A rock arch the sea carved through the headland, and inside the arch a secret little beach with a freshwater spring: the Arcomagno of San Nicola Arcella is the coup de théâtre of the Citron Riviera, tied by legend to the Saracen ships that hid here. The late-afternoon light, entering exactly through the arch, has made this corner one of Calabria's most sought photographs.
Land access is capped in the hot months to protect the path.
Our tip: arrive by sea, pedalo or kayak from San Nicola, avoiding queues and sparing the fragile trail; the right hour is after 5pm, when the sun threads the arch and the water becomes a lamp.