Amantea serves not only as a tourist hub of Calabria, but with its population of about 14,000 it is also a focal point for commerce and culture. As everywhere in Calabria, its history is long, and the shores of Amantea have witnessed many a battle and skirmish. Interestingly, while most of the region managed to resist persistent Arab attacks over the course of 1,000 years, Amantea was conquered twice. The first emirate lasted for 40 years during the 9th century and the second endured over 50 years, bridging the 10th and 11th centuries.
Gazing out from Amantea’s centro storico, you don’t have any trouble imagining the desirability of this natural citadel for the many peoples who strove to conquer the area as well as for those defending what they had. The panorama is quite beautiful and it’s just a half hour’s walk down to the sea. From the streets and windows of the antique edifices, today’s view is of rooftops extending to the water with rugged hills flanking this modern growth.
In Amantea, summer can begin as early as April and last into November. Thus, the town’s long sandy beach is popular. In fact, Amantea boasts eight beautiful miles of shoreline along the Tyrrhenian Sea, a narrow coastal terrain, just a little over a mile wide before climbing the adjacent hillside.
