Walks around the Riviera dei Cedri
Towns near Santa Maria del Cedro
Diamante’s murals, the palace in Aieta, the steps of old Scalea. Below are towns you can visit from Cedromare, with specific places to see on your walks. The twenty suggestions also include more distant cities for a separate day or an extra stage of your journey.
Across the Cedromare guide
Diamante, Scalea and the northern coast
Diamante. Murals and the sea
Paintings are part of the houses here. They appear beside doors, around street corners and between windows. In old Diamante, you can spend a long time following one mural after another before emerging into an open sea view.
On your walk: Alongside the painted walls, see the Basilica Minore dell’Immacolata Concezione. Then enjoy a walk on Lungomare Vecchio beside Corso Vittorio Emanuele. If you would like to enter the basilica, check its opening hours.
Afterwards: Drive to Cirella or relax on Spiaggia Grande after your walk. For dinner in Diamante, you could choose La Taverna del Conte.
Scalea. Towers, squares and steps
Torre Talao stands beside the sea, and the old town climbs the slope above the modern streets. Step between the houses and the wide coastal view gives way to stairways, passages and little squares.
On your walk: From Torre Talao, the walk leads towards the historic buildings. Look out for Piazza Maggiore de Palma with Palazzo dei Principi Spinelli, and Torre Cimalonga with its antiquarium. Check access before planning a visit inside the palace.
Afterwards: Spend the afternoon on the town beach. If you would rather take another walk, Santa Domenica Talao has a square and a panorama of the coast waiting for you.
Planning a stay on this stretch of coast? Take a look at the Cedromare holiday home in Santa Maria del Cedro, near Scalea.
San Nicola Arcella. A walk above the bay
From Il Belvedere, the bay opens out in full view. Only then does your eye return to the houses of the old centre and the streets of San Nicola Arcella, lovely to walk through before heading down to the sea.
On your walk: The Chiesa Madre di San Nicola da Tolentino stands in the centre. Around Il Belvedere, you can look out over the coast and spot Torre Crawford. The tower is private; entry needs to be agreed with the owner.
Afterwards: Marinella invites you to stay by the water. Arcomagno requires a ticket and a check of which entrance is open, so arrange your visit to the bay before leaving.
Praia a Mare. Dino and a sanctuary in the rock
Dino’s silhouette dominates the view from the beach. Further on, at the Madonna della Grotta sanctuary, the rock takes over your attention. These two places show how close the sea and mountain landscape are here.
On your walk: Punta Fiuzzi offers views of the island and Torre di Fiuzzi. The Santuario della Madonna della Grotta is higher up, reached by steps.
Afterwards: Combine the outing with a walk in San Nicola Arcella. If you choose a boat trip by Dino, allow more time and agree the route with the organiser.
Aieta, Cirella and Tortora
Aieta. The Renaissance among stone streets
A large Renaissance façade suddenly rises among the little houses. Palazzo Martirano-Spinelli gives Aieta a sense of grandeur, while stone doorways catch the eye in the streets around the palace.
On your walk: Start with the loggia of Palazzo Martirano-Spinelli, then walk through the centre to the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione. Check visiting times for the palace interiors and exhibitions before you arrive.
Afterwards: Historic Tortora and the Museo Archeologico di Blanda make a good addition to a trip to Aieta. Set aside an unhurried day for both places.
Cirella. An old settlement and today’s shoreline
Cirella is part of Diamante but has a landscape of its own: old walls on the hill, a settlement by the shore and an island opposite. From above and from the water’s edge, the same area looks quite different.
On your walk: Above the modern buildings stand the ruins of Cirella Vecchia and the Monastero dei Minimi. Lower down is the church of Santa Maria dei Fiori, with Isola di Cirella off the shore. Check access to the ruins and monastery before visiting.
Afterwards: Diamante’s murals are a good way to continue your outing. If you would like to stay by the water, choose Riviera Azzurra beach.
Tortora. Archaeological finds and the old centre
Among finds from around Tortora, the past takes on an everyday, human scale. Objects in the museum tell of life here long before the towns we know today appeared.
On your walk: The Museo Archeologico di Blanda “Gioacchino Francesco La Torre” is housed in Palazzo Casapesenna. Afterwards, walk to the Chiesa di San Pietro Apostolo and continue through the streets of the centre. The Blanda archaeological site is separate from the museum and requires its own journey.
Afterwards: A Renaissance palace awaits in Aieta. You can visit both towns in one day, arranging the order around museum and palace opening hours.
Smaller towns
Grisolia. Houses along a hilltop ridge
Houses stand close together here, along the ridge of a hill. From a distance, you can see the entire line of buildings; on a walk, it is the passages and small spaces between them that draw your attention.
On your walk: The old centre has the Santuario di San Rocco di Montpellier and Palazzo Ducale. If you want to visit the ethnographic museum in the palace, confirm its opening beforehand.
Afterwards: You can also visit Verbicaro or Maierà the same day. Choose just one of them so there is still time for lunch and enjoying the views.
Buonvicino. Stone and the history of flavour
Stone passages, arches over the streets and mountains behind the houses. Even a short walk through Buonvicino keeps drawing your eye to something different. In the museum, a story of culture and the cooking of the past awaits.
On your walk: The Museo Arti Gusto Buonvicino (MAGB) introduces, among other subjects, Ippolito Cavalcanti. In the centre, see the Chiesa di San Ciriaco Abate and the buildings around it too.
