovaglioso Bay, one of the places where coasteering is possible in Calabria (Rovaglioso-Marinella stretch).

From a historical point of view, the Tracciolino Trail crosses an area rich in hermit caves that can be traced back to ancient Italo-Greek, Basilian and Byzantine monasticism: places that place Sant'Elia at the centre of a great ‘’holy are‘’, where walkers can still touch the deep bond between body and spirit that still exists in this uncontaminated, thousand-year-old Calabria.

Having reached the Olmo spring, walkers can continue along the Tracciolino Trail to Bagnara Calabra, with a stable altitude of around 400/450 m above sea level, just below the Madonna della Neve plateau. This area has been characterised since antiquity by sun-kissed agricultural production, as well as still being an area of great strategic-military importance for the control of the Strait of Messina.

Different paths branch off from the plateau, which from the main Tracciolino route reach beaches and caves of absolute beauty at will, from Cala Janculla in the Seminara area to Ceramida, a hamlet of Bagnara Calabra. Here, in addition to enjoying the panorama that enchanted the European writers of the Grand Tour, first and foremost Edward Lear, who did not hesitate to emphasise its beauty in his travel diary, it is possible to detour for a brief ‘’wine-tour‘’ along the terraces cultivated with zibibibbo and Costa Viola IGT wine, on the trail of the ancient wine-presses.  

Finally, before arriving in the town of Bagnara Calabra, the Olmo Valley offers a hidden treasure, venerated over the centuries by shepherds, fishermen and hermits who frequented the area: the San Sebastiano Cave, a place of profound meditation in contact with nature, from which the little piece of coastline below also takes its name.