Reggio Calabria Car Hire

Guide of Reggio Calabria

Geography

Reggio Calabria is located on the southern tip of Mainland Italy, on the “toe” of the Italian peninsula. It sits on the slopes of the Aspromonte mountain range, on the Strait of Messina. Just beyond the Strait (a little more than 3 km away) lies the island of Sicily. The wider province of Reggio Calabria encompasses mountains in the west, coastal plains in the south and lower terraced hills in the heartland.

Climate in Reggio Calabria

Reggio di Calabria boasts a typically Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and rainy winters. The hottest month in Reggio di Calabria is August, with average high temperatures of 30°C. February is the coldest month, with average lows of 9°C. Most Italians descend on Reggio Calabria in August for Ferragosto, when the city is at its liveliest and the temperatures are hot. Beware, the summers can be stifling, so make sure your accommodation is equipped with air conditioning. Otherwise, consider travelling in late Spring and early Autumn. In May, visitors can enjoy an average of eight hours of brilliant sunshine daily.

Culture

Reggio Calabria was one of the first ancient greek colonies on the Italian mainland. It became an important Roman outpost and was one of the first cities on the peninsula to be influenced by Christianity. Later, it remained an important strategic stronghold during both the Byzantine Empire and the Norman period. This cultural mishmash is reflected in the city’s architecture, food and culture today, despite catastrophic earthquakes in the 16th and 17th centuries. More recently, it has become associated with the local Calabrian mafia, though this has made little impact on local tourism. In fact, it’s one of Italy’s fastest-growing tourist destinations.

Things To Do in Reggio Calabria

Take a stroll along the Corso Garibaldi and Lungomare

The pedestrianized Corso Garibaldi and Lungomare are the best places to take a passeggiata. The latter lines the seafront and offers sweeping views of the Sicilian coastline, as far as Mount Etna.

Explore Roman ruins

At the end of the Corso Garibaldi, you’ll find the sixth-century-BC city walls and an ancient Roman bathing complex. You can still make out the original layout of the rooms today, which include a tepidarium and calidarium, a square bath for cold baths and a semi-circular dressing room. Most impressive is the 2nd-century black and white mosaic and plaster painted with marine motifs.

Dive deep into two millennia of history

The Museo Nazionale is the finest museum in the whole of Calabria and is home to the region’s most important collections of archaeological findings. The five-floor space is crammed full of ancient Greek remains, like the carved table from the Sanctuary of Persephone at Locri. The crowning jewel is the Bronzi di Riace, two bronze statues found in the Ionian Sea that date back to the highest period of Greek art in the fifth century BC.

Take a trip to the Aragonese Tower

One of the city’s most iconic symbols, these twin towers are all that remains of the original castle that was heavily damaged by an earthquake. The fortress now hosts a rolling calendar of temporary exhibitions and cultural events.

Hit the beach

Reggio Calabria is a coastal city and boasts a lovely public beach just in front of the promenade. Made up of sand and small pebbles, the waters here are clean and relatively calm. You’ll find beach bars and cafes for refreshments and other beach amenities on the promenade too.

Eating Out in Reggio Calabria

Reggio Calabria has a rich food and wine tradition based on fresh produce from both land and sea. Some of the most famous local specialities include ‘nduja (soft, spice sausage spread onto bread or used as a condiment), Calabrian soppressata (succulent sausage paired with Greek-style cheese) and grouper fish served in a tomato sauce. Street food is a big deal here too, and you’ll find arancini, pizza by the slice and homemade gelato at every turn. If you’re travelling at Christmas, don’t miss turdilli (tiny fried dumplings drizzled with honey).

La Cantina del Macellaio is a must-visit for meat lovers. The restaurant is renowned for its maccheroni al ragù di maiale (handmade pasta with pork sauce) and involtini di vitello (veal rolls). For dinner with a view, try L’A Gourmet L’Academia, which is set in an early 20th-century palazzo and offers sweeping views of the Strait of Messina.

Transport

Airport

The nearest airport to Reggio Calabria is Reggio Calabria (REG) Airport, which is located 4.1 km away. Most major airlines, including Alitalia, Blue Panorama and Blue Air fly into the airport. From here, it’s a short drive or a direct train journey to the city. Alternatively, you can fly into Lamezia Terma Airport, which is roughly 130 km away from the city centre. If you’re not driving, you can pick up the Starbus Shuttles from the airport.

Getting Around Reggio Calabria

Reggio Calabria is well served by public transport. Urban busses run regularly and connect the Stazione Centrale to key sights, like the port and the archaeological museum. The train station connects the city to other major southern Italian cities too. Ferries and hydro-foils depart daily for the Aeolian Islands and Mesina too. You could even travel as far as Malta, if you feel up to it!

However, if you’re looking to explore the surrounding coastal towns and villages, we recommend hiring a car. Services to smaller towns and villages can be infrequent, even during the summertime.