Afterwards: Arrange your MAGB visit in advance. After your walk, you can return to the sea at Diamante and end the day beside the water.
Verbicaro. Paintings and a winemaking tradition
In Verbicaro, winemaking is part of the story of its people. In the Bonifanti district, paintings and stone details in the old buildings also catch the eye.
On your walk: Santa Maria ad Nives preserves paintings worth looking at during an interior visit. Further along are the Chiesa Madre dell’Assunta, Torre dell’Orologio and Fontana Vecchia. It is best to check church opening hours before your walk.
Afterwards: Grisolia is another town to explore on this outing. A meeting with a wine producer or a visit to a catuvo cellar needs to be arranged beforehand.
Santa Domenica Talao. A square with a panorama
From the square in Santa Domenica Talao, you can spend a long time looking at the coast. Turn between the houses and the wide landscape gives way to stone doorways and old façades.
On your walk: Linger in the central square for the panorama. The Chiesa Madre di San Giuseppe and the old streets complete the walk; steps lead up to the church.
Afterwards: Visit Scalea the same day. Torre Talao beside the shore and the view from Santa Domenica Talao show how the landscape changes from the sea to the hills.
Orsomarso. A town at the gateway to the mountains
The clock tower stands out above the houses, with mountains rising behind them. Orsomarso is worth getting to know even if you are not planning a long hike.
On your walk: The centre has the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista and Torre dell’Orologio. Santa Maria di Mércuri is outside the main built-up area; check the road and walking access separately.
Afterwards: In the Argentino valley, the river runs through green woodland. Check which stretch is accessible before you set off. You can also stay in Orsomarso itself for a walk and a meal.
Maierà. Peperoncino and stone streets
In Maierà, the chilli pepper has a museum of its own. Among the stone streets of this little town, the culinary story is a pleasant surprise.
On your walk: Palazzo Patrizio houses the Museo del Peperoncino. It tells the story of the chilli pepper’s origins and varieties, as well as its place in culture and advertising. The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Piano stands on Via Duomo.
Afterwards: Arrange your museum visit before leaving. Then visit Grisolia or return to the sea at Diamante.
Belvedere Marittimo. The castle above the houses
The castle rises above the old houses of Belvedere Marittimo. At its foot, streets run through the upper centre, while the seaside Marina sits in quite different surroundings.
On your walk: Start by viewing Castello Angioino-Aragonese from outside. The centre also has the Chiesa del SS. Crocifisso. If you plan to enter the castle, check the current visiting arrangements.
Afterwards: Continue to Sangineto Lido or Cetraro. Allow separate time for the journey between old Belvedere and the Marina.
Cetraro. A fountain, a palace and a harbour
The fountain in the square and the boats in the harbour belong to two different parts of Cetraro. Walk among the old houses in the morning, then relax by the sea.
On your walk: Fontana del Nettuno stands in Piazza del Popolo. Nearby is Palazzo del Trono with the Brettii e del Mare museum; check its visiting times before you go. The harbour is in the seaside part of town.
Afterwards: Lampezia and the promenade invite you to stay by the shore. The journey from the old centre to the sea is part of this outing.
Sangineto. A hilltop church and a seaside castle
In upper Sangineto, the church’s stone doorway catches your attention. Down by the sea, it is the castle towers that catch your eye instead. The two places show how different the old town is from its seaside Lido.
On your walk: The Chiesa Matrice di Santa Maria della Neve is in the historic centre. To reach Castello del Principe, with its four cylindrical towers and loggia, you need to go down to the Lido. Check access to the castle interiors before your visit.
Afterwards: Combine the outing with Belvedere Marittimo or stay for a rest in Sangineto Lido. The upper centre and castle are a drive apart, so choose the order before setting off.
Cities further afield and onward travel
Maratea and Paola deserve outings of their own. Lamezia Terme and Naples fit well at the start or end of a holiday, especially if you are using their airports.
Maratea. The mountain, the Borgo and the harbour
Monte San Biagio offers a panorama of Maratea’s coast. The historic Borgo and harbour await below.
Go for the view: Cristo Redentore, the basilica and the buildings of the Borgo deserve a day of their own.
Before you go: Check the shuttle bus, or navetta, from the Madonna degli Ulivi car park. The full trip description is below.
Paola. The sanctuary and the old centre’s gate
Paola draws visitors to the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola. After your visit, stay to explore the old centre.
In town: Porta San Francesco and Fontana dei Sette Canali invite you to keep walking.
Before you go: Check which parts of the sanctuary are accessible and set aside a full day for Paola.
Lamezia Terme. A walk through Nicastro
Before or after travelling through SUF airport, explore Nicastro, the old part of Lamezia Terme.
In town: Corso Numistrano and the cathedral of Santi Pietro e Paolo are a starting point for a walk.
A separate visit: Terme Caronte is outside the centre. Our guide to trips further afield has information on castle access and visiting the Museo Archeologico Lametino.
Naples. A separate chapter of your journey
Naples can open or close your holiday at Cedromare. Allow a few extra days in Campania to explore the city.
For a walk: The streets of Spaccanapoli and San Gregorio Armeno, or the monumental Piazza del Plebiscito.
Stay longer: The Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Pompeii and Vesuvius need time of their own. Ideas for this stage of your journey are below.
Places on the map
Check where the places described are located and choose your next outing.
Where to now?
After your walks, it is good to return to your own terrace. Take a look at the Cedromare holiday home and picture a stay with outings to these towns.