Riace

Italy, Italy

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Riace is a small coastal town in Calabria, southern Italy, on the Ionian Sea not far from the city of Reggio Calabria, known both for its long sandy beaches and its striking cultural history.

It sits a few kilometers inland in a historic hilltop village connected to the sea‑facing hamlet of Riace Mare, where calm, clear waters and fine sand make it a quiet seaside destination popular with swimmers and divers. The town gained international fame when two ancient Greek bronze statues known as the Riace Bronzes were discovered in the sea nearby in 1972; these masterpieces are now on display in the National Museum of Magna Graecia in Reggio Calabria and are closely associated with Riace’s identity.

In more recent years, Riace became widely known for its “Riace model” of hospitality, welcoming hundreds of migrants and refugees into its abandoned homes, which helped revitalize the village and turn it into a symbol of integration and community‑driven renewal.