Tourism
No UNESCO town, but the ancient beech forests of the Pollino and Aspromonte are in the transnational site and the Codex Purpureus of Rossano is on the Memory of the World register. Three national parks (Pollino, Sila, Aspromonte), Tropea and the Costa degli Dei, the Riace Bronzes in Reggio, Gerace, Stilo, Scilla. Season concentrated in August; municipal tourist tax.
Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits
Sites and villages
Calabria has no urban UNESCO sites: the ancient beech forests of the Pollino and of Valle Infernale in the Aspromonte are part of the World Heritage transnational beech forest site, while the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, a Byzantine gospel book kept in Corigliano-Rossano, has been on the Memory of the World register since 2015 and the Aspromonte has been a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2021. The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria holds the Riace Bronzes. Gerace, Stilo with the Cattolica, Santa Severina, Civita, Morano Calabro, Altomonte and Pentedattilo are the most visited villages; Cosenza has its historic centre and the open-air MAB museum, Catanzaro the Biodiversity park.
Coast and parks
Tropea, Capo Vaticano and the Costa degli Dei (Vibo area) are the best-known beach area, with a very marked peak in August and congested roads; Scilla with Chianalea, Diamante and the Riviera dei Cedri on the Tyrrhenian, Soverato, Isola di Capo Rizzuto (marine protected area, Le Castella), the Costa dei Gelsomini and Caminia on the Ionian are the alternatives. The three national parks — Pollino (Italy's largest, shared with Basilicata), Sila (lakes, Calabrian pine forests, Camigliatello and Lorica with skiing) and Aspromonte (Gambarie) — have growing hiking tourism but limited services. Outside July–August most coastal establishments are closed.
Practical rules
The tourist tax is applied by Tropea, Reggio Calabria, Scilla, Pizzo, Soverato, Diamante and a growing number of tourist municipalities, with per-night amounts and periods set by each; many municipalities do not charge it. Some beaches on the Costa degli Dei have regulated access or paid parking in summer. Public transport to the seaside resorts is scarce: tourists arrive by car or by transfer from Lamezia.
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/22/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-31
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