Scilla and Chianalea: castle, beach and trains from Reggio

Scilla can be visited in three parts: Chianalea, the fishermen's district with houses built on the water; the Ruffo Castle, on the promontory; the beach of Marina Grande. The town is located on the Costa Viola, about 22 km north of Reggio Calabria, and the regional train from Reggio Calabria Centrale takes between 25 and 44 minutes. To see the three parts calmly, half a day is enough.

Timetables, prices and trains to visit Scilla and Chianalea are verified as of 5 October 2026.

How Scilla is made: the three neighborhoods to know

The Ruffo Castle divides the town in two: to the south there is the beach of Marina Grande, to the north the village of Chianalea. This is how the Municipality of Scilla describes it in the castle sheet. Above the two marinas rises the district of San Giorgio, with the Church of San Rocco and the colorful houses leaning against the rock.

Chianalea: narrow alleys that descend to the sea, houses with foundations in the water, boats pulled ashore.
Ruffo Castle: the fortress on the cliff, with the lighthouse and the view of the Strait of Messina.
Marina Grande: about a kilometer of beach between two rocky ridges, with the promenade and the railway station.

Chianalea: the fishing village with houses on the water

Chianalea is the seaside district of Scilla and is included in the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The houses start directly from the rocks and between one house and another there are alleys that end in the sea. The boats remain moored at the Scaro Alaggio, the small landing place where they shelter from the waves. The main street is Via Annunziata.

The neighborhood is linked to swordfish fishing, practiced in the Strait during spring and summer migrations. Fishermen go out on the walkways, also called feluccas: boats with a very high iron mast from which the lookout spots the fish. Before the engines, which arrived in the sixties, the luntri, wooden boats with four oarsmen, were used. This is told in the booklet Fishing: yesterday, today, tomorrow published by the Municipality in 2025 with FEAMPA funds.

Between Chianalea and the castle you walk uphill: you need comfortable shoes.

Ruffo di Scilla Castle: opening hours and ticket

The Ruffo Castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 to 13:40 and from 15 to 20; on Mondays it is closed. The single ticket costs €3. Children up to 6 years of age and people with certified disabilities, together with their companion, enter for free. These are the timetables published by the Municipality of Scilla in the updated sheet on 29 June 2026: in autumn and winter it is advisable to confirm them at 0965 616629.

Entrance: from Piazza Matrice, along a ramp that leads to the reception office.
What you see: the access bridge, the pointed arched stone portal with the Ruffo coat of arms and the plaque of the sixteenth-century restoration, the courtyard and the staircase leading to the halls of the residence.
The lighthouse: built in 1913 to guide ships through the Strait, it is still in operation and managed by the Navy.

Marina Grande: the beach of Scilla

Marina Grande is the main beach of Scilla: about a kilometer of fine gravel between the fortress of the castle, to the north, and a second ridge of rock, to the south. In front runs the Cristoforo Colombo promenade. According to the Municipality, it is also accessible to people with disabilities and access is free.

On the south ridge there is the Belvedere Morselli, the first point you come across coming from Reggio or Villa San Giovanni on the state road 18. It houses the monument to the writer Ercole Luigi Morselli and overlooks the Strait and the town.

Scilla in every season: what changes

In summer: sea and swordfish

Between July and August, the average temperature in Reggio Calabria exceeds 27 °C and the sea reaches 26.5 °C (1991-2020 averages). It is the season for swimming in Marina Grande and for swordfish fishing. It is also the period with the most visitors: for Chianalea choose early morning or late afternoon.

In autumn: the village without crowds

In October the average is 20.9 °C and the sea remains around 22.5 °C; in November it drops to 16.9 °C, with the sea at 19.5 °C. Rainy days rise to 7 in October and 9 in November. Chianalea can be visited without queues and the castle can be visited calmly. It is the period of the Athena ETC package with two nights on the Strait, described below.

In winter: walks and views

Between December and February, the average temperature remains between 12 and 13.6 °C. The sea is below 17 °C and the beach is used for walking. On clear days, from the Belvedere Morselli and the castle, you can see the Sicilian coast. Check the opening of the castle before leaving and remember that it is closed on Mondays.

How to get to Scilla from Reggio Calabria

By regional train

The train is the easiest way: the Scilla station is located in Marina Grande, a few steps from the beach. We checked the Trenitalia timetables for Tuesday 13 and Sunday 18 October 2026, on the direct Reggio di Calabria Centrale-Scilla route.

