Roccella Ionica: Holiday Apartment for Sea, Culture and Nature

Roccella Ionica can be discovered through its beach, harbour, rocks and historic sites. If you are planning a holiday apartment in Roccella Ionica, you will find clear focal points for different travel days: seaside experiences, culture, nature observation, walks and events.

Sea, Harbour and Special Habitats

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta LINNAEUS, 1758) occurs on the beach of Roccella Ionica. The Porto delle Grazie (Marina di Roccella) is a tourist fishing harbour and is located 2 km from the town centre. Excursions, days out by boat and nautical activities are offered there, allowing visitors to experience the coast from the sea.

Nature is also represented by characteristic habitats: habitat type 2110 “Embryonic shifting dunes” under the Habitats Directive has been recorded in Roccella Ionica. At the Castello, habitat type 8210 “Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation” under the Habitats Directive has been recorded. The habitat at Castello di Roccella Ionica also hosts a population of Ptilostemon gnaphaloides, which is classified as threatened according to IUCN criteria.

Castello, Borgo and Sacred Sites

Castello Carafa was founded in Norman times by Gualtieri De Collepietro. From 1479 to 1806, it belonged to the Carafa della Spina family, who partially remodelled and restored it. Borgo Carafa is the oldest historic centre of Roccella Ionica and preserves its original layout with narrow lanes and panoramic views. At the highest point of the rock is what was presumably an early fortified structure called Monte Falcone.

The Santuario Madonna delle Grazie was founded in 1545 by the Palermitan captain Onofrio Buscemi. It lies in a valley on the left bank of the Torrente Zirgone and is surrounded by green slopes and striking rocky sections. The Chiesa Matrice di San Nicola di Bari is connected to Castello di Roccella Jonica by a coretto.

Castello Carafa is home to the Museo Multimediale Immersivo di Roccella Jonica – MUSMIR. The restored Convento dei Minimi is used for cultural activities, which take place mainly in the three large halls on the first floor. A private chapel can be seen next to Palazzo Englen Tassone. Parco degli Dei is an open-air museum created by the sculptor Mariella Costa. Teatro al Castello is located in the Castello Carafa area and serves as a venue for performances and cultural events.

Paths and Events

A recommended path runs along the northern slope of the rock from Via Torrente Zirgone to the Castello; a staircase makes the route easier. For cycling by the sea, a 6 km cycle path is available, running from the southern municipal boundary to the border with Caulonia. The Roccella Jazz Festival “Rumori Mediterranei” has a tradition dating back to 1981. The Feast of Madonna delle Grazie takes place on the first Sunday in July and includes a traditional procession on the sea.

Arrival and Orientation for Your Holiday Apartment

Roccella Ionica is connected by the Strada Statale 106 Jonica and the Ionian railway line. For planning your trip, the sea and harbour, historic sites, paths or nature can determine the desired focus. This makes it possible to tailor a holiday apartment in Roccella Ionica to the travel rhythm that is of interest to your group: maritime days, cultural discoveries, activity on the rock or quiet nature observation.

More Destinations for Your Own Planning

Scilla, Laureana Di Borrello, Brancaleone Superiore, Cittanova, Sant'alessio In Aspromonte, Bagnara Calabra, Portigliola and Bovalino Marina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.