Like virtually every Italian coastal town, Reggio Calabria has a Lungomare. This coastal road offers stunning views of the Strait of Messina, the volcano Etna and the Sicilian city of Messina itself. In Reggio, the Lungomare consists of three streets that merge into one another, namely the Lungomare Falcomatà, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele III and the Viale Genoese Zerbi.
Lungomare Reggio Calabria
Useful information
Bus: 5-10, 6, 7, 7C, 11, 12, 14, 14, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28, 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 110, 111, 113-119, 121-124, 126, 319, A, C.
History and description
The writer Gabriele d’Annunzio once described Reggio Calabria’s Lungomare as “the most beautiful kilometer in Italy.” This is partly due to the view of the beautiful blue sea and the island of Sicily across the Strait of Messina. However, the street itself is also worthwhile. It is lined by various exotic trees, including date, fig and banana trees and magnolias, interspersed with statues and monuments. In addition, some of the finest historic palaces of the city line the Lungomare.
The Lungomare Falcomatà used to be called Lungomare Matteotti.
What to see
Near the Piazza Indipendenza stands a statue in memory of the writer Corrado Alvaro. The scuptor was Alessandro Monteleone. The statue consists of three blocks of white marble, with inscriptions from the writer’s most famous works.
The monument to the victims of war was made in 1930 by Francesco Jerace. It is a large bronze statue representing Athena and commemorating the landing of Vittorio Emanuele III in the city.
Antiquity is also represented. There are ruins of Greek walls, along with those of the Roman Baths. Some floor mosaics remain from the latter monument.
The Arena dello Stretto is a modern amphitheater built to look like an ancient Greek theater. From this theater, which is also called Annasilaos Amphitheater, one has a spectacular panoramic view of the coast. Its official name is Anfiteatro Ciccio Franco.
The Villa Comunale, a public garden full of exotic plants, is at the end of the Lungomare.
In the Piazza Garibaldi stands a statue of the Italian freedom fighter nicknamed the “Hero of the Two Worlds.”