Terrazza Arcomagno
IT

What's nearby

First of all, the sea: pale pebble beaches, coves you can only reach on foot or by boat, crystal-clear water. In 2026 the Blue Flag was awarded both to San Nicola Arcella, for the Arcomagno and Canale Grande Marinella beaches, and to Praia a Mare, for Punta Fiuzzi. See the Ministry of Tourism list (in Italian).

Then there's everything else: two rock arches carved by the sea, an island, a Saracen tower perched above the gulf, the villages along the coast and Italy's largest national park.

The Arco Magno

10 minutes by car

The sea-carved rock arch that gives this house its name and, a little further north, a second arch: the Arco di Enea, or Arch of Aeneas.

The Arco Magno, with the beach hidden behind the rock arch
Behind the arch lies a pebble beach you can't see from the coast. You reach it on foot along the path down from Marinella, or by boat.
The Arco di Enea, a natural arch on the San Nicola Arcella coast
The Arco di Enea: legend has it that it gave shelter to the Trojan hero Aeneas.

San Nicola Arcella

10 minutes by car

A village overlooking the sea, with narrow lanes winding down towards the coast and houses clinging to the rock.

The village of San Nicola Arcella overlooking the sea
The heart of the village.
The gulf seen from the small belvedere square in San Nicola Arcella
From the little belvedere square, the whole gulf opens up before you.

Isola di Dino and Praia a Mare

10 minutes by car

Calabria's largest island lies just off the shore, and a boat trip around it takes a couple of hours. All around it are sea caves: the Grotta Azzurra, the Grotta del Leone and the Grotta dei Monaci (the Blue, Lion's and Monks' caves).

Isola di Dino seen through the stone ruins on the hillside
The island seen from above, framed by the ruins.

Torre Crawford

10 minutes by car

A sixteenth-century watchtower on the headland, built to guard against raids from the sea. It is named after the writer Francis Marion Crawford, who lived there and set some of his stories in it.

Torre Crawford seen from the sea, with a fishing boat moored nearby
The tower seen from the water.
The beach below Torre Crawford, dotted with umbrellas
The sheltered beach beneath the tower.

Maratea

30 minutes by car

A historic centre of narrow lanes and a little harbour lined with pastel-coloured houses. It's worth a full day out, and even better if you stay on for dinner.

The little harbour of Maratea with its pastel-coloured houses and boats
The harbour, with boats moored below the pastel-coloured houses.
The hairpin bends climbing up to the Cristo Redentore statue in Maratea
Above the town, on Monte San Biagio, stands the Cristo Redentore (Christ the Redeemer), with a view over the whole Gulf of Policastro.

Pollino National Park

40 minutes by car

The nearest entrance to the park is at Papasidero, home to the Grotta del Romito, a cave with prehistoric rock engravings dating back some twenty thousand years.

A little further on, at Laino Borgo, you can go rafting on the River Lao. Climb higher still and you reach the hill villages of Mormanno and Morano Calabro.

Beyond the beaches and villages

Most days are spent on the beach or strolling through the villages along the coast. But if one day you fancy something different, there is plenty to arrange nearby:

  • Boat trips and sea caves
  • Diving and snorkelling
  • Dinghy hire, no boat licence needed
  • Rafting on the River Lao
  • Hiking in the Pollino
  • Horse riding
  • Paragliding
  • Quad bike tours
  • Dirt bike tours
  • Go-karting

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