San Nicolò Di Ricadi: Capo Vaticano and the Costa degli Dei

San Nicolò lies on the final slopes of the Poro, which descend towards the sea at Capo Vaticano. Capo Vaticano itself is located in the San Nicolò district of the municipality of Ricadi. The coast from Capo Vaticano to Tropea is known as the Costa degli Dei – a fitting setting for a trip that combines the sea, landscape, history and regional specialities. If you are planning a holiday apartment in San Nicolò Di Ricadi, you will find various ways here to enjoy a varied stay in the same holiday destination.

Between beaches, viewpoints and coastal paths

Grotticelle Beach consists of three connected beaches. At the same time, the beaches below the headland of Capo Vaticano can often only be reached via narrow paths or by sea. This feature is important when planning your time if you would like to choose between a classic beach day, a walk and a boat trip. The Belvedere del Capo offers views over the Gulf of Gioia Tauro and Sicily.

The headland’s distinctive structures also connect landscape and history. The Capo Vaticano lighthouse at the Belvedere del Capo was built in 1870. A walk to the lighthouse at the tip of Capo Vaticano leads to a viewpoint overlooking Stromboli and the Aeolian Islands. From the bell tower of the Church of San Nicolò, the view extends towards Capo Vaticano, across the surrounding landscape and as far as the Aeolian Islands. Depending on your plans for the day, you can therefore include a seaside viewpoint or a view from the town itself.

Holiday apartment in San Nicolò Di Ricadi for sea and active pursuits

Boat trips and diving excursions are offered at Capo Vaticano. This means that active days by the water can focus on different experiences from a leisurely visit to a church, museum or viewpoint. In the area around San Nicolò, the Fiumara della Ruffa can also be reached from Brivadi via old paths or a steep, uneven mule track. If your travel group has different interests, you can deliberately alternate coastal and cultural destinations.

Museums and traces of the past

The Museo del Mare in Capo Vaticano is housed in a former observation post of the Italian Navy, which served as a “daylight lighthouse” until the middle of the 20th century. The museum displays fishing and navigation equipment donated by residents of Ricadi and surrounding municipalities. The outdoor grounds include two wooden boats and a garden covering more than 2,000 m², with an educational trail showcasing Mediterranean flora. A visit combines the maritime past with an insight into the plant life and coastal landscape.

The Torre Ruffa is also part of the area’s history. It is the only surviving one of the four coastal towers in the Capo Vaticano area. San Nicolò is also home to the single-nave Chiesa di San Nicola. It houses a Stations of the Cross from 1779, from the school of Tropea. Visible remains of early Christian necropolises can also be found in San Nicolò. The ancient Church of San Nicola was destroyed in the earthquake of 1783; at Villa Toraldo, an old chapel dedicated to Saint Nicola stands on the provincial road as a reminder of the former church. The feast of Saint Nicola in San Nicolò is celebrated on 6 December.

Red onions and regional history

Another distinctive aspect of the surrounding area is presented by the Museo della Cipolla Rossa di Tropea IGP. It is located near San Nicolò di Ricadi railway station in an extensive red-onion cultivation area. In the first room, the museum traces the cultivation of red onions from the first records in the late 18th century to the end of the 20th century and displays trade-related objects. The second room shows traditional cultivation from flowering to seed, open-field cultivation and the “treccia” method.

For further travel planning, you can also include Mongiana, Vallelonga, Drapia, Spilinga, Rombiolo, Francavilla Angitola, San Cono and Limbadi in your plans.

For the overall travel overview: Vibo Valentia.