Italy is a treasure chest full of jewels of absolute prestige. From North to South there are thousands of historical-natural wonders capable of enchanting young and old. Many of these known to all, others a little less. And among the latter it is impossible not to mention the enchanting Arco Magno beach, located in the heart of one of the most fascinating regions of the beautiful country: Calabria.
The magic of the Calabrian coasts
San Nicola Arcella is a small municipality north of Cosenza. It is certainly not the kind of destination capable of attracting tens of thousands of tourists - like its neighbors Praia a Mare o Scalea - yet here are some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. The conformation of these coasts, in fact, offers spectacular views and a sea that has nothing to envy to the most noble tropical destinations. Massive cliffs plunge into the Tyrrhenian, interspersed with small flat areas where there are dozens of beaches always crowded in the high season months.
Close to the popular beach of Marinella one of the most enchanting places in all of Calabria is hidden. We are talking about the Arco Magno beach, so called for its imposing arch which delimits the entrance from the sea. It is a small cove surrounded by the imposing Tyrrhenian cliffs, and accessing it is not at all easy. The most practical and fastest way is undoubtedly by sea, starting right from Marinella by renting a pedal boat, or even swimming for the most trained. The other solution - much more dangerous - is to do it by land by going down the rocky slope via a path. A light backpack, tennis shoes and - above all - a lot of caution they are the basic equipment to tackle this wild stretch.
The enchanting Arco Magno beach
Once on the beach, all that remains is to cool off in the beautiful local waters. The spectacle offered by this small unspoiled area will pay off all the efforts made to reach it. Especially in the evening, when the sun seems to almost dive close to the rocky arch.
Once, it is said, the Saracens here found a base to settle in, and then went into the Calabrian hinterland. This is also the reason for the other name by which the Arco Magno beach is known: the Grotta del Saraceno.
The entire lagoon is about thirty meters long and is characterized by small pebbles in the central section, and by rocks and cliffs on the sides. The small natural arch also bears the name of Arch of Aeneas. The reason? According to legend, the Greek prince found himself passing through these lands, immediately after the fall of Troy.
Crawford's love for Southern Italy
He fell in love with these places Francis Marion Crawford, American writer with a passion for exploration and for Italy. In fact, his travels were numerous to discover the coasts of the South, always in the company of his wife. During the Calabrian stages, Crawford loved to stay at the Saracen Tower (later renamed Crawford Saracen Tower). Here the writer found inspiration for numerous stories, often set right in the streets of the small and charming village of San Nicola Arcella.
