When you’ve already ticked off the Amalfi Coast and are in search of Italy with fewer crowds and simply as a lot wow issue, head south.
This street journey is all about sleepy fishing cities, lemon groves clinging to cliff edges, and that unmistakable southern soul – slower, saltier, and infrequently wildly underrated.
You’ll begin in Calabria, work your means throughout to Sicily, and finish in Basilicata, following a loosely meandering path of turquoise coves, crumbling villages and ridiculously good seafood.
It’s the form of street journey the place the soundtrack is waves and Vespa engines, and the plan adjustments since you discovered an ideal seaside or a trattoria you possibly can’t bear to go away.
Route Overview
Tropea → Scilla → Messina → Cefalù → Taormina → Maratea
Superb journey size: 7–10 days
Finest time to go: Might to early October – June and September are candy spots for heat seas and thinner crowds
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Begin: Tropea – the clifftop stunner
Begin in Tropea, a spectacular little city perched on a clifftop above the Tyrrhenian Sea.
It’s the form of place that doesn’t want a filter; pastel buildings tumble in the direction of the sting, with a creamy-sand seaside tucked beneath and the Aeolian Islands shimmering on the horizon.
Stroll the historic centre for gelato and aperitivi, or descend the steps to Spiaggia della Rotonda, a seaside that seems like a secret regardless that it positively isn’t.
Make time to go to the Santa Maria dell’Isola Monastery, dramatically perched by itself rocky promontory.
For a distinct perspective of the shoreline, take a boat tour alongside the coast from Tropea to Capo Vaticano, the place hidden coves and crystal-clear waters await.
Tropea’s additionally well-known for its candy pink onions. Strive them grilled with recent tuna or labored into native pasta dishes.
I’d advocate staying at the very least two nights – it’s the form of place the place each sundown calls for your full consideration.
Cease 1: Scilla – fantasy, legends & mermaid vitality
Head north alongside the coast to Scilla, a city that blends mythology with Mediterranean magnificence.
In line with legend, that is the place the ocean monster Scylla as soon as terrorised sailors in Homer’s Odyssey; although at the moment it’s extra prone to attraction you than devour you.
The previous fisherman’s quarter, Chianalea, is impossibly picturesque. Suppose slim lanes, homes constructed instantly on the water, and eating places with their terraces suspended over the ocean.
Contemporary swordfish is the native satisfaction, and it’s arduous to beat an extended lunch right here with a bottle of crisp Calabrian white.
The most effective methods to soak up the shoreline is from the Calabrian sea with a ship tour of about 2 hours in Scilla, providing a brand new perspective on this enchanting city.
You can too go to Castello Ruffo, which presents sweeping views again in the direction of Tropea and the Messina Strait.
It’s straightforward to lose monitor of time right here, and also you most likely ought to.
Cease 2: Messina – a brief however scenic cease
From Scilla, cross over to Sicily through ferry. It’s a brief hop, however value timing so that you catch a transparent view of Mount Etna rising within the distance.
Messina itself isn’t the spotlight of the journey, however for those who’re driving via, cease to see the Cathedral Bell Tower. The astronomical clock present at noon is quirky and good.
Seize a granita and preserve transferring – you’re heading west now alongside Sicily’s northern coast.
Cease 3: Cefalù – beachfront magnificence meets old-world attraction
If Tropea is wild and dramatic, Cefalù is quietly elegant.
Set towards a backdrop of a towering headland, this former fishing village is now a laid-back resort city with simply sufficient refinement.
Suppose cobbled lanes, Romanesque cathedrals and seashores you possibly can truly swim at with out worry of being swept out to sea.
The Duomo di Cefalù, constructed by Norman king Roger II, is a UNESCO website and certainly one of Sicily’s best.
However don’t miss the La Rocca hike behind city, the place the views again over the pink rooftops and out to the ocean are correctly spectacular.
Cefalù can be a great place to linger – guide a few nights right here for those who can. Dinner by the harbour at golden hour is difficult to beat.
Keep: For a classy however nonetheless reasonably priced stick with sea‑view vibes, take into account B&B Le Suites di Costanza.
Elective Cease: Castelbuono
When you’re up for a scenic inland detour, Castelbuono is well worth the drive.
Tucked into the Madonie Mountains, it’s a slow-paced medieval city identified for its panettone, crumbling fort and sudden modern artwork scene.
Backstreets are lined with old-school pasticcerias and quiet piazzas the place life ticks by very gently.
It’s a great reset for those who’re prepared for a break from seaside cities and need a little bit of Sicilian village soul.
Cease 4: Taormina – glamour, clifftop theatres & sea views
Loop again east to Taormina, the showstopper.
Constructed excessive above the Ionian Sea with views of Mount Etna and past, it’s a city that by some means manages to be each touristy and utterly irresistible.
Sure, it will get busy. Sure, the boutiques are costly. However the ambiance is simple – particularly on the Historical Greek Theatre, the place the backdrop is sort of actually a stay volcano.
Take your time right here; stroll the Corso Umberto, have an espresso within the Piazza IX Aprile, or take the cable automobile right down to Isola Bella for a swim.
When you’re feeling adventurous, a guided hike or jeep tour up Etna is unforgettable, particularly at dawn.
Elective Cease: Catania or Syracuse
When you’re flying in or out of Catania, you would possibly need to spend an evening there – you may keep at Condominium La Rena 116 for an ideal relaxation.
Or take a detour south to Syracuse, the place Greek ruins and Baroque piazzas mix right into a coastal metropolis filled with pale grandeur and seafood every thing.
Cease 5: Maratea – Basilicata’s hidden coastal gem
End your journey throughout the strait, again on the mainland in Maratea – typically known as the “pearl of the Tyrrhenian”, and nonetheless blissfully off the primary vacationer radar.
It’s in Basilicata, certainly one of Italy’s most under-explored areas, and has every thing you’d need from a last cease: dramatic shoreline, a captivating previous city, and views that simply preserve going.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer (sure, like Rio) stands watch over the shoreline, and the street up presents correctly heart-pounding switchbacks and surreal views.
The city itself is a maze of pastel buildings, quiet alleys and sleepy piazzas.
It’s additionally one of many few locations in Italy the place you possibly can genuinely really feel such as you’ve discovered someplace the guidebooks forgot.
When you’re into seashores, you’re spoilt – Fiumicello and Cala Jannita are stunners.
For one thing extra adventurous, take into account a kayak tour via the caves, the place you possibly can paddle beneath towering cliffs and uncover hidden coves.
When you’re into meals, the seafood pasta right here tastes like the ocean and sunshine had a child.
Keep: For a shiny, nice stick with sea views and nice worth, strive Resort Martino, which is true close to the coast and presents a swimming pool.
Necessities
Driving time (with out detours): Approx. 10–12 hours complete
Finest time to go: Might to early October
What to pack: Swimsuit, linen, good sun shades, Google Translate (for menus), and a way of spontaneity.
Driving tip: Roads may be slim and sometimes hair-raising – take it gradual, particularly on cliffside curves. Parking is a problem in most city centres, so plan forward.
Last ideas
This Southern Italy coastal cities street journey is for individuals who like lengthy lunches, unhurried drives, and letting the street take the lead.
Some locations will shock you, some will steal your coronary heart, and all of them will stick with you lengthy after the tan fades.
Uncover extra stunning coastal cities in Italy.
