Sea caves and transparent water off Praia a Mare
Facing the beach of Praia a Mare, in the far north of the Calabrian Tyrrhenian coast, the Isola di Dino is the largest island of Calabria, a limestone block covered with Mediterranean scrub, uninhabited, rising steeply from a sea of extraordinary transparency. Its name probably derives from the Greek "dina", whirlpool, or from "aedina", small temple, after an ancient temple dedicated to Venus that, according to tradition, stood there. The island is famous above all for its sea caves, carved by the sea into the limestone cliffs, which can be visited by boat, departing from the beach of Praia a Mare.
The most famous is the Grotta Azzurra, where sunlight, filtering underwater through the entrance, colours the water an intense, luminous blue, as in the more famous cave of Capri; then there are the Grotta del Leone, so called for a rock that resembles a lion, the Grotta delle Sardine, the Grotta del Frontone and others, among stacks, arches and inlets where you can dive into crystal-clear water. The seabed, rich in fish, sea fans and posidonia, is ideal for snorkelling and diving. Along the nearby coast, there are other natural wonders: the Arcomagno, a natural rock arch enclosing a small beach, in San Nicola Arcella, one of the most photographed places in Calabria, and, in Praia, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta, built in a cave above the town.
Tip: take a boat tour of the caves in the morning, when the sea is calmer; then walk to the beach of the Arcomagno.
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