"Costa dei Gelsomini" Regional Marine Park

The name evokes the scent of the small white flowers that inebriates this part of the coast between April and July: it is the “Costa dei Gelsomini” Regional Marine Park, one of the most beautiful and evocative corners of Calabria, still undiscovered because far from mass tourism. We are in the Greek-speaking area between Capo Bruzzano and Punta di Spropoli, which includes the municipalities of Bianco, Ferruzzano, Bruzzano Zeffirio, Brancaleone and Palizzi, in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Medieval villages, archaeological sites, sheer cliffs overlooking a sea of incredible colours: this is a stretch of coastline that retains a mysterious and authentic charm and a wild and unspoilt nature. It is no coincidence that turtles of the Caretta Caretta species choose these pristine beaches to lay their eggs. In fact, the Ionian coast of Reggio Calabria, where nesting occurs on an annual basis, is recognised as one of the two main breeding areas for Caretta Caretta in Italy. This turtle is the only one to nest in Italy, but the species is at risk of disappearing throughout the Mediterranean due to various factors, first and foremost marine pollution, nautical traffic and fishing, so it is protected and safeguarded by various international and EU regulations. The crystal-clear waters of the Costa dei Gelsomini Marine Park are the ideal habitat not only for turtles, but its seabed is particularly rich and vital. Visiting these places means penetrating into the soul of Calabria, being in contact with a nature that has painted and coloured the coast here, giving it beauty and poetry.

The Capo Bruzzano cliff is certainly one of the most striking and beautiful places in the region. The beach, characterised by golden sand and transparent waters, stretches for about one and a half kilometres and offers a spectacular view of the sea and the surrounding mountains. A large colony of sea turtles nests here every year, between Bruzzano and Bova Marina. One of the wildest beaches in Locride is Brancaleone, a paradise for swimming and snorkelling enthusiasts. Surrounded by mountains, it is about four kilometres long, with golden sand and crystal-clear water, ideal for enjoying the sea far from overcrowded and chaotic lidos.

Relaxation and nature are the main ingredients of a day at Bianco, with its beach stretching for about three kilometres of fine sand facing an incredibly crystal-clear sea. But what most makes this stretch of coastline spectacular is the series of sea caves that can only be accessed by sea, perhaps hiring a small boat to enjoy a unique spectacle that regenerates body and spirit.