Marina di Gioiosa Ionica

Discover the Surroundings of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica

Marina di Gioiosa Ionica: Pearl of the Jasmine Riviera

Located in the heart of the Riviera dei Gelsomini, on the Ionian coast of the province of Reggio Calabria, Marina di Gioiosa Ionica is a charming tourist destination appreciated for its crystal clear sea and its golden beaches. With around 6,500 inhabitants, this coastal village offers a perfect combination of relaxation, culture and uncontaminated nature.

A Blue Flag Sea

Marina di Gioiosa Ionica obtained the prestigious Blue Flag recognition from 1999 to 2004 and then from 2008 to 2012, thanks to the excellent quality of its waters.

On the seabed of this location it is possible to admire a rare colony of seahorses, biological indicators of the purity of the sea. Here, you can observe the two species present in Italy:

Hippocampus hippocampus
Hippocampus guttulatus

These extraordinary fish, with their characteristic fascinating shape, swim undisturbed even at shallow depths, giving diving enthusiasts a unique experience.

History and Culture: A Journey into the Past

The Origins of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica

The municipality of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica was born as a coastal hamlet of the nearby medieval village of Gioiosa Jonica, located just 5 km away. Its administrative autonomy arrived in 1948, but its roots are deep in a past rich in history and traditions.

The Roman Theatre

In the heart of the town, nestled between modern homes, are the remains of a fascinating Roman theater dating back to the 3rd-4th century AD. This small archaeological jewel, built in a flat area, could accommodate up to 1,200 spectators and is characterized by a particular structure with concentric walls for the arrangement of the seats. Today, the theater comes to life again in the summer months, when it becomes the perfect setting for cultural events, theatrical performances and musical concerts.

The Spina Tower or Cavallaro Tower

A few steps from the seafront, beyond the railway, stands the Torre Spina, also known as Torre del Cavallaro. Built in 1565 as a watchtower to defend the territory from Saracen attacks, it is still well preserved and easily visited.

Torre Galea: An Elegant Medieval Tower House

In the hilly area above the town, a few kilometers from the coast, there is another medieval testimony: the Galea Tower. This structure, dating back to the 15th century, represents a rare example of a fortified tower house, used for both residential and defensive purposes.

Explore the Surroundings of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica – Between Sea, History and Nature

Discover the wonders of the Riviera dei Gelsomini: crystalline beaches, archaeological sites and uncontaminated landscapes await you for a unique experience in Calabria.

Gioiosa Jonica

You can’t miss a visit to the medieval village of Gioiosa Jonica, dominated by the remains of the castle from the second half of the 13th century and characterized by the presence of numerous noble palaces, with beautiful entrance portals, including Palazzo Amaduri, set up with an Art Gallery and a Wood Museum. Just outside the historic center is the Villa Romana del Naniglio, dating back to the 1st-5th century AD and characterized by the presence of a large underground cistern with three naves and various residential rooms with floors decorated with polychrome mosaics with geometric motifs.

Mammola

Just 15 minutes by car, you can reach Mammola, one of the Gates of the Park, characterized by the typical medieval urban layout, with narrow streets and stairways. The town is home to the MUSABA Museum Park (=MUseo SAnta BArbara), an open-air park-workshop of contemporary art, where you can meet the local artist Nick Spatari. Mammola is also famous for the presence of numerous restaurants specialized in cuisine based on “stocco”, that is, stockfish, which has become an identity food here! Come and visit us to taste it and find out why…

Gerace

A 30-minute drive will take you to Gerace, another gateway to the Aspromonte Park, the pride of Calabria, recognized as one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, awarded the Touring Club’s Orange Flag in 2015. On the rocky hill at almost 500 m above sea level, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire Riviera dei Gelsomini and, starting from the ruins of the Norman-Swabian castle, you can visit a place where time seems to have stopped… Don’t miss the imposing 11th-century Norman Cathedral, the Church of S. Francesco with its marble inlay altarpiece and the Porta del Sole, with its breathtaking view of the coast and the lower village.

Locri

Moving 18 km south of Gioiosa along the coast, you will reach Locri, which hosts the National Museum and the Archaeological Park of Locri Epizephirii, which was an important Magna Graecia city. In the Archaeological Park you can visit the remains of the sanctuary of Demeter, the city walls, the temple of Marasà, the Roman baths inside the Casino Macrì. The Museum, small but well set up, preserves important archaeological finds, from the 7th century BC to the 5th-6th century AD: over 1,200 years of history!

