Gambarie d’Aspromonte: a guide to Calabria’s mountains, between sea and snow

Gambarie d’Aspromonte is the mountain of Calabria: a small resort at about 1,300 metres, set in the woods of the Aspromonte National Park, in the province of Reggio Calabria. A hamlet of the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, it is the best-loved destination in this part of the Apennines, alive all year round: cool and green in summer, whitened by snow in winter.

From here you climb towards Montalto, the highest peak of the Aspromonte (1,955 m) with the statue of Christ the Redeemer and a view embracing the two seas, the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna. Beech and fir woods, trails, Lake Rumia and one of the southernmost ski slopes in Italy make Gambarie the perfect place to combine sea and mountain in the same holiday. In this guide you will find what to see and do, how to get there and where to stay.

Gambarie, the tourist heart of the Aspromonte, all year round

Gambarie is the liveliest centre of the Aspromonte: a square, hotels, traditional restaurants, shops and the starting point for excursions and lifts. At 1,300 metres, in summer it offers relief from the coastal heat, with walks in the shade of the beeches, picnic areas and children’s playgrounds; in winter it turns into a small ski resort. It is the ideal place for a day trip from the sea or for a cool stay among the woods. From here start the trails of the Aspromonte National Park and the road climbing towards Montalto. The local cuisine is that of the mountains: mushrooms, cured meats, cheeses, grilled meat and traditional sweets.

Montalto, the roof of the Aspromonte

A few kilometres from Gambarie you reach Montalto, the highest peak of the Aspromonte at 1,955 metres. At the top stands the great bronze statue of Christ the Redeemer, a destination for hikes and pilgrimages. On clear days the panorama is among the widest in southern Italy: the gaze embraces the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas, the Aeolian Islands with Stromboli, Sicily and Mount Etna. You drive up to a parking area and then walk a short way, or take the paths through the beech forest. It is the right place to grasp the double soul of the Aspromonte: a real mountain, yet always facing the sea.

Woods, trails and Lake Rumia

Around Gambarie, the Aspromonte is a world of beech, silver fir and larch-pine woods, crossed by a dense network of trails. The walks suit everyone, from easy clearings to longer routes towards Montalto or along the Sentiero del Brigante. A short distance away lies Lake Rumia, a small stretch of water framed by trees, perfect for a break, a picnic or a relaxing family walk. The park is rich in wildlife — from birds of prey to fallow deer — and in wild views such as the fiumare, the torrents running down towards the sea. In autumn the colours of the foliage make the Aspromonte even more evocative.

Skiing and lifts: the southernmost snow in Italy

In winter Gambarie becomes a small but surprising ski resort: a chairlift and a few slopes, including the Pista Azzurra, let you ski a step away from the sea, in one of the southernmost lift systems in Italy. Its peculiarity is unique: from the slopes, on clear days, you can see the Tyrrhenian, the Ionian and a snow-capped Etna. It is the ideal place for a day on the snow with the family, to learn to ski or simply to enjoy the winter landscape with snowshoes and a sledge. The season depends on the snowfall, generally between December and March; even without snow the chairlift offers spectacular views.

How to get to Gambarie and where to stay

Gambarie is reached from Reggio Calabria via the SS183, a scenic mountain road that in about 45 minutes climbs from the sea to the village’s 1,300 metres, crossing the woods of the Aspromonte. It is therefore easy to visit on a day trip for those staying on the Costa Viola. The beauty of this part of Calabria is precisely being able to combine sea and mountain: the morning on the beach between Scilla, Bagnara and Palmi, the afternoon among the beeches and views of the Aspromonte. A holiday home on the Costa Viola is the ideal base, with the freedom to alternate relaxation and outings. Check availability and send us a request: we will help you plan a holiday between sea and Aspromonte.