Holiday apartment in Brancaleone: sea turtles and history

Brancaleone combines sea turtle conservation, maritime culture and an unusually multifaceted history. Between Brancaleone Marina and the higher-lying Brancaleone Vetus, there are themes that make a stay varied: nature experiences for adults and children, insights into the marine world, and historic sites with a distinctive atmosphere.

Holiday apartment in Brancaleone for nature and family experiences

The Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine di Brancaleone offers guided tours for adults and children providing information about sea turtles and their conservation. At the same time, it is a sea turtle rescue centre and, in the region between Calabria and Sicily, is responsible for rescuing, caring for and rehabilitating injured animals or animals otherwise in difficulty, including cases involving human-caused problems. The centre is located in Brancaleone Marina at Piazza Lorenzo e Gilla, formerly Piazza Stazione, in the premises of the former railway ticket office on the S.S. 106.

Museo del Mare: marine knowledge in three rooms

The Museo del Mare in Brancaleone opened on 15 October 2016 and consists of three main rooms. In the final room, dioramas and true-to-scale reproductions depict marine mammals and sea turtles. Particular attention is paid to the reproductive biology of Caretta caretta. For a holiday apartment in Brancaleone, this museum is therefore a natural point of interest if you would like to include nature observation and clearly presented marine science in your holiday itinerary.

Brancaleone Vetus: archaeological park on the sandstone hill

Brancaleone Vetus lies on a sandstone hill 310 metres above sea level and 3.5 kilometres from the coast. In 2008, following a conservation and enhancement project overseen by the heritage authority, the site was established as an urban archaeological park; paths within the historic settlement were restored as part of the project. The Chiesa Arcipretale dell’Annunziata in Brancaleone Superiore contains remains of a valuable polychrome marble altar from the 16th century.

The historical and cultural diversity of Brancaleone Vetus also includes the rock church Chiesa-grotta dell’Albero della Vita, with Armenian-style graffiti, including a processional cross bearing a stylised peacock. Since 2012, the Pro Loco di Brancaleone has been committed to enhancing the archaeological site, organising events, offering sightseeing services and suggesting excursions. Paths and the use of the old rock churches have also been restored or improved.

Choose accommodation according to your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Brancaleone, you can use the desired focus of your stay as a guide. Guided tours and the Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine lead to a nature-focused programme in Brancaleone Marina, while the Museo del Mare and Brancaleone Vetus offer different ways to explore the marine world, archaeology and local history. This makes it possible to choose suitable accommodation according to your personal pace, balancing shared discoveries, culture and quieter days. The former prison where Cesare Pavese was held also expands this range of options: today, it serves as a cultural centre for the entire Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and hosts workshops, exhibitions, readings and conferences. During his exile from 1935 to 1936, it was Cesare Pavese’s place of residence in Brancaleone and inspired some of his literary works.

More places for planning your trip

For additional ideas of places to visit, you can also look at Camini, Spropolo, Lazzaro, Monasterace, Brancaleone Superiore, Polistena, Benestare and Bovalino Marina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.