Brancaleone, Italian comune
Brancaleone is a small coastal town in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, facing the Ionian Sea. It features narrow winding streets with sandstone houses, long stretches of fine sand beaches, and a natural harbor historically tied to fishing.
The town originated during Byzantine times in the sixth or seventh century, initially settled in the higher village of Brancaleone Superiore. Over centuries, the modern town developed along the coast, with remnants of ancient churches and stone structures from various historical periods still visible today.
Brancaleone takes its name from Byzantine times and preserves this connection through its architecture and living traditions. Residents keep old crafts alive, especially the distillation of jasmine perfumes, and gather regularly for local festivals that celebrate their bond with the sea and the land.
Summer months offer the best conditions for beach visits and warm weather activities. The town is easily accessible by car or bus from nearby larger towns like Reggio Calabria.
The town is a vital nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles that arrive each year to lay eggs. Since 2016, local protection groups have monitored over a hundred nests and helped thousands of hatchlings safely reach the sea.
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