Soverato looks out over the Gulf of Squillace, on a stretch of Ionian coast that Calabrians call the Costa degli Aranci, the Orange Coast. It has beaches of pale sand, a lively seafront and, in its upper town, a Renaissance masterpiece. All around are medieval villages, archaeological parks and the memory of a great sixth-century monk.
Why visit Soverato
The sea of the Orange Coast
Soverato’s beaches are wide and sandy, with clear water that has earned the town the Blue Flag several times. The seabed slopes gently and the bay is sheltered: it is a very good destination for families.
The seafront
In the evening life in Soverato moves to the seafront, among palm trees, ice-cream parlours and strolls. In summer the town hosts concerts and events that make it one of the liveliest places on the Ionian coast.
Gagini’s Pietà
In the upper town, Soverato Superiore, the church of Maria Santissima Addolorata houses the Pietà by Antonello Gagini, a Sicilian Renaissance sculptor. It is a white marble group of great delicacy, one of the artistic treasures of Calabria.
Old Soverato
On the hills stand the ruins of the old village, abandoned after the earthquake of 1783, with a wide view over the gulf.
The surroundings
The beaches of Copanello and Caminia
A few minutes to the north the coast becomes rocky: Copanello and Caminia have sandy coves among granite rocks and crystal-clear water, perfect for snorkelling. Among the rocks of Copanello you can see pools cut into the stone, linked by tradition to Cassiodorus.
Squillace
On the hill above the gulf, Squillace is a medieval village with a Norman castle and a long tradition of ceramics, still alive in its workshops. It was the birthplace of Cassiodorus, who in the sixth century founded the monastery of Vivarium, where monks copied and saved ancient texts.
Scolacium Archaeological Park
At Roccelletta di Borgia, among olive groves, the Scolacium Park preserves the remains of the Roman city, with its theatre and forum, and the great Norman basilica of Santa Maria della Roccella.
Catanzaro and Le Castella
Catanzaro, the regional capital, is half an hour away. Heading south-east, in about an hour and a half you reach the Aragonese fortress of Le Castella, which seems to float on the sea at Isola di Capo Rizzuto.
| From Soverato to… | Approximate time by car |
|---|---|
| Copanello and Caminia | 15 minutes |
| Squillace | 20 minutes |
| Scolacium Park | 25 minutes |
| Catanzaro | 30–40 minutes |
| Le Castella | 1 hour and a half |
When to go
The beach season runs from June to September, with warm water until October. May and September are the ideal months to combine the beach with visits to the villages without the August heat. In spring the coast smells of orange blossom, and you understand where its name comes from.
Where to stay
Casa FMA Soverato is in Via San Giovanni Bosco and is run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. It has 15 rooms with air conditioning, heating, Wi-Fi and free parking. It is the ideal base for families and groups who want to enjoy the sea of the Orange Coast and discover the villages and history of the Gulf of Squillace.
