Description of the attraction
Roseto Capo Spulico is a small resort town in the province of Cosenza in Calabria, located on the Ionian coast. Only about two thousand people live in it permanently, but at the peak of the tourist season, its population increases several times.
During Magna Graecia, Roseto was one of the satellite cities of the powerful colony of Sibari. Roses were grown in the city, and the mattresses of noble sybarites were stuffed with their petals. Modern Roseto was founded in the 10th century, when by order of the ruler Robert Guiscard, a "kastrum" was founded - a military settlement. And the city reached its peak in the 13th century, when the castle of Castello di Roseto, also known as Castrum Petrae Rosette, was built.
After a period of decline, aggravated by an outflow of population in the first half of the 20th century, the first resort residences were built in Roseto in the 1970s, initiating the development of tourism on the Ionian coast of Calabria. Over time, the entire territory of Roseto Capo Spulico turned into one large resort area. In the 1980s and 90s, numerous summer residences of residents of the city and surrounding settlements grew along the coast. And in recent years, hotels, restaurants, discos and other components of the tourist infrastructure have been actively built. Today Roseto is considered the main tourist center of the Ionian coast of Cosenza. Local beaches, mostly pebbled, have recently been expanded with hot and cold showers, walkways and waste bins. The most popular beaches are Camping Monica, Bayabella, Il Castello, Capo Spulico.
The historic center of Roseto, located on a certain hill, deserves special attention. Its buildings date back to the Middle Ages, and the picturesque streets and lanes offer sea panoramas. It is in this part of the city that you can find most of the local cultural and architectural monuments. Of course, the main attraction of Roseto is the Castrum Petrae Rosette castle. It is also worth visiting the Ethnographic Museum, one of the finest in Calabria, and the 14th century church of Santa Maria della Consolazione. Nature lovers will enjoy walking to the mouth of the Torre Ferro river, exploring the surrounding area of Roseto and visiting the rocky cliff "Skoglio Incudine". The latter is located by the beach, which stretches under the castle, at the very tip of the Lungomare degli Akei promenade. The embankment itself also deserves attention - it stretches for 1.5 km in the Marina di Roseto quarter and is considered the center of summer tourism. A wide sidewalk with Piazza Azzurra runs along it.
Roseto Capo Spulico, with its crystal clear emerald-colored sea and amazing underwater landscapes, is today considered the pearl of Calabria with the most beautiful sea in Italy.
