Only a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian Sea is about 280m over sea level the small mountain village Belmonte Calabro, which counts to the 13 most beautiful villages of Calabria. The fortress was built in the year 1270 by Sergeant Beaumont by order of Karl of Anjou. Today are still in the historic centre, some people call it "a jewel of architecture", palaces of the aristocracy from the 16. Century. Characteristic are the many angular lanes and staircases, which don't allow car traffic and which offer so a wonderful calmness.

On the highest point of the village directly opposite to the ancient fortress there is the main church Santa Maria Assunta with the high bell tower. In the relics of the fortress are today a little museum, a bibliotheca and the office of Pro Loco (Information).

The view terrace "Belvedere Principe Ravaschieri", named after an ancient prince of Belmonte, offers a marvellous panorama on the mountains, the sea and at good sight even as far as the Sicilian isles.

On the hill Bastia is the mausoleum of Michele Bianchi (Italian journalist and politician of the fascism), a 35 m high pillar with a big crucifix. In the interior there leads a corkscrew staircase on a viewpoint.

By a walking tour to the pines forest, which in 1000m height is about 2 km away, one comes by wide meadows with grazing herds of sheep. Withal one can enjoy the splendid panorama over the mountains and the sea. Advisable are also cycle tours or a trip on horseback in this wonderful region.

Certainly a bath in the Tyrrhenian Sea is also possible, because in a distance of only 3 kilometres is the district Belmonte Marina, where a long beach (gravel) is. During the summer months umbrellas and sun chairs can be rented. Between Belmonte Marina and Amantea is a paradise for diving, there jut out two rocks "le Scogli di Isca". Since 1991 is this area WWF-nature reserve "Oasi Blu Isca" to protect rare fauna and flora.

One places value on the preservation of old traditions and ancient usages. So the bread is baked in old wood-burning stoves and typical specialities of the village, as tomato sauce, cheese, salami and vegetable pickled in oil were produced after the old manner. Belmonte is well-known by the figs, which were exported worldwide and by the "Pomodoro gigante", an enormous species of tomatoes, which is only growing in Belmonte.

It is an ideal place to pass vacations in nature, to discover the history of Calabria and to get to know the native live in an Italian montain village.

Pro Loco
(Information)
Piazza Galeazzo di Tarsia
87033 Belmonte

Railway station
The next railway station is Belmonte Marina Calabro or Amantea.

From where the name "Belmonte" (beautiful mountain) is, is not certain.

Some people trace the name to the builder of the fortress, Sergeant Beaumont. Other people belief that the name bear on the position of the place, which was called in the antiquity "garden of Calabria".

The add-on "Calabro" refer to the region Calabria, because on Sicily there is also a Belmonte.