Zungri Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Zungri
Zungri
Zungri
Zungri
Zungri

Explore the roomy cave dwellings of medieval monks in the open-air museum and enjoy the eerie silence in the abandoned village.

Zungri is an otherworldly hilltop village known for its pockmarked sandstone cliffs. The grottoes and crevasses in the rock formations, which were used for hermitages and monasteries, create a varied and intriguing landscape. Learn about the Basilian monks who dwelled in these caves.

The hills of the village are adorned with hundreds of grottoes, varying in size and appearance. Visit the Insediamento Rupestre Degli Sbariati for a museum on the most intricate of these rock cavities. The site stands in the southeastern outskirts of the town.

Clamber into the cave dwellings for a sense of the conditions in which these monks lived between the 12th and 14th centuries. Make your way up and down the carved steps and through the spacious rooms of the caves. Walk along carved paths that link the many caves, which are sheltered by trees and other limestone rocks. Warm, dry summers provide perfect conditions for hiking around these spectacular surroundings. July is the driest month, while winters are mild and a little wetter.

Spend time in the nearby abandoned village of Papaglionti. This centuries-old hamlet formerly prospered as a large producer of wheat and olives, before several large earthquakes led to its desertion. Snap photos of the derelict buildings that are gradually falling apart.

Arrive in Zungri for the festival L’Infiorata on the ninth Sunday after Easter. Inspect the array of colorful carpets, pictures made from flowers and other works that decorate the streets. Appreciate the sights, sounds and scents, as you chat with friendly locals.

The village is located in the heart of the Vibo Valentia province in Calabria of southern Italy. It is near the coastal towns of Tropea and Capo Vaticano. Fly to Lamezia Terme International Airport and drive south for 35 miles (56 kilometers) to get here in about 1 hour. Travel between some of the nearby coastal towns via the railway links.

Zungri is an exceptional gem, with its cratered limestone rocks and fascinating history.

Hotel Umberto
Hotel Umberto
3 out of 5
Via Sp 22 Tropea/S. Domenica, S. Domenica, Ricadi, VV
The price is ₹5,655 per night from 29 Jul to 30 Jul
₹5,655
₹6,621 total
29 Jul - 30 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Ricadi. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Tropea Beach and Rotonda Beach are located ...
8/10 Very Good! (129 reviews)
"The front desk people were very helpful and patient. We were very close to downtown and could buy a converter just a few blocks from the hotel. It is a nice property with cute balconies. Breakfast at the terrace was nice and relaxing."

Reviewed on 20 Sep 2024

Hotel Umberto
Hotel Tropis
Hotel Tropis
4 out of 5
Contrada Fontana Nuova, Tropea, VV
The price is ₹15,662 per night from 28 Jul to 29 Jul
₹15,662
₹18,030 total
28 Jul - 29 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Tropea. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Tropea Beach and Rotonda Beach are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (178 reviews)
"Nicola and Benito and staff went above and beyond to accommodate us from calling taxis to arranging train rides"

Reviewed on 16 Jun 2025

Hotel Tropis
TUI MAGIC LIFE Calabria - All Inclusive
TUI MAGIC LIFE Calabria - All Inclusive
4 out of 5
Contrada Difesa II, Pizzo, VV
Stay at this 4-star spa resort in Pizzo. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Pizzo Beach and Marina di Curinga are located ...
9/10 Wonderful! (109 reviews)
Great hotel!
"Hotel was amazing, very clean, facilities were great- lots to do. Food & staff were incredible!"

Reviewed on 3 Jun 2025

TUI MAGIC LIFE Calabria - All Inclusive
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
CapoSperone Resort
CapoSperone Resort
4 out of 5
Contrada Malopasso, 106, Palmi, RC
Stay at this 4-star spa residence in Palmi. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Tonnara Beach and Taurean Archeological ...
8/10 Very Good! (38 reviews)
Nice grounds but basic room
"Stayed here for one night. Grounds are very pretty and hotel is based on the side of quite a steep hill so quite a lot of stairs and ramps. There are some lifts to parts of property but not all and they are in odd locations, for example one led to a pitch black banquet hall that you needed to pass ..."

Reviewed on 3 Oct 2022

CapoSperone Resort
Pietre Bianche
Pietre Bianche
3 out of 5
Via Provinciale per Vibo Marina, Località Ponte di Ferro, Pizzo, VV
Stay at this 3-star beach residence in Pizzo. Enjoy free parking, an airport shuttle (surcharge) and a cruise terminal shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (35 reviews)
Pizzo town lovely
"A local resort type hotel with a pool. We were just overnighting so can’t comment on the facilities, but could have been a bit cleaner and found the beds a bit hard. Pizzo town was lovely though!"

Reviewed on 3 Jul 2024

Pietre Bianche
Residence Felix
Residence Felix
Località Gurdurello , 1, 40, Ricadi, VV
Stay at this apartment in Ricadi. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Riaci Beach and Tropea Beach are located ...
"Lino y todo su personal son muy amables. Muy recomendada la residencia"

Reviewed on 9 Sep 2024

Residence Felix
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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