Santa Caterina dello Ionio

The antique hamlet of Santa Caterina dello Ionio sits on a hill at 450 meters above sea level, while its Marina seaside village sprawls on the shore below. The old town dates back to about 1000 AD when inhabitants near the sea fled inland and uphill to save themselves from Saracen raids. The town was walled for protection with four gateways leading inside. Only the Porta dell'Acqua gate remains. The centro storico retains its medieval footprint and is intriguing to wander the semi-abandoned lanes and see the way typical villages were constructed about 1,000 years ago. An interesting site - they claim to have the narrowest street in Italy, so find it and see if you can squeeze through!

A fire unfortunately caused heavy damage to some of Santa Caterina in 1983.The church dedicated to the namesake and patron saint, Santa Caterina, was completed in the early 1700s. It bears a Latin cross plan. The church Santa Maria Assunta is the "mother church" or main church for the town; it was originally built in the 1700s but rebuilt following the fire. It bears some beautiful polychrome marble work. Wander the old town and enjoy the views from the villa communale and other overlooks. Santa Caterina dello Ionio puts on evocative Holy Week processions, very interesting to see. There are festivals throughout the year dedicated both to religious celebrations and civic fun.

The landscape changes dramatically - from sea level to about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level, from beach to hills to mountain in a very short span. Below, Santa Caterina dello Ionio Marina is the seaside village that is popular with families as the beach is ideally suited to children with shallow water and soft sand. There are services and restaurants, and the area is close to many sights in southern Calabria. The old center of Badolato is charming, as is Guardavalle. Historic Scylletium and Kaulon archeological park are nearby, and you should definitely make a detour to Stilo, a beautiful town with the Byzantine styled monastery complex called La Cattolica. Stilo is named among the prettiest villages in Italy. At the beach, of course, there is plenty of water sports and fun.

Try the area's spicy Nduja salami, hand-made pasta and regional delicacies. Calabria is known for its geniune hospitality, so you'll be treated like one of the family!