Here is the small Calabrian village that attracts more and more tourists every year
San Nicola Arcella is a small seaside village that in recent years has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Calabria.
Its beautiful beaches and beautiful views make it a perfect place to spend your summer holidays.
The origins of this village date back to Roman times, when the Lavini, who had survived the destruction of Laos, in Greece, caused by the Normans, founded Scalea and San Nicola Arcella.
The village of medieval origins offers many things to do and see and for this reason the tourism in this town is in great development. Visitors are attracted to San Nicola Arcella also by the traditional recipes of Cosenza cuisine that here find their maximum gastronomic expression.
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San Nicola Arcella: where is it?
San Nicola Arcella is a village in the province of Cosenza that is 110 meters high on a rock overlooking the sea. This stretch of coast is fascinating with its cliffs and caves carved into the rock by nature.
This stretch of coast is called the Riviera dei Cedri. To reach the small village you have to take the A3 Naples Reggio Calabria. Exit at Logonero and continue for about 40 minutes on the SS18.
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The history of San Nicola Arcella
San Nicola Arcella originates from the city of Lavinium that in the period of the Roman Empire was in the territory of the current area of the municipality of Scalea. The population left the area to take refuge on the hill where today is San Nicola Arcella because of the malaria that raged in the swampy areas of the coast.
In the 18th century Scordia Pietro Lanza Branciforte became Prince of the fief of Scalea. In 1806 the French government declared the end of feudalism. During the French domination San Nicola Arcella managed to maintain a certain administrative autonomy. On May 4, 1811 with the establishment of the municipalities was unique in Scalea of which it became a fraction.
In the middle of the nineteenth century the small Calabrian village became the home of the famous writer Francis Marion Crawford who stayed for some time in the watchtower. Here he also set some of his stories. In 1912 Saint Nicholas became an independent municipality.
San Nicola Arcella: what to do and see?
San Nicola Arcella offers to the many tourists who reach it every year unspoilt landscapes and beautiful nature such as, for example, the Arcomagno di San Nicola. It is a rock arch that
was carved over the years by the sea thus creating a spectacle of nature. The most striking aspect is the presence of a small lagoon in the shape of a crescent that is located inside the Arcomagno.
The Riviera dei Cedri offers its visitors other spectacular views such as the Arch of Enea. Unlike the Arcomagno this is not suspended in the sea but is located on the shoreline. The place bears the name of the Trojan hero Aeneas because according to myth it passed from this area after the fall of Troy.
As for the beaches, one of the most fascinating of the coast of San Nicola Arcella is the beach of Marinella that offers one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Riviera dei Cedri.
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In this small village there are also historical and artistic beauties not to be missed, such as in the ancient part of the city that is perched around the church. To discover this place you need to leave the sea and climb the hill. Here is the church of San Nicola da Tolentino.
Its interior is completely decorated with polychrome stucco and has a central nave with 6 side chapels. A must see is the Crawford tower which is a defensive structure with a square base that was built during the period of the Spanish viceroyalty.
Built on two levels, it once housed a garrison of soldiers ready to signal the imminent danger coming from the sea. Here the famous English writer set his horror novels and stayed there for a long time.
The typical dishes of San Nicola Arcella
The territory of San Nicola Arcella is also the ideal place for those who want to discover the flavors of traditional Cosenza cuisine. The recipes are very varied and are based mainly on the use of earth materials such as vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, meat and fish.
One of the most famous dishes of this area of Calabria is cod alla cosentina. This is prepared with potatoes, black olives, peppers, tomato sauce, bay leaves and parsley. The queen of traditional San Nicola cuisine
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Arcella is undoubtedly the fresh pasta that is prepared in different ways. Among the most appreciated are the pasta with potatoes and rigatoni alla Giancaleone. It is a recipe with tomato pasta, smoked provola cheese and smoked ham.
As for the main courses there are lamb chops Cosentina. Finally, we can not forget the many very interesting desserts such as turdiddri which is a sweet fried dumpling with sugar and honey. Another typical dessert are the typical Scaliddre which are prepared according to tradition during the Christmas holidays.
Copertina: viaggiocontrovento
