A guide to the Riviera dei Cedri
Explore the area around Santa Maria del Cedro
What do you feel like today: the sea, stone streets or a wooded valley? Choose a direction, then look below for places to start exploring around Santa Maria del Cedro.
Across the Cedromare guide
Choose a theme for your trip
Beaches, bays and islands
The long shore at Santa Maria del Cedro, the rock arch of Arcomagno and islands visible from the beach. Where will you spend your next day by the water?
Towns with character
Among the stone houses are small squares, a Renaissance palace and views that make you want to linger.
Nature and outdoor activities
Rivers rush behind the coast, while forests and mountains fill the landscape around Orsomarso and Papasidero.
Flavours of Calabria
Pizza after the beach, fish on a trip to Diamante, or perhaps olive oil and a sweet citron treat to take home?
History and culture
An aurochs carved into rock, the streets of ancient Laos and a tower beside the sea. History is close to your holiday walks here.
Trips further afield
The panorama of Maratea, the temples of Paestum, the streets of Naples. Your Italian holiday could last a little longer.
Towards the sea
The long beach at Santa Maria del Cedro, islands off Cirella and Praia a Mare, and the rock arch of Arcomagno. Our guide to beaches, bays and islands has twelve suggestions, with descriptions of the shore and tips for your visit.
Choose a beach for a longer rest or somewhere you would like to see on a shorter outing. Boat trips need to be arranged separately with the organiser.
Among streets and squares
Diamante draws you in with murals, Scalea with the steps of its old town, and Aieta with a Renaissance palace. You can choose one town and stay until dinner.
Compare places in our guide to twenty towns and villages. Once you have chosen a walk, take a look at the restaurants and delis nearby too.
Into the greenery
The Argentino valley and the area around Papasidero show you the Calabria of rivers, forests and mountains. Head this way for a day away from the coastal streets.
In our nature guide, choose a valley, a cave or a viewpoint. You will also find advice on access and organised outings.
Places in our guide
Choose your next stop
Museo del Cedro. The story of citron
Citron is part of Santa Maria del Cedro even in its name. At the Museo del Cedro, you can get to know the fruit you will later look for in desserts and on the labels of local preserves.
The fruit the area is known for
The story begins with growing the fruit and continues through the ways it is processed. Afterwards, a jar or a small sweet in a shop brings to mind the work of local people and the traditions of this stretch of coast.
After the museum, stay in Santa Maria del Cedro for something sweet and a walk beside the sea. Finding your own favourite flavour can be the best souvenir of a place.
Laos in Marcellina. The streets of an ancient town
In Marcellina, ancient Laos reveals parts of a settlement that stood here long before the modern resort. Among the remains of houses, you can still make out the streets.
Among the remains of houses
It is the everyday details that catch your attention: an entrance, a passage between buildings, the outline of a room. You soon begin to imagine the former residents walking to a neighbour’s house or setting off for work.
Arrange your visit with the site custodian. If Laos leaves you curious about the later history of Santa Maria del Cedro, read about San Michele too.
San Michele. The walls of old Abatemarco
The ruins of San Michele occupy a rocky rise at the entrance to the valley. The castle and church belonged to medieval Abatemarco, whose traces can still be seen above the surrounding landscape.
On a rocky rise
The old walls and the rock form a single whole here. From a distance, you can see how the former complex sits in the landscape; close up, the surviving buildings draw your attention.
San Michele is a reminder that Santa Maria del Cedro has a history stretching far beyond its seaside buildings. The Museo del Cedro and Laos complete the story of this area.
Diamante. Paintings in the streets
In Diamante, murals appear between the windows and doors of ordinary houses.
Murals between windows and doors
This is a walk for anyone who likes following the next painting around a corner and looking closely at a street.
Visit the town on its own or combine it with Cirella using our day plan.
Cirella. Old walls above the sea
Cirella’s old walls stand above the sea, facing the island.
A view of Isola di Cirella
Come for the panorama, then stay by the water. Check access to the ruins before you leave.
Cirella makes a lovely addition to a day among Diamante’s murals.
