Forty kilometres up the coast from Crotone, the hills around Cirò and the seaside town of Cirò Marina produce the wine by which Calabria is known. Cirò became the region’s first DOC in 1969. The red and the rosato are made from Gaglioppo, a local grape that gives pale-coloured but firm, spicy wines; the white comes from Greco Bianco.
Locals like to say the tradition goes back to the Greeks of ancient Krimisa, who are supposed to have offered their wine to athletes returning from the Olympic games. Whatever the truth, vines have covered these slopes for a very long time, and a new generation of growers has brought Cirò back onto serious wine lists.
Beyond wine there is a medieval hill town, a long sandy shore and the low cape of Punta Alice, where a temple of Apollo once stood.
Top things to do at Cirò & Cirò Marina
Visit a winery
Several estates welcome visitors for a cellar tour and tasting, generally by appointment. Booking through a guided tasting saves the phone calls and guarantees someone is there to receive you.
Walk the old town of Cirò
The upper town, a few kilometres inland, keeps its castle, lanes and views over the vineyards to the sea. It was the birthplace of Luigi Lilio, the 16th-century astronomer whose calculations underlie the Gregorian calendar.
Spend a day on the beach at Cirò Marina
Kilometres of sand and pebble with clean water and plenty of lidos in summer, backed by a lively seafront.
Go out to Punta Alice
Near the lighthouse are the scant remains of the sanctuary of Apollo Aleo and, nearby, the arcaded Mercati Saraceni.
How to get to Cirò & Cirò Marina
- By car: about 40 minutes north of Crotone on the SS106.
- By train: Cirò station on the Ionian line is served by a few regional trains a day between Crotone and Sibari; it is at Cirò Marina, not in the hill town.
- By tour: one of the bookable winery tours includes minivan transport.
Insider tips
- Harvest is usually in September and early October — the most atmospheric time to visit, but the busiest for the wineries.
- Try the rosato chilled with fish and the red with lamb or aged pecorino.
- If you are driving, share a tasting or use the spittoon: the SS106 demands a clear head.
Best tours & tickets for Cirò & Cirò Marina
These experiences pair well with a visit to Cirò & Cirò Marina:
Wine tasting from €25 Cirò: Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Local Snacks
The simplest way into Calabria’s best-known wine: a guided cellar visit in Cirò followed by three wines and a board of local salumi, aged cheese and bread. You need your own transport to reach the winery, about 40 minutes north of Crotone.
- Guided visit to a Cirò winery
- Taste three wines of your choice
- Board of local cured meats, cheeses and bread
Wine tour from €120 Cirò Marina: Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Transportation
The same wine country without the question of who drives home. A minivan takes you to a winery at Cirò Marina for a guided visit and a tasting of Cirò DOC wines with traditional products. Check the pick-up area on the listing when you book.
- Minivan transport included
- Tasting of Cirò DOC wines
- Traditional local products
