About
Locri is a town on the Ionian coast of Calabria, in southern Italy, and it is best known for the ruins of Locri Epizefiri, the ancient Greek colony that stood here. For visitors interested in the classical world, it offers a chance to walk among the remains of a city founded in the 7th century BC, when Greek settlers established their presence along this part of the Italian coast, known in antiquity as Magna Graecia.
The ancient city
The archaeological area preserves a number of striking remains. Visitors can see the outlines of temples, the traces of a theatre, and sections of the city walls that once defined the settlement. Because the site is spread across open ground, it rewards a slow walk, with time to stop at each area and read the information about how the city was laid out and used.
The national museum
The nearby national archaeological museum holds finds from the colony and its surroundings. Its collection helps place the ruins in context, bringing everyday and ceremonial objects from the Greek city into view. Many visitors find it worth seeing before or after the site, since the artifacts add detail to what can otherwise be a quiet, open landscape of stone.
Planning a visit
- Allow time for both the archaeological area and the museum, which are close to each other.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as much of the site involves uneven ground.
- Check opening arrangements in advance, as these can vary.
Locri suits travellers who want history without large crowds, and who are happy to combine ruins, a museum and a stretch of the Calabrian coast in one trip.
