Where is it

Brancaleone overlooks the Ionian coast of southern Calabria, in the province of Reggio Calabria, between Capo Spartivento and the Bruzzano river. It is part of the renowned Costa dei Gelsomini, in a coastal stretch known for its natural beauty and environmental richness.

 

The city of turtles

Brancaleone is today known as the city of sea turtles: its beaches are one of the most important nesting sites in Italy for the Caretta caretta species. Since 2016, thanks to the activity of the Caretta Calabria Conservation association, over 130 nests have been monitored, from which approximately 6,000 young have been born. Environmental conservation is a central element of the local identity.

 

Historical notes

The origins of the town date back to the 6th–7th century AD, in the Byzantine era, although it is believed that the area was inhabited since ancient times. In the past it was known as Sperlinga or Sperlonga, a name later changed to Mottaleonis (motta = relief, lion = strength or heraldic symbol). The current name "Brancaleone" has uncertain origins, perhaps linked to a medieval nickname.

The old village, today known as Brancaleone Superiore, was gradually abandoned after the 1950s following landslides and earthquakes. However, numerous sites of historical and cultural value remain visible:

• the Protopapal Church of the Annunziata,

• the Grotto of the Madonna del Riposo with seventeenth-century frescoes,

• the ancient Byzantine silo-granary,

• the evocative Grotto of the Tree of Life.

 

The coast and the sea

Brancaleone Marina extends over about 10 km of coastline with golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, which attract thousands of visitors every summer. The town is among the most popular seaside destinations in the Ionian Calabria. The Marine Turtle Recovery Center, located in Piazza Stazione, is a national point of reference for the care and protection of the Caretta caretta.

 

The cradle of jasmine

Brancaleone is also considered the Calabrian homeland of jasmine, introduced to the area by Ligurian growers in 1928. The cultivation of this flower, together with bergamot, has marked the economy and culture of the city for decades. The ancient essence distilleries today represent a testimony to this tradition, which gave its name to the Costa dei Gelsomini.

 

Places of interest

In addition to the medieval village and the beaches, the territory of Brancaleone offers:

• the Galati Tower, located along the Aranghìa stream,

• the Museo del Mare, near the town hall,

• the Cesare Pavese Documentation Center, which commemorates the writer's confinement in Brancaleone in 1935.

 

A place between nature and memory

Brancaleone is a village suspended between historical memory and ecological vocation. Here the sea, biodiversity and cultural roots merge into an authentic experience, which embraces the Byzantine past, the anti-fascist struggle (with the presence of Cesare Pavese in exile) and a present made of environmental protection and identity valorization.