Saracen Coast

What to do on the Costa dei Saraceni will depend solely on your idea of a trip: in fact, there are so many activities and experiences to try, given the extent and richness of the area. First and foremost, each town is a treasure to be discovered and visiting villages and towns will be an exciting experience in itself. Cariati with its lush nature and Blue Flag beaches is a town rich in history and the medieval seaside village, the 17th century Palazzo del Seminario and the ancient cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo, now appearing in neoclassical forms, are definitely worth a visit. In Cariati, it is also possible to experience a canyoning and rafting adventure at the Morenile torrent, a watercourse with waterfalls that seem to be natural water slides. Crucoli, on the other hand, famous for its textile manufacture, is divided between land and sea: it stands on a promontory that houses the remains of a Norman castle, but reaches as far as the sea, which is bright blue and crystal clear. Crucoli is also home to the Bosco di Gatta (in the locality of Crucoli Torretta) where excursions and walks in the green Mediterranean scrub can be enjoyed. In Cirò Marina, on the other hand, the scent of the pine forest blends with that of the sea, while the nearby mouth of the Neto river, located in a protected area, is home to herons and other wild birds. In addition, Cirò is a wine city: interested throughout the year by thematic events and manifestations, it hosts wineries and wineries on its territory to get to know and experience. Crotone, a city of Greek origin whose archaeological museum is a must-see, has among its many attractions a beautiful waterfront that can be enjoyed both during the day and in the evening during relaxing summer walks. Not far away is the archaeological site of Capo Colonna, which is well worth a visit: the emblem of the place is the only surviving column of the ancient temple of Hera Lacinia, which alone is enough to suggest the ancient and majestic beauty lost. Finally, Isola Capo Rizzuto and Le Castella, with their uncontaminated sea particularly suitable for snorkelling and with the 15th century Aragonese castle that almost seems to emerge from the waters, are the best way to end this roundup of beauties, the list of which could still go on.

Traditional cuisine on the Costa dei Saraceni includes a wide variety of recipes and typical dishes. Many are traditional for the entire Calabrian territory, while others are more peculiar and more closely linked to a specific area or municipality. As is the case throughout the region, the Costa dei Saraceni consumes the products of the earth such as tomatoes (fresh, but also and above all dried), aubergines to be eaten in oil or stuffed, olives, mushrooms and chillies: from the latter, which are spicy and fragrant, an oil (olio santo) or a powder is also made, used as a condiment for various dishes. Cheeses have a long tradition in terms of ingredients and processing methods, most notably the pecorino crotonese, made from mixed sheep's and goat's milk, produced particularly in Strongoli and Isola di Capo Rizzuto. Still today, the tradition of home-made pasta continues throughout the territory: lagane with chickpeas or beans are one of the main dishes of the local cuisine, and fusilli dressed with sauces or rather meat sauce and sausage are a must. Other characteristic dishes include sardelle, also known as 'Calabrian caviar' or 'poor man's caviar', a particular sauce made with whitebait and red chilli pepper, to be spread on crusty bread: the city of Crucoli claims the primacy, but Cirò Marina and Cariati have also distinguished themselves in this production. Among the many traditional sweets, it is worth mentioning the 'crustuli', i.e., fried sweets made with wheat flour in the shape of dumplings to be eaten covered with honey, and the 'pitta 'nchiusa', a sweet made with walnuts, sultanas and other dried fruit closed in such a way that its surface resembles flowers: its unique flavour recalls an ancient taste that has endured over the centuries. Finally, to round off your meal, in addition to digestives and bitters prepared by hand with citrus fruits or local herbs, you should try 'vino cotto', made by boiling must with pears until a full-bodied and fragrant mixture is obtained.

The events, appointments and things to do on the Saracen coast are occasions not to be missed, where aggregation is mixed with the enhancement and celebration of territorial identity. In Crotone, May sees the secular feast of the Madonna di Capo Colonna: during the second week of May, the Byzantine icon of the Madonna is carried in procession through the streets of the city, and the following Wednesday sees the start of the fair, an absolutely characteristic local market dedicated to handicrafts and local products. The event ends on Saturday with a pilgrimage to the Capo Colonna Sanctuary, in a beautiful seaside setting. Also during the month of May, Le Castella hosts the festival of anchovies, a food with a long history and historically eaten in many different ways. In August, Cariati hosts the Sagra dei Prodotti Tipici, where songs, dances and popular music accompany the tasting of typical local products. The same municipality, again in August, hosts two other symbolic events: the Regatta of Gozzi, where participants compete on small, colourful gozzi boats, and the Festival of San Rocco, on 16 August, an evocative procession at sea, which is lit up at sunset by a large fireworks display. In Cirò Marina, again in August, blue fish is celebrated with a festival that exalts this product, richness of the territory and local pride. Finally, in Strongoli, a festival is held in November that celebrates autumn flavours and, in particular, a typical product: crespelle (a sweet, fried dough that boasts a long culinary tradition). This festival is dedicated not only to this gastronomic delicacy, but also to the 'vino novello' (new wine), which in Calabria is often the focus of many dedicated events and manifestations, not only on the Saracen coast, but throughout the entire territory, synonymous with a renewed interest in local wine production, which is gaining more and more acclaim and recognition.