Name: Hotel Calabrisella
Address: Viale Giuseppe Berto, Capo Vaticano, Vv, 89866, IT
Telephone: +39 096/3377750
Price range: $$

hotelcalabrisella en capo-vaticano-and-surroundings 005

The Calabrian territory is a place rich in exciting stories to tell. Calabrisella Hotel would like to introduce you to everything you can discover in Calabria, from its pristine sea to the wonderful town of Reggio Calabria and the breathtaking mountain landscapes of Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte.

Reggio Calabria

In Calabria’s very heart is the city of Reggio Calabria. To get to know the Calabrian territory, you cannot miss Reggio. The city is renowned for its Bronzi di Riace (Riace Bronzes), preserved in the “Museo Nazionale della Magana Grecia” (National Museum of Magna Grecia) where visitors can marvel at the bronzes and more. Indeed, the museum is rich in archaeological finds such as paleolithic graffiti, votive tables and marble works.
However, spells of pure beauty can be experienced even by just walking around the city: Reggio Calabria is the hotspot of the Baroque style and its waterfront has been defined by the great poet D’Annunzio as Italy’s most beautiful kilometer.
A must-do stop is Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle), home of the National Institute of Geophysics Observatory, where cultural and artistic events are held.

Scilla

Scilla, a city that is regarded as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, is a small town belonging to the province of Reggio Calabria. Overlooking the sea on a rocky outcrop, it has been defined by some “the small Venice”, since it lies close to the sea with the waters bathing the houses. Another must-visit sight is Castello del Ruffo (Ruffo Castle) from which visitors can experience a priceless view of the Aeolian Islands. From the beaches to the historic center, wherever you stare at you will see a wonder. Scilla is to be admired especially at sunset, when the sun goes down and the small artificial lights of the town come on, making the village almost magical.

Gerace

The town of Gerace is regarded as Italy’s most beautiful village. Indeed, it is a 100% medieval town and its historic center is a real pearl of beauty. Inside is also a cathedral, which is the largest around Calabria, the Church of San Francesco and the remains of an ancient Norman castle.

Stilo

Stilo has instead been defined as "the city of the sun". This village is also included among Italy’s most beautiful villages: the town tells an ancient history in which cultures mix, starting from the Greek period and going on with the Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The historic center is absolutely worth visiting: it is rich in narrow streets, courtyards, gardens that create glimpses that are more than picturesque, even poetic.

Zungri

The town of Zungri is an agricultural center belonging to Costa degli Dei, where you can pay a visit to Grotte degli Sbariati (Sbariati Grotto), a village built entirely from sandstone. The atmosphere you breathe is truly magical and you will feel like entering a miniature of Matera and the Sbariati were no other than a group of displaced and fleeing monks. Getting to Zungri is easy and certainly worth it: it is an incredible and picturesque place you should not miss.

Serra San Bruno

Serra San Bruno rises in the Calabrian mountains: with its 18th-century buildings it somehow recalls the distant Alpine resorts. The town is plunged into pine forests and firs unique in the world for their characteristics: this makes Serra San Bruno a great spot for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Here you can visit Certosa, an ancient splendid abbey dating back to the 1000s. The whole village of the Certosa is pervaded by a sense of mystical spirituality.

SILA, ASPROMONTE, POLLINO

In Calabria you can appreciate not only the sea, but also mountain ranges and national reserves, such as that of Pollino. Pollino park is the largest around Italy and features a number of differences within it, from the Mediterranean climate on the coast to that of the mountains. Here visitors can see the white pine and the loricato pine which, thanks to its grandeur, has become the symbol of the park.
Even the Sila National Park has a territory rich in biodiversity with different landscapes ranging from mountains to hills. Inside the park are gigantic trees called the "Giants of Sila", which reach a height of up to 43 meters. Among the local wildlife, worth a mention are wolves, the deers and roes.
Another National Park of Calabria is the Aspromonte Park, a majestic mountain range with steep and jagged slopes including short streams forming real canyons. The park is truly varied: there are, in fact, centuries-old olive trees, mandarin trees, lemon trees.
Also worth mentioning are the numerous wildlife species, such as Bonelli’s eagle, wolf and wild boar.

This means that Calabria’s territory is full of places to visit and enjoy and, above all, scenic views and glimpses of the sea that remain embedded in memory!