Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area

The Marine Protected Area ‘’Capo Rizzuto‘’ extends in the municipality of Isola Capo Rizzuto, Crotone province, on the beautiful Costa dei Saraceni (Ionian Calabria). Established in 1991, the ‘’Capo Rizzuto‘’ Marine Protected Area covers an area of almost 15,000 hectares and is one of the largest in Italy. Among the eight promontories overlooking its crystal-clear stretch of water, the most famous are the one on which the National Archaeological Park of Capo Colonna (in Crotone) stands, with the only column of the temple of Hera Lacinia still standing, and Punta Le Castella, with the iconic Aragonese Castle on the water.

From the point of view of nature conservation, the Marine Protected Area ‘’Capo Rizzuto‘’ is divided into two distinct zones: the ‘Integral Reserve Zone’ and the ‘General Reserve Zone’. The importance of this Marine Area lies in its wealth of fauna and flora, its white and red beaches with crystal-clear waters. The seabed is shallow, except for some rocky areas, rich in posidonia meadows. The fauna includes molluscs, groupers, mullet and the colourful parrotfish.