Coccorino: Beaches, Coves and Village History

Coccorino is considered a village with panoramic views, located 285 metres above sea level. The coast and Chiesa di San Mercurio Martire represent two different sides of the destination: coves and beaches on the one hand, and religious architectural history on the other. If you are looking for hotels in Coccorino, you can take these points of interest into account when choosing where to stay and first decide whether the coast or the village’s history—or both—will be the deciding factor.

Beaches and coves

Spiaggia Tirujiu is one of Coccorino’s named beaches and is a small natural cove with clear water and pale rocks. The beach is mainly made up of pebbles and smooth, rounded rocks, with smaller stretches of sand. If you are expecting a sandy beach, bear this surface in mind: Tirujiu is predominantly pebbly and rocky. According to the description, the rocky seabed is also suitable for snorkelling. A pyramidal rock in front of Spiaggia Tirujiu forms a narrow, deep cove beside the beach. The beach surface and the shape of the cove are two distinct features: pebbles, smooth, rounded rocks and stretches of sand make up the seabed, while the pyramidal rock forms the narrow, deep cove.

Spiaggia Le Saline is located in the Baia del Corsaro area of Coccorino. If you want to distinguish between the two beach names, Le Saline is associated with Baia del Corsaro, while Tirujiu can be identified by its small cove and predominantly pebbly, rocky surface.

Church and village history

Chiesa di San Mercurio Martire is considered Coccorino’s most important religious building. It was built in the early years of the 13th century. Later reconstructions followed the 1783 earthquake; the original part cannot be distinguished from them. The year of the earthquake therefore marks a later point in the building’s history, not the date of its construction. The church has a semi-elliptical floor plan and a single nave. These details relate to two different aspects of the building: the floor plan describes its shape, while the nave is its main interior space. This distinction is useful when considering its architecture, since the overall shape and the division of its interior can be considered separately. The church has been restored and structurally reinforced; these interventions are also part of its building history.

Visiting and getting your bearings

Grotta dell’Aspide can only be reached by swimming or on foot; check the conditions before visiting. This is a different planning consideration from the surface at Tirujiu: at Grotta dell’Aspide, the key point is how to get there, whereas at Tirujiu it is the pebbly, rocky surface and the described suitability for snorkelling.

An older local route description mentions a winding mountain road from the village of Coccorino, following the sign for the Juncari spring. According to the description, the drive took you to a point about 500 metres from the sea. Check the road conditions locally before planning the drive.

Discover more destinations: Sant'onofrio, Pizzo, Acquaro, Limbadi, Serra San Bruno, Drapia, Gasponi, Briatico

For the wider travel overview: Vibo Valentia.