Amantea is a bustling town and seaside resort on a long stretch of beach along the Tyrrhenian coastline, within the Cosenza province. It is the old part of the town (il centro storico) which we would recommend strolling around, set on the hillside above and topped with the ruins of a castle.
Enjoy views down over the terracotta rooftops of the town below. The main cobbled street winds wound the side of the hill, with a couple of bars and spots to relax. ‘Sicoli dal 1937’ has a particularly good gelato, with a variety of flavours such as ‘coconut and lime’ and ‘strawberry cheesecake’ as well as the classic varieties.
Venture up from this main street to find smaller passageways and picturesque archways between the old houses. You will reach the abandoned castle at the top, with the best views over the modern part of the town below and out to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The castle was originally built by the Byzantines, then altered by the Arabs and the Normans. The village of ‘Amantea Vecchia’ (old Amantea) is a serene spot to spend a few hours on the hillside – another example of Calabria’s undiscovered gems.
