Villaggio Camping Anna

This stretch of coastline is known as the ‘Costa Viola’, because the shimmering waters are such a deep shade of blue they almost appear purple at times. It’s a spectacular place to explore, perhaps on a coastal hike or a scenic drive to Monte Sant’Elia (20 minutes’ drive), which has sweeping views over the sea. There are lots of lovely beaches to check out around here, and some interesting sights under the surface of the sea, too – head to Palmi (15 minutes’ drive) for scuba and snorkel trips. Look out across the sea and you’ll see the shores of Sicily; if you’re not satisfied with looking from afar, drive to Villa San Giovanni (35 minutes) for the short ferry ride to Messina, up in the very northeast of the island. Back on the mainland, it’s worth visiting some of the local towns – Gioia Tauro (10 minutes) has the ‘Piano delle Fosse’ historic quarter and an archaeological museum, and pretty Scilla (half an hour) is home to Castello Ruffo and an old fishing quarter full of cobbled streets and seafront restaurants. The museums of Reggio Calabria (45 minutes) are also well worth a visit.