Scalea. From Torre Talao to the old town
Torre Talao beside the sea and the steps between old houses show two sides of Scalea.
Steps and passages between houses
It is worth leaving the beach to explore the squares and passages of the historic centre.
Our guide to the towns describes specific places to see on your walk.
San Nicola Arcella and Arcomagno
The rock arch of Arcomagno encloses a small bay on the coast of San Nicola Arcella.
A bay beneath a rock arch
This is a place for a shorter visit to enjoy the view; entry follows the site manager’s rules.
You can spend the rest of the day in the town or by Marinella.
Praia a Mare and Isola Dino
Dino rises from the sea opposite Praia a Mare.
Caves in the island’s rocky shore
From the beach, you see the island’s outline; from a boat, its rocky coast and caves, including Grotta Azzurra.
Arrange your boat trip with the organiser and check whether you can visit the caves. You can also stay on the beach with a view of Dino.
Orsomarso and the Argentino valley
Mountains surround Orsomarso, while the nearby Argentino valley leads towards the river and forests.
A river in the forest
Choose a walk through the town or a day in nature. Find out which stretch of the valley is accessible before setting off.
Our day trip suggestion brings both parts of the area together.
Papasidero and Grotta del Romito
At Grotta del Romito, an aurochs carved into rock by prehistoric inhabitants has survived.
An aurochs carved into rock
This detail alone is a good reason to head into the mountains around Papasidero.
Arrange the time of your visit with the site custodian; leave the rest of the day for the town.
Verbicaro. A town with a winemaking tradition
In Verbicaro, wine and the old cellars known as catuvi are part of local tradition.
Wine and old cellars
It is also worth looking around the old houses and stone details of the town.
A visit to a wine producer needs to be arranged in advance.
Grisolia. Houses along a hilltop ridge
Grisolia’s houses stretch along the ridge of a hill.
Narrow streets between closely packed houses
From a distance, you see the line of buildings; up close, the passages between stone houses.
Come for an afternoon among narrow streets, away from the seaside promenade.
Buonvicino. Streets with a mountain backdrop
Stone arches and the mountains behind them give walks through Buonvicino a character of their own.
From stone arches to the cooking of the past
The Museo Arti Gusto Buonvicino also tells the story of traditional cooking and Ippolito Cavalcanti.
If you would like to enter the museum, check visiting times; the streets are worth a little extra time too.
Aieta. A Renaissance palace among the houses
Palazzo Martirano-Spinelli stands out among Aieta’s small houses.
The grey stone loggia
The stone loggia catches the eye, while the streets around the palace invite you to walk further.
Check interior visiting times before you arrive. You can combine Aieta with Tortora.
Tortora. Traces of the ancient town of Blanda
In Tortora, finds connected with the ancient town of Blanda offer a glimpse of life in this area.
Objects that survived the centuries
The Museo Archeologico di Blanda is a suggestion for anyone who enjoys archaeology and objects from the past.
After your arranged visit, stay for a walk through the historic centre.
Santa Domenica Talao. An afternoon on the hill
Santa Domenica Talao invites you to its square with a view from the hill.
A town with farming roots
Among the houses, stone doorways catch your eye. Vineyards, figs and olive trees played an important part in the town’s history.
Choose this place for a quiet afternoon or combine it with Scalea.
Belvedere Marittimo. A castle above the coast
The castle rises above the old buildings of Belvedere Marittimo.
From the upper town to the Marina
The upper centre and the seaside Marina offer two different walks.
You will need transport between them. Our guide to the towns describes both areas in more detail.
Cetraro. Streets, arches and a harbour
Old streets, then the harbour: in Cetraro, you can combine the town with the sea.
From the old centre to the water
A morning among the old houses pairs well with an afternoon in the seaside part of town.
This is one idea for a trip south of Cedromare.
Places on the map
Check where the places described are located and choose your next outing.
Where to now?
You can explore this area while staying in one place. Take a look at the Cedromare holiday home in Santa Maria del Cedro, where you can return after each trip.