Reggio Calabria Travel Guide: The Bronzes of Riace & the Toe of Italy

Reggio Calabria is Italy’s southernmost city and one of the least visited by foreign tourists. It contains one of the most important archaeological museums in the world and sits on the Strait of Messina with views of Sicily and Mount Etna. The city itself has been rebuilt several times after major earthquakes (most recently 1908) and lacks historic urban fabric, but the waterfront Lungomare is beautiful and the museum alone justifies a visit.

The Bronzes of Riace

The Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia houses the Bronzes of Riace — two life-size bronze warriors discovered in 1972 in the sea off the Calabrian coast. Cast in Greece around 450 BC, they are among the finest surviving examples of Greek sculpture from the Classical period. The inlaid silver teeth, copper lips, and glass eyes survive; the musculature is extraordinary. The museum also has significant Greek and Roman archaeological material from Magna Graecia (ancient Greek southern Italy).

The strait and the waterfront

The Lungomare Falcomatà is one of the finest seafront promenades in southern Italy — 3km of palm-lined walkway with views across the strait to Sicily. On a clear day, the summit of Mount Etna (3,357m) is visible from here.

Bergamot

Reggio Calabria produces 80–90% of the world’s bergamot, the citrus fruit whose oil is used to flavour Earl Grey tea. The trees grow in a narrow coastal strip along the Ionian coast. In January and February, the harvest is visible and the landscape fragrant.

Practical

Reggio Calabria is 3 hours from Naples by train. The Strait of Messina ferry connects to Sicily (Messina) in 30 minutes. A useful transit point for Sicily or the Aeolian Islands via Milazzo.