Weekdays: 21 regional outward journeys, from 4:58 am to 7:56 pm, and 21 returns, from 6:28 am to 9:46 pm.
Sunday: 14 regional trains per direction. There are no regional trains between 11:53 and 14:43 on the outward journey; the last return to the regional train leaves Scilla at 8:36 pm.
Duration: between 25 and 44 minutes, depending on the journey.
Price: €2.70 each way, basic regional fare.

From the station the beach is immediately in front. For Chianalea you have to go up to the castle and go down the other side of the promontory.

By car

From Reggio, follow state road 18 northwards, passing through Villa San Giovanni: you enter the village from the Belvedere Morselli side.

With transport included

The Scilla Experience by Athena ETC departs from Piazza Indipendenza, in Reggio, and includes round-trip transport. You don't have to fit the visit into the train schedules, which is especially useful on Sundays.

How much time do you need to visit Scilla

For Chianalea, the castle and Marina Grande it takes 4-5 hours, including the trip from Reggio. The Scilla Experience lasts about 5 hours. If you also want the sea, a swordfish lunch and the sunset from the belvedere, calculate a full day. With two nights on the Strait, add the evening and an inland village.

What the organized visit adds

Scilla Experience: Half Day from Reggio

The Scilla Experience lasts about 5 hours and starts from Piazza Indipendenza, in Reggio Calabria. The program includes a walk through the alleys of Chianalea, the Ruffo Castle, the traditions of swordfish fishing and panoramic stops on the Strait.

Included: round trip transport, visit to Scilla and Chianalea.
Languages: Italian and English.
Difficulty: easy.
Price: from €40 per person, €32 for children under 12, with a progressive discount of 4% per person, up to a maximum of 32%.

Scilla and Chianalea, two nights on the Strait

The package lasts 2 nights and 3 days, for groups of 2 to 8 people, with departures on Fridays between October and November 2026. The dates on the calendar are 16, 23 and 30 October, 6, 13 and 20 November. Sleep at the B&B Around The World in Villa San Giovanni, with a terrace overlooking the sea.

First day: arrival and check-in from 3:30 pm to 11:59 pm, with a supplement of 10 € after 8 pm; free evening.
Second day: breakfast, private transfer to Borgo Croce, a hamlet of Fiumara known for its murals with Calabrian sayings, and guided tour. Then Scilla: exterior of the Ruffo Castle, descent on foot towards Chianalea, free lunch and return to the B&B in the afternoon.
Third day: breakfast and check-out by 10 am.
Included: 2 nights' accommodation with breakfast, private round-trip transport, certified guide, external tour of the castle, remote assistance.
Excluded: lunch, entrance to the castle, tourist tax, other transfers, personal expenses. The covered garage costs 10 € per night.

Languages: Italian and English. Non-smoking facility, pets not allowed.

How to book with Athena ETC

Athena ETC services are reserved for members: registration is done online from the Join us page. The experiences are on request: choose the date, indicate how many people you are and receive confirmation. You can find the half day on the Scilla Experience page and the stay on the Scilla and Chianalea package, two nights on the Strait. For groups and tailor-made requests, write to info@athenaetc.com or call +39 379 14 92 736.

Frequently Asked Questions about Scilla and Chianalea

How far is it from Scilla to Reggio Calabria?

About 22 km north, along the Tyrrhenian coast. By regional train from Reggio di Calabria Centrale it takes between 25 and 44 minutes.

How much does the train from Reggio to Scilla cost?

€2.70 each way with the basic Trenitalia regional fare, then €5.40 round trip.

How many train services are there from Reggio to Scilla?

On weekdays 21 direct regional per direction, on Sunday 14 (verification made for the dates of 13 and 18 October 2026).

How much does the Ruffo Castle ticket cost?

€3, single ticket. Free for children up to 6 years old and for people with certified disabilities with an accompanying person.

Is Castello Ruffo open on Mondays?

It opens from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Municipality's file updated in June 2026.

Where is Chianalea located in relation to the station?

On the other side of the castle promontory. The station is in Marina Grande: to get to Chianalea go up towards the castle and go back down north.

Is Chianalea part of the most beautiful villages in Italy?

Yes, the seaside district of Scilla is included in the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

When is swordfish fished in Scylla?

During the spring and summer migrations of fish in the Strait, with boats called catwalks or feluccas and sighting from the tree.

Can you swim in Scilla in October?

The sea in October has an average temperature of 22.5 °C (1991-2020 averages). On sunny days Marina Grande remains frequentable.

What does the Scilla Experience of Athena ETC include?

Round-trip transportation from Piazza Indipendenza to Reggio and a visit to Scilla and Chianalea, for about 5 hours. It costs from €40 per person, €32 under 12.

Scilla and Chianalea: guide to the fishing village, the castle and the sea