Badolato between Borgo, sea and living tradition

Badolato combines a medieval village in the hills with maritime experiences on the Ionian coast. The town lies at around 240 metres above sea level and offers views of the Ionian Sea and the surrounding coast. Narrow, paved lanes characterise the townscape. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Badolato, you can therefore choose between historical discoveries, nature trails and days by the water.

Between Badolato Borgo, the marina and nature

For local orientation, Badolato Marina and Badolato Borgo are connected by a local bus shuttle. At Spiaggia di Badolato Marina, you can enjoy water sports, book boat trips and spend days swimming by the sea. Badolato also has the Le Bocche di Gallipari marina. Those who prefer old paths and nature trails, on the other hand, can head towards the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Serre Calabresi. Travelling by train involves going via Lamezia Terme Centrale, with connecting services to Soverato, Badolato and Monasterace.

Sacred art and historic buildings

The present structure of the Chiesa Matrice del SS.mo Salvatore dates from 1612. It houses a wooden bust of Sant’Andrea Avellino, the patron saint of Badolato. The work is from the Neapolitan school of the first half of the 17th century. The town’s religious tradition also includes three events organised annually by the Confraternita dell’Immacolata Concezione: a performance on Holy Saturday featuring several hundred “figuranti”, as well as processions for Maria Santissima Assunta on 15 August and for the Immacolata Concezione on 8 December.

Remarkable evidence of the town’s history can also be found outside the Chiesa Matrice. Palazzo Gallelli is a three-storey historic residential building dating from 1598. The Chiesa e Convento Madonna degli Angeli houses a wooden group of figures depicting the Madonna degli Angeli by Fra Diego da Careri. The 17th-century Chiesa dell’Immacolata, together with the Convento degli Angeli, is considered one of the most important sacred buildings in the area. The Chiesa e Convento Francescano di Santa Maria degli Angeli is dated to 1603/1605, while the Santuario Basiliano della Madonna della Sanità dates from the 11th century. Badolato’s list of attractions also includes the Torre Campanaria di avvistamento, dating from 1539.

Frescoes, walking tours and stories

The Chiesa di San Domenico, formerly Santa Maria del Soccorso and associated with the name “Do Monasteri”, preserves vaulted frescoes attributed to the Flemish painter Guglielmo Borremans and dated to around 1730. The same church contains old frescoes by the Calabrian painter Francesco Colelli. The Chiesa di Santa Caterina V.M. d’Alessandria preserves a 16th-century fresco as well as an altarpiece depicting the mystical marriage of Saint Catherine to the Christ Child.

The Sentiero della Memoria Popolare offers another perspective on Badolato. This tour of the “pietre parlanti” conveys local stories, figures and folk anecdotes. For local orientation, the C.A.T./Centro di Accoglienza Turistico-Culturale of Badolato Borgo is located in Palazzo Gallelli at Via Gallelli 13.

Regional experiences for different kinds of holiday days

Badolato combines culture with active and pleasure-oriented experiences. During the traditional olive harvest, guided tours of local oil mills, including tastings of extra virgin olive oil, are offered. Communal grape harvests are offered together with tours of the traditional Catoj. There are also cooking courses with lessons in Italian and in the Badolato dialect. This makes it possible to combine days by the sea, walks through the narrow lanes, nature trails and regional traditions into a varied stay.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Badolato, you can clearly define the focus of your holiday. Badolato Marina stands for beaches, water sports, boat trips and the Le Bocche di Gallipari marina. The medieval village with its paved lanes, churches, works of art and the Sentiero della Memoria Popolare is more likely to appeal to travellers who want to incorporate culture and local history directly into their days. Thanks to the local shuttle between Badolato Marina and Badolato Borgo, both sides of the destination remain connected in your planning.

If you would also like to discover other places, you can find Marcellinara, Falerna Marina, Stalettì, San Pietro a Maida, Simeri, Petrizzi, San Floro and La Petrizia here.

For the overarching travel overview: Catanzaro.