Visiting Reggio Calabria: the Bronzes, the seafront, Aspromonte
The National Archaeological Museum, devoted to Magna Graecia, displays the Riace Bronzes, Greek statues of the fifth century BC found in 1972. The Lungomare Falcomatà faces Sicily and Etna; then the Aragonese Castle, the Eremo of the Consolazione, the village of Pentedattilo and Gambarie, in Aspromonte, with ski lifts.
Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits
The museum and the Bronzes
The National Archaeological Museum, established in 1882 and housed in a building designed by Marcello Piacentini, is in Piazza De Nava and devoted to Magna Graecia, with underwater archaeology collections as well. The Riace Bronzes, masterpieces of fifth-century BC Greek sculpture, were found in August 1972 in the sea off Riace Marina, at a depth of about 8 metres, and restored partly in Florence; they are displayed in the Riace and Porticello Bronzes room, with controlled access through filter rooms for conservation reasons. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday.
- Lungomare Falcomatà: buildings, small squares, monuments and archaeological excavations with views of Sicily, the Strait and Etna.
- Aragonese Castle: a fortification of Byzantine origin, altered over the centuries.
- Sanctuary of Santa Maria Madre della Consolazione at the Eremo, on the highest point of the city, with a panoramic view.
- Parco della Mondialità, on the edge of the city: a Greek theatre, an Arab house, a pagoda and other structures.
- Pentedattilo, about half an hour away: an abandoned village set against a cliff shaped like five fingers.
- Gambarie, in the Aspromonte National Park: a mountain resort with ski lifts.
When to come
In September comes the feast of the Madonna della Consolazione: the Virgin's painting is carried from the Eremo to the Cathedral, where it can be seen until 26 November (see Identity).
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-13
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