Brancaleone: Sea Turtle Conservation and Cultural Heritage

Brancaleone brings together sea turtle conservation and cultural history. The Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine is dedicated to injured sea turtles; the town is also home to the Museo del Mare and historic sites in Brancaleone Superiore and Brancaleone Vetus. You can get to know the destination through animal care and marine biology as well as art, architecture and the history of a historic settlement.

Sea Turtles and the Museo del Mare

The Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine is a rescue center that saves, cares for and rehabilitates injured sea turtles and those experiencing other difficulties. Its area of operation spans Calabria and Sicily, and includes problems caused by human activity. Tours for adults and children provide information about sea turtles and their conservation. The center thus combines practical work to help animals with educational activities. If you plan to take a tour, check the center’s current hours and booking requirements in advance, as these may change.

The center is located in Brancaleone Marina, at Piazza Lorenzo e Gilla, formerly known as Piazza Stazione. It occupies the premises of the former railway ticket office on the S.S. 106. The Museo del Mare opened on 15 October 2016 and consists of three main rooms. In the last room, dioramas and scale reproductions depict marine mammals and sea turtles. A particular focus is the reproductive biology of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. This biological perspective on a specific species complements the rescue and care work that takes center stage at the center.

Brancaleone Vetus and Historic Churches

Brancaleone Vetus is situated on a sandstone hill, 310 m above sea level and 3.5 km from the coast. In 2008, following a conservation and enhancement project overseen by the heritage authority, the site was established as an urban Archaeological Park. The project included restoring paths within the historic settlement. Its elevation and distance from the coast provide a brief sense of the site’s topography, while the park project also tells the story of preserving this historic place. Here, the settlement itself is the focus, while the Museo del Mare turns the spotlight on marine life and its biology.

Brancaleone Vetus is also home to the rock-hewn church of Chiesa-grotta dell’Albero della Vita. According to the interpretation of a local scholar, its graffiti are Armenian in style; these include a processional cross with a stylized peacock. In Brancaleone Superiore, the Chiesa Arcipretale dell’Annunziata contains remnants of a valuable polychrome marble altar from the 16th century. “Polychrome” means multicolored; what remains are specifically fragments of the altar. These two churches offer different art-historical points of interest: one features graffiti and their stylistic interpretation, while the other showcases the material and design of an altar.

Cultural Events in Brancaleone

Cesare Pavese’s former prison now serves as a cultural center for the entire Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. It hosts workshops, exhibitions, readings and conferences. These cultural events complement the archaeological and artistic themes with a program catering to a range of interests. As events may change, check the dates in advance if you are planning a specific visit.

Discover more destinations: Palizzi, Benestare, Santa Domenica, Bocale, Monasterace Marina, Marina Di Gioiosa Ionica, Cosoleto, Oppido Mamertina.

For the wider travel overview: Reggio Calabria.