Reggio Calabria is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Mosorrofa, 50km from Gole dell'Alcantara.
Reggio Calabria is a city located in Calabria, Italy. With a population of 182,455, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Reggio Calabria sits in Italy, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Rome time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Reggio Calabria to your route.
About Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria, also known as Reggio di Calabria and often simply as Reggio, is the largest city in Calabria as well as the seat of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. As of 2025, it has 168,572 inhabitants and is the twenty-first most populous city in Italy, after Modena. Reggio Calabria is located near theRead more center of the Mediterranean and is known for its climate, and ethnic and cultural diversity. It is the third economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. About 511,935 people live in its metropolitan city.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula and is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. It is situated on the slopes of the Aspromonte, a long, craggy mountain range that runs up through the centre of the region.
As a major functional pole in the region, it has strong historical, cultural and economic ties with the city of Messina, which lies across the strait in Sicily, forming a metro city of less than 1 million people.
Reggio is the oldest city in the region, and during ancient times, it was an important and flourishing colony of Magna Graecia. Reggio has a modern urban system, set up after the catastrophic earthquake of 1908, which destroyed most of the city. Before that seismic event, the region had been subject to several other previous earthquakes. The seismicity is caused by Reggio being on the Eurasian Plate near the faultline where it meets the African Plate that runs through the strait, dividing the two European regions of Calabria and Sicily into two different tectonic regions.
It is a major economic centre for regional services and transport on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. Reggio, with Naples and Taranto, is home to one of the most important archaeological museums, the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Græcia, dedicated to Ancient Greece (which houses the Bronzes of Riace, rare example of Greek bronze sculpture, which became one of the symbols of the city). Reggio is the seat, since 1907, of the Archeological Superintendence of Bruttium and Lucania. The city is home to football club Reggina, which previously played in the Italian top flight.
The city centre, consisting primarily of Liberty buildings, has a linear development along the coast with parallel streets, and the promenade is dotted with rare magnolias and exotic palms. Reggio has several commonly used nicknames: The "City of Bronzes", after the Bronzes of Riace that are testimonials of its Greek origins; the "City of bergamot", which is exclusively cultivated in the region; and the "City of Fatamorgana", an optical phenomenon visible in Italy only from the Reggio seaside.
What are the best things to do in Reggio Calabria?
Reggio Calabria offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Reggio Calabria?
Plan your road trip to Reggio Calabria with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Reggio Calabria as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Where is Reggio Calabria located?
Reggio Calabria is located in Calabria, Italy, Europe. The coordinates are 38.1105 latitude, 15.6613 longitude.
What is the population of Reggio Calabria?
Reggio Calabria has a population of approximately 182,455 people, making it a city in Italy.
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Fishermen's quarter of Scilla where houses rise straight out of the Strait of Messina, earning it the name 'little Venice of the South'. Swordfish boats with their towering lookout masts still land catches beneath Ruffo Castle.
17 km · about 20 min drive
ancient ruins
Teatro Antico di Taormina
A Greek-Roman theatre framing Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Sicily's most spectacular ancient stage.
43 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Taormina
A glamorous hilltop town in Sicily with an ancient Greek theater offering jaw-dropping views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
44 km · about 50 min drive
beach
Giardini Naxos
The site of the first Greek colony in Sicily, now a beach resort at the foot of Taormina with views of Mount Etna.
47 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
Gole dell'Alcantara
Basalt gorge near Etna where the cold Alcantara river cuts between 25-m walls of prismatic lava columns, like a Giant's Causeway turned canyon. Wade the icy river from the Motta Camastra entrance or view it from the free stairway.
50 km · about 55 min drive
beach
Capo Vaticano
A rugged granite promontory in Calabria with pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and panoramic views of the Aeolian Islands.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Reggio Calabria
71 kmTorre del Filosofo (Etna Summit)The high-altitude viewpoint near Mount Etna's summit craters offering surreal volcanic landscapes and sweeping Sicilian panoramas.