Praia a Mare – a town where sometimes even the train doesn't stop

Praia a Mare is one of those places that looks "just" like another Italian resort in photos, but in person, you discover it has its little secret: a giant rock with a hidden sanctuary inside. The beach stretches really long, with mountains behind you, Dino Island in front, and in between, a town where the classic Calabrian mix lives – a bit of chaos, a bit of dolce vita, gelato everywhere, and people who are in no particular rush. They have a very nice and long coastal promenade here, which, by the way, I really miss in Scalea.

Above Praia rises a massif with a rock sanctuary. The path to it isn't just a "quick detour," but more of a small climb that your thighs will thank you for the next day. It's quite accessible from the train stop, and there's parking for cars in the immediate vicinity of the trail to the sanctuary. At first glance, it doesn't seem like much, but in the heat, you'll suddenly realize it's a decent steep climb. The reward is an atmosphere you won't find in a regular church: the coolness of the rock, candles, the scent of incense, and a view of the entire coast that reminds you why locals feel the need to bring their prayers and thanks up here. This sanctuary feels like a place where one can momentarily switch off from the beach mode of "lying–eating–swimming" and just gaze into the distance. If you're bringing small children, be prepared to carry them part of the way, or at least listen to some whining.

Praia a Mare itself is quite a lively town during the season: along the main street, you'll find families strolling in the evening, kids on scooters, cafés where people seamlessly transition from cappuccino to aperol, and small shops selling everything from inflatable crocodiles to homemade limoncello. During the day, the beach rules here – rows of umbrellas, bars with panini and granita, pedal boats, boat trips to Dino Island and the caves. In the evening, Praia transforms into a pleasantly lively, but not overly crowded resort, where you can comfortably sit on a wall, watch the lights along the coast, and have that classic feeling of "yeah, this is what a holiday evening by the sea should look like." I really like it here.