Though Staletti is only a very small town, it makes a good base for exploring several nearby sites. Explore the town on foot and find several historic local religious landmarks. Take a trip to the neighboring coast to find postcard-worthy stretches of beach.
Stroll around town, stopping for coffee in sidewalk cafés and pausing to people-watch in the small town square while locals go about their daily lives. Seek out the evocative ruins of Chiesa Madre, a centuries-old church. Only small portions, most notably the arched entranceway, have survived.
This church is just one of several ruins in the area around Staletti. Venture to the cliffs near Caminia Beach to inspect the remnants of the old Byzantine church of Panaja. Also located near the coastal cliffs are the ruins of the church of San Martino di Copanello. Evidence shows that the family villa of Cassiodorus, a prominent Roman writer and statesman, once stood in this area.
From Staletti, drive just 10 minutes to Caminia, where vacationers can discover one of the finest stretches of sand in all of Calabria. If you don’t have a car, follow the centuries-old paths that lead past scrub to the coast. Sunbathe on the small strip of sand, which meets blue-green waters and is bordered by two cliffs that seem to block out the rest of the world. The beach is mostly sandy but gets pebbly in the water, so bring water shoes if you plan on wading or swimming.
Come to Staletti during summer when the weather and seawater are at their warmest. During winter, the area becomes very quiet, with few if any out-of-town visitors coming here. Staletti is located near Squillace along the Ionian coast about midway between Soverato Lido and Catanzaro Lido. To get here, ride the train to Catanzaro and then drive. The nearest airport is in Lamezia Terme, about a 45-minute drive away.
