Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino · Riviera dei Cedri
Scalea
A coastal town on the Riviera dei Cedri, in the province of Cosenza, with a medieval old town set on a promontory above the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Scalea is a town of more than 11,000 inhabitants in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea along the stretch of coast known as the Riviera dei Cedri. In 2018 it was granted the honorary title of city.
Geography
The town spreads across a broad promontory that closes the Gulf of Policastro to the south. Its coastline changes character from south to north: sandy and straight at first, then rugged and rocky, dotted with caves. The municipality borders San Nicola Arcella, Santa Domenica Talao, Orsomarso and Santa Maria del Cedro.
History
The name itself tells its story: Scalea comes from the Greek skalíon, “sea landing”. The caves of Torre Talao preserve traces of the Palaeolithic, with stone and bone tools and remains of Pleistocene fauna. Around 600 BC the Greek Sybarites founded nearby Laos, a coastal city regarded as the ancestor of Scalea.
In the Middle Ages the town was held by the Lombards, who built a fortress; Byzantine hermit monks settled in the caves of the Scalicella. By the Norman era Scalea was already an active merchant and seafaring centre, and in the early 14th century it became an important sea landing.
What to see
The medieval old town is the heart of the city, crowned by the Church of Santa Maria d’Episcopio, known as the Madonna del Carmine: its earliest core dates to the 8th century and it was enlarged in the Norman period. Lower down stands the Church of San Nicola in Plateis, documented since the 8th century. Among the civil buildings are the Palazzo dei Principi (13th century, now the municipal library, with 17th-century frescoes) and the Norman palace, said to be the birthplace of admiral Roger of Lauria. On the coast, the islet of Torre Talao has always been a natural landing.
Scalea today
Historically tied to farming and fishing — until the 1970s the coastal strip was planted with citrons — Scalea’s economy today is largely based on tourism.
Getting there
By car via the A2 motorway; by train at the Scalea-Santa Domenica Talao station. The nearest airport is Lamezia Terme, about 120 km away.
Images
Places
What to see around here.
- Culture
Norman Castle
The castle ruins overlooking the old town of Scalea, offering a view over the coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Old town
Old town of Scalea
The medieval core of Scalea, set on the promontory, with alleys, stairways, churches and palaces that tell the town's Norman and Angevin history.
- Culture
Church of Santa Maria d'Episcopio (Madonna del Carmine)
The main church of Scalea's old town, dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine, patron of the city; its origins date back to the 8th century.
- Viewpoint
Torre Talao
An islet and 16th-century tower on the Scalea coast, a historic natural landing; its caves preserve traces of the Palaeolithic.
Itineraries through here
- 4 daysGrand tour
Grand Tour of the Riviera dei Cedri
Four days from north to south along the Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino coast: islands, Norman towns, murals and sanctuaries.
11 stops8 townsMay–OctoberSee the stops -
3 daysTowns & historyTowns & history
Three days among old towns, castles and the only Occitan language island in southern Italy.
6 stops5 townsAll year roundSee the stops -
2 daysSacred & cultureIn the footsteps of the sacred
Two days among sanctuaries and devotion, from Saint Francis of Paola to the Madonna della Grotta.
3 stops3 townsAll year roundSee the stops -
4 daysSea & beachesFour days on the Tyrrhenian coast
Four days devoted to the sea, from San Nicola Arcella to Cetraro: arches, islands, beaches and marina.
8 stops6 townsJune–SeptemberSee the stops -
2 daysTowns & historyWeekend in the old towns
Two days among museum, stone village and murals: history and art without a devotional focus.
4 stops3 townsAll year roundSee the stops - 4 daysTowns & history
Four days among old towns
Four days among castles, Norman towns, sacred art and the Occitan language island.
8 stops5 townsAll year roundSee the stops -
4 daysWellness & spaNature and Pollino in four days
Four days among spa, cave, mountains and river in the Pollino National Park.
8 stops5 townsMarch–NovemberSee the stops
Frequently asked questions
- Scalea is a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea along the Riviera dei Cedri. It sits on a promontory that closes the Gulf of Policastro to the south.
- The name comes from the Greek skalíon, diminutive of skála, which in medieval Greek meant "sea landing", pier or quay — a reference to the town's ancient role as a port.
- The medieval old town, with the Church of Santa Maria d'Episcopio (Madonna del Carmine), the Church of San Nicola in Plateis, the Palazzo dei Principi, the Norman palace, the castle ruins, and on the coast the Torre Talao with its caves.
- It is considered the heir of ancient Laos, founded by the Sybarites in 600 BC; later Lombard, Byzantine and Norman, and from the 14th century an important sea landing. In 2018 it was granted the honorary title of city.
- By car via the A2 motorway, by train at the Scalea-Santa Domenica Talao station. The nearest airport is Lamezia Terme, about 120 km away.
Where is Scalea?
Why is it called Scalea?
What is there to see in Scalea?
What is the history of Scalea?
How do you get to Scalea?
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Videos
Events
- Festa della Madonna del Carmine (patrona) 15–16 luglio
Festa patronale annuale.
Yearly
Useful info
Scalea
For offices, hours and institutional contacts, see the municipality’s official website.