"Costa dei Gelsomini" Regional Marine Park

The name evokes the scent of small white flowers that fill this part of the Ionian coast with fragrance between April and July: it is the Costa dei Gelsomini Regional Marine Park, one of the most evocative corners of Calabria in the province of Reggio Calabria. A stretch of coastline that preserves its wild and unspoilt nature: it is no coincidence that Caretta Caretta turtles choose these beaches to lay their eggs. In addition to being the chosen location for annual nesting, the Costa dei Gelsomini (or Riviera dei Gelsomini) is also home to one of the most important Turtle Rescue Centres in the Mediterranean (Brancaleone), which is why Brancaleone Beach is a Site of Community Importance (SCI), an area of high naturalistic and environmental value.

The Capo Bruzzano cliff (Bruzzano Zeffirio) is certainly one of the most evocative places in the "Costa dei Gelsomini" Regional Marine Park: the beach at its foot, characterised by golden sand and transparent waters, stretches for about a kilometre and a half, offering spectacular views of the sea and the surrounding mountains. Relaxation and nature are also the main ingredients of a day in Bianco, with its fine beach and a series of sea caves that can only be accessed by sea, perhaps by renting a small boat to enjoy the spectacle.

Finally, let's not forget that the Costa dei Gelsomini Regional Marine Park falls within the coastal part of the Greek area (where the ancient Greek of Calabria is spoken) between Capo Bruzzano and Punta di Spropoli, which also includes the municipalities of Ferruzzano and Palizzi.