Villa San Giovanni: the gateway to Calabria

Nature, history and legend: when you find yourself in front of the Strait of Messina, you will feel the full force of this marvellous landscape uniting two coastlines with an embrace.

Welcome to Villa San Giovanni, the gateway to Calabria. Here - where scents, accents and cultures intertwine - you will find unspoilt beaches overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Strait that are tinged with ever-changing hues. You will grow fond of this place and its peculiarities.

Let's start with a relaxing stroll along the seafront promenade, taking in the panorama of Sicily, on a clear day you can even see Mount Etna in the distance.

The town of Villa San Giovanni has very ancient origins, even predating the Magna Graecia period, but it has been damaged several times by earthquakes and rebuilt. It is divided into four districts: Acciarello, Cannitello, Pezzo and Piale.

Let's delve into the urban centre, where you can admire ancient Art Nouveau buildings and monuments such as the Old Fountain with its architecture inspired by Greek temples, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in neo-Romanesque style and the statue of Garibaldi created by sculptor Rocco Larussa to celebrate the hero of two worlds. Traces of the splendours of the past can be found in the Azzarello district, among the ruins of Cavallo Tower and Fort Murat.

Is it lunchtime and already feeling peckish? In Villa San Giovanni you are spoilt for choice. In the local restaurants you can enjoy fresh fish dishes, perhaps with a view of the sea. Certainly worth trying are the swordfish specialities, a symbol of the Strait. Don't leave without visiting the Natural History Museum, which gives you the opportunity to learn about the biodiversity and geology of the region.

Villa San Giovanni is located on the Strait of Messina and is best known for its port that connects Calabria to Sicily. Although it is mainly known for its transit function, it is also worth visiting for the beauty of its landscapes, typical of the Costa Viola.

A land of mixing and exchange, here between Punta Pezzo and the seaside village of Cannitello, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea meet. In the village, still inhabited by swordfish fishermen, you may happen to meet swimmers returning from crossing the Strait, many of whom do so. From here, the panorama of the Sicilian coast and the Aeolian Islands will leave you literally speechless. 

If you want to experience the closest point to the Sicilian coast, or simply have the feeling that you can almost touch it, you must go to the Pezzo district where a spectacularly coloured sunset awaits you. The fortunate ones witness a unique phenomenon known as the Fata Morgana, an optical illusion that, under particular weather conditions, makes Sicily seem very close to Calabria.

The port is a bustle of arrivals and departures. The maritime connections between Villa San Giovanni and Messina are managed by Caronte & Tourist and Blu Jet. The former guarantees ferries every day, the crossing takes about 20 minutes and the ships carry passengers and vehicles (cars, motorbikes, trucks).  Blu Jet instead manages hydrofoil transport, a faster and more convenient service for those without vehicles, operating from 5.45am to 00.20am.