Discover Caulonia: Holiday Apartment for the Old Town, Hills and Sea

Caulonia combines a multifaceted history with hills, water and lively traditions. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Caulonia, you will find opportunities for cultural days in the historic town centre as well as for experiences in nature and by the sea.

Historic Town Centre and Remarkable Religious Buildings

The remains of the four medieval city gates Porta Pusterla, Porta Amusa, Porta Allaro and Porta del Salvatore have been preserved in the historic town centre. Castelvetere, today’s Caulonia, belonged to the Carafa fief from the outset. Caulonia is also one of the Greek colonies and subcolonies founded along the Ionian coast of southern Italy. Next to the right-hand façade of the Chiesa Matrice stands the Campanile Comunale, a square bell tower with four levels.

The Chiesa Matrice di S. Maria Assunta, “La Cattolica”, has medieval origins and was rebuilt and extended between 1513 and 1717 at the initiative of Vincenzo Carafa. The church houses the Carafa Renaissance mausoleum, protected as a national monument and attributed to Antonello Gagini. The Chiesa del SS. Rosario stands on a rocky promontory with wide-ranging views; it originally belonged to the Dominican monastery.

La Deesis is the surviving remnant of the Church of San Zaccheria. Created around the year 1000, the depiction features an iconography derived from Byzantine models in the Mediterranean region. The route there leads from Piazza Carmine into Via Vincenzo Niutta. Porta del Salvatore is also known as Porta Reale. It was built from sandstone; Emperor Charles V passed through it on his way through Caulonia.

Festivals, Processions and Calabrian Culture

The Kaulonia Tarantella Festival takes place every year at the end of August in Piazza Mese and is dedicated to Calabrian folk music. The festival in honour of the town’s patron saint, Sant’Ilarione, is celebrated on the third Sunday in October. It includes a pilgrimage during which the saint’s relic is carried to the hermitage in San Nicola.

The Caracle tradition is a very long procession held on Holy Saturday. Its ritual has been preserved unchanged for centuries by the two archconfraternities involved. The Festa del libro has also already held two editions in the historic centre of Caulonia. Thus, the annual cycle is shaped not only by the landscape and coast, but also by music, religious customs and literature.

Hills, Waterfalls and the Coast of Caulonia

Caulonia Superiore is situated on three hills. Its narrow streets and squares are laid out like terraces overlooking the sea. The Cascate di San Nicola can be reached by car; the final kilometre follows an unpaved but passable road. Both the small-scale structure of the upper town and a specific natural destination are therefore part of Caulonia’s character.

The Camillari Tower stands in Caulonia Marina, one of 72 towers that Fabrizio Pignatelli had built along the Calabrian coast. The hermitage of Sant’Ilarione in Caulonia Marina is considered an archaic element. In front of Caulonia, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) uses the sea to make its way into the open water after hatching.

The Ionian beaches of Caulonia Marina are considered suitable for diving and dive excursions because of the exceptionally good visibility on the seabed. Marina di Caulonia beach is counted among the child-friendly beaches awarded the Green Flag in connection with the “Riviera dei Gelsomini” Regional Marine Park.

Holiday Apartment in Caulonia to Suit Your Travel Rhythm

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can first consider which daily rhythm suits your trip: The historic town centre brings together churches, gates, towers and festivals, while Caulonia Superiore is characterised by hills, narrow streets and views of the sea. Caulonia Marina combines coastal attractions with the Camillari Tower, the Ionian beaches and maritime observations. Anyone planning an excursion to the Cascate di San Nicola should also take into account the passable, unpaved stretch of road during the final kilometre.

More Destinations to Choose From

Bova Marina, Brancaleone Superiore, Taureana, Marina Di Caulonia, San Ferdinando, Brancaleone, Santa Domenica and Melito Di Porto Salvo

To the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.