Casignana

Going a little further south, 30 km from Marina di Gioiosa, you will reach the Roman Villa in the Palazzi district of Casignana, a true jewel of archaeology in Calabria! In a well-equipped archaeological park, you can admire the remains of a Roman villa from the 1st-5th century AD which preserves one of the largest and best preserved complexes of polychrome floor mosaics in Southern Italy!

Roccella Jonica

Moving from Marina di Gioiosa along the coast towards the North (approx. 6 km), the first town you will encounter will be Roccella Jonica, another renowned seaside resort on the Ionian coast, very lively, famous for the Jazz Festival and dominated by the rock near the sea on which stands the Carafa castle. In Roccella there is a beautiful tourist port, an important stopping point along the routes of the lower Ionian Sea

Monasterace Marina

Continuing north along the Ionian coast SS106 – passing through Riace, the place where the famous Riace Bronzes were found – about 25 km from Marina di Gioiosa you will reach Monasterace Marina, where the remains of the ancient Greek polis of Kaulon are located. Here you can visit the small Museum, with finds also from the seabed in front, and the vast archaeological area, still under excavation.

Stilo

Going inland for another 8 km from Monasterace, driving along the Stilaro river valley, you will reach Stilo, a charming medieval village that arose at the foot of Mount Consolino. In addition to visiting the historic center, you cannot miss a stop at the “Cattolica”, a small Byzantine church, originally from the 10th century AD, with remains of the original frescoes, which has become the emblem of the entire Riviera dei Gelsomini area!

Santa Domenica

Continuing along the SS106 to Caulonia and taking the fork for Focà, you will reach the hamlet of Santa Domenica di Placanica, where the Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Scoglio is located, a destination for a notable influx of pilgrims from all over Italy. This is the place of the apparitions of the Virgin to Brother Cosimo, in a natural site with extraordinary evocative power, in a rugged valley that the Virgin said – according to Brother Cosimo’s story – she wanted to transform into a “great center of spirituality, where souls could find peace and refreshment”.

Monte Tre Pizzi

For lovers of unspoiled nature and wide panoramas, there are numerous paths within the Aspromonte National Park, easily reachable starting from Marina di Gioiosa. One of the most evocative is found in the municipality of Ciminà, on the summit of Monte Tre Pizzi, characterized by three imposing rocky peaks that rise towards the sky. After an hour’s walk, you can enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the Ionian coast and the high peaks of Aspromonte. You cannot miss a stop in the small center of Ciminà, to taste cured meats and caciocavallo, a typical local cheese recognized as a Slow Food presidium.

La Scialata

Just 10 km away from Marina di Gioiosa, in the municipality of San Giovanni di Gerace, there is a beautiful nature trail, known as “la Scialata”, which winds along the Levadio stream, immersed in a green paradise of lush vegetation, equipped with wooden bridges and characterized by a thousand water features with waterfalls, cascades and small canyons, which ends in an equipped picnic area, with a natural spring.

Reggio Calabria

But don’t forget, this is just a quick overview of some of the sites you can visit starting from Marina di Gioiosa Ionica! In an hour or an hour and a half by car at most, you can reach the Tyrrhenian side, with its high cliffs overlooking the sea, or the highest peak of the Aspromonte (Montalto, 1,956 m above sea level) with a wide 360° panoramic view, or finally our capital Reggio Calabria, with its seafront overlooking the Strait of Messina, defined by Gabriele D’Annunzio as “the most beautiful kilometer in Italy“, where you can’t miss a visit to the MArRC, the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, which houses the famous Riace Bronzes, bronze masterpieces of Greek art from the 5th century BC.

Book your stay in Marina di Gioiosa now

In addition to the sea and historical sites, Marina di Gioiosa Ionica offers a wide range of activities for all wishes:

Water sports, scuba diving courses and diving to explore the unique seabed of the Ionian Sea
Walks along the seafront to enjoy breathtaking sunrises
Local food and wine, with specialties based on fresh fish and typical Calabrian products, such as the Gioiosa “Pasta alla Corte d’Assise”

If you want to experience a holiday between sea, culture and nature, Marina di Gioiosa Ionica is the ideal destination!

📞 Call now: +39 329.4640045
📧 Write to us: info@gioiosabb.it
📍 Address: Via Piero Gobetti 99, 89046 Marina di Gioiosa Ionica (RC)

We are waiting for you for an unforgettable trip! 🌊✨

Marina di Gioiosa Ionica

Discover the Surroundings of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica