Holiday apartment in Capo Vaticano – Coast, history and sweeping views

Capo Vaticano combines a striking coastal landscape with an unusually rich legacy of the past. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Capo Vaticano, it is worth first considering the experiences that can shape your stay: light sandy beaches, viewpoints overlooking the sea, old vineyard terraces, maritime exhibitions and traces of Greek and Roman history.

Between the Costa degli Dei and light sandy beaches

Capo Vaticano is part of the Costa degli Dei. This stretch of coastline runs from Capo Vaticano in the San Nicolò district of the municipality of Ricadi to Tropea. The coastal character is particularly clear at Grotticelle Beach: it is a long sandy beach with very light sand and consists of three connected beaches. The beaches below the promontory can often only be reached via narrow paths or by sea. This is an important consideration when planning your day if you want to combine relaxing time on the beach with excursions on the water or walks.

The promontory reaches a maximum height of 124 metres and consists of distinctive grey-white granite, which is studied worldwide because of its geological properties. On the earthen terraces, old vineyards slope gently down towards the sea. Farmers created these terraces using dry-stone walls made from the rock. As a result, natural rock formations, an agricultural landscape and open sea views meet directly along the coast.

Holiday apartment in Capo Vaticano for different types of holiday days

When choosing accommodation, the mix of beach, nature and culture you want may be decisive. A walk to the lighthouse at the tip of the promontory leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Stromboli volcano and the Aeolian Islands at sunset. The Capo Vaticano lighthouse stands 100 metres above sea level and was built in 1870. The Belvedere del Capo opens out towards the Gulf of Gioia Tauro and Sicily; from there, you can see the Aeolian Islands, the Strait of Messina and the Sicilian coast with Mount Etna.

The view from the water also reveals another side of the coast. A boat trip from Tropea towards Capo Vaticano takes you to coves that can only be reached by sea and includes three stops of 20 minutes each. The stop at Capo Vaticano includes a panoramic cruise along Praja di Fuoco and Grotticelle. This allows you to sensibly combine quieter days on the beach with active excursions without mixing up the different perspectives on the coast.

Maritime heritage and traces of the past

The Museo del Mare is housed in a former naval observation post that served as a day lighthouse until the middle of the 20th century. Two halls display fishing and navigation equipment donated by residents of Ricadi and surrounding towns. There are also exhibitions on marine biology featuring Mediterranean and exotic shells, as well as fish, molluscs, crustaceans and whale bones. For families with different interests, this maritime focus can provide a welcome cultural highlight between days spent along the coast.

The history of the coast goes back even further. A Greek settlement stood on the northern promontory enclosing the Baia di Santa Maria and was used from the 5th century to the first decades of the 3rd century BC. Ceramic finds recovered during excavations bear witness to this. A Roman amphora depot dating from the 2nd to the 1st century BC was also discovered in the Baia di Santa Maria in the 1980s.

The church at the Baia di Santa Maria became a rural church for the farmers and fishermen of the adjacent village in the 17th century. In the 18th century, it was expanded out of devotion to Maria SS. di Loreto. Torre Ruffa adds another historic building: it was built as the final tower, and the Codice Carratelli, created towards the end of the 16th century, still depicts it under construction. Torre Ruffa is the only surviving coastal tower described there.

A natural setting for exploration

The Garden of the Gods park consists of shrubs and aromatic plants that are endemic to the Mediterranean region. Together with the vineyard terraces, the granite of the promontory and the changing views of the islands, volcano and Sicilian coast, this creates a destination that accommodates different daily rhythms. You can focus on sandy beaches and sunsets, explore historic sites or view Capo Vaticano from a boat. It is best to choose a holiday apartment or holiday house according to your personal balance between the coast, culture and planned activities.

More places to consider when planning your trip

If you would like to plan your trip beyond Capo Vaticano, you can also include Coccorino, San Nicolò Di Ricadi, San Calogero, Filadelfia, Soriano Calabro, Brognaturo, Limbadi and Capistrano in your further selection.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Vibo Valentia.