Diamante, Calabria: The City of Murals
Diamante, a charming seaside town on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a popular tourist destination in Calabria. It is nestled between the foothills of Mount La Caccia and the crystal seawaters that kiss the coastline proudly known as the Riviera del Cedro.
It’s unsure where the name Diamante comes from but, of course, there are a few theories. Some will say the name comes from the Romans who during their trading routes stopped at the mouth of a river which they called Fiume Diamante or Diamond River to trade.
Others tell the tale of a black crow that was found in the Corvino River (once known as the Fiume Diamante) with a huge diamond in its beak.
Regardless of the origins of its name, the town came to life in the 1500s when Prince Sanseverino ordered the construction of a defensive tower to protect against the Saracen raids that were prevalent during that period. In fact, you can still see many defensive towers scattered along the coastline today like this one in San Nicola Arcella.
Eventually, the population settled closer to the sea turning to fishing and agriculture for its livelihood. One of its most important products was (and still is) the citrus fruit called “cedro” which is produced along this coastline – hence the name Riviera del Cedro.
The Murals of Diamante
So, what makes this seaside town so special for visitors? Simple, its historic centre. The historic centre of Diamante is like no other thanks to its over 150 murals.
Diamante is now commonly called “La Citta dei Murales” or The City of Murals thanks to Nani Razetti, a painter who came to the small town with an interesting idea back in 1981.
The Milan-born painter created an initiative that he believed would revive the historic centre. He invited 83 painters, both Italian and foreign, to paint large murals on the old town walls. The idea took life and each year artists added more murals. Nani Razetti passed away in 2013, but his legacy lives on in the old town of Diamante.
The historic centre of Diamante is a real treat. The small alleyways create a labyrinth perfect for wandering and getting lost in. You’ll discover incredible works of art as you turn every corner.
I literally spent hours strolling through the old town. And even though you expect to see a ton of murals, it’s still quite remarkable. I can’t tell you how many times my eyes lit up with excitement. I often had to catch my breath as I discovered yet another gorgeous work of art before my eyes.
And I certainly wasn’t the only one. As you make your way around the town you will certainly bump into (literally) other people. And they will likely have a wide-eyed look of amazement on their faces. Diamante is a truly unique experience and a must-see when visiting Calabria.
How To Get There
If you don’t have a car, no worries. You can easily take the train to the Diamante-Buonvicino station (times and prices vary so check the Trenitalia website) and from there it’s a short 10-minute walk to the historic centre. You can choose to walk through the town or take the slightly longer route along the boardwalk. I recommend the boardwalk so you can enjoy the gorgeous coastline.
Have you ever been to Diamante? Do you know any other cities or towns famous for murals? Let me know in the comments below.
Also, don’t forget to follow me on the Calabrisella Mia Facebook Page and Instagram.
Comments are closed.
Chloe Arnold
January 10, 2020 at 4:59 pmHow have I never heard of Diamante before? It looks gorgeous! I love small towns that combine art and natural beauty!
Norma
January 10, 2020 at 2:34 pmDiamante looks like an awesome place to visit. The murals are beautiful and it’s so nice that you can just walk around the city and enjoy the art work. Nice that you can take a train to visit and walk along the boardwalk to enjoy the coastline.
LuLu
January 11, 2020 at 9:30 amThanks, Norma! Diamante is a wonderful place to visit – it offers art, sea, and good Calabrian food! It’s the perfect day trip when visiting Calabria! 🙂
Erica (The Prepping Wife)
January 10, 2020 at 1:11 pmThis was a brand new experience to learn about this city through your blog, and I’m so glad you’re sharing such an unknown region of Italy. It is certainly gorgeous, and I could get lost wandering around to look at all of the murals. So much to take in and absorb! The city seems very rich in history, and those are my favorite places to visit.
LuLu
January 11, 2020 at 9:28 amThank you so much, Erica! There are so many hidden gems in Calabria and southern Italy. It is such a pleasure to share them with others! 🙂
Live Learn Better
January 10, 2020 at 1:28 amWhen you’re asked if there’s any other best thing after slice bread tell them it’s diamante-calabria. The scenery is so appealing and inviting. Hope you’re enjoying your stay there?
Thank you so much for sharing.
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:51 amIt’s a lovely place! I’ve been there a few times and each time I’m finding new works for art! 🙂
Ivana Mearns
January 10, 2020 at 12:05 amThese all look amazing, it’s fascinating to see street art from around the world, thanks for sharing all these photos, I really love the one with the raven and the diamond, so unique!
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:53 amThe raven was one of my faves, too! 🙂
Lindsay Brown
January 9, 2020 at 3:35 pmDiamante looks absolutely beautiful and seems to have a very rich history. Those murals are stunning! I love going to a city where there is an abundance of art to see, especially when just walking the streets. Thank you so much for sharing this, I loved reading about it!
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:54 amThanks so much for your comment, I’m so pleased you liked my post on Diamante! 🙂
Daphne Takahashi
January 9, 2020 at 1:51 pmwhat a beautiful and artistic city! love urban art and this ones have lots of styles! gorgeous! thanks for sharing!
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:55 amThank you for stopping by! 🙂 I am a fan of urban art and you are totally right, here there are SO many different styles, ideas, it’s really a pleasure to wander around and admire these pieces!
Smita
January 9, 2020 at 9:06 amI honestly had to google the place first so I could know where exactly it is on the map! It sounds like such an amazing place – your pictures, especially of the coastline are stunning! Love the murals – remind me a bit of Lyon which also has a tradition of lots of murals in and around the historic town centre.
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:56 amIt’s not well-known outside of Italy, but Diamante and Calabria are definitely worth discovering!
Sonia Seivwright
January 9, 2020 at 8:20 amI actually like this city. Diamante. The art on the walls are very creative and colourful.
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:56 amI’m glad you liked it! 🙂
Subhashish Roy
January 8, 2020 at 6:41 pmLoved learning about this city of murals. Such a beautiful place and an amazing historic center. Would love to be there sometime.
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:57 amI love old towns and this one is one of my favorites! I’ve been a few times and love taking visitors there when they pass through Calabria.
The Sunny Side Lifestyle Co.
January 8, 2020 at 1:18 pmThank you for the peek into Diamante, Calabria. In addition to the stunning coastline, the murals provide beautiful insight into what makes this town unique. Exploring Diamante for a day would be such a fun adventure!
LuLu
January 10, 2020 at 8:58 amIt’s a great day trip! I took my mom last year and she absolutely loved it! It was also lovely to see others walking around in awe at all the artwork!
Kileen
January 8, 2020 at 4:50 amWow, such a beautiful city and loving these stunning murals. Definitely need to visit sometime!!
Kileen
cute & little
LuLu
January 8, 2020 at 11:04 amIt is definitely a treat if you like quaint villages and art! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Kelly Martin
January 8, 2020 at 12:35 amI haven’t heard of Diamanté before but it looks like a beautiful place to visit. The murals are amazing. It would be so nice to wander around looking at the street art.
LuLu
January 8, 2020 at 11:03 amThank you, it’s definitely a wonderful little town with a unique twist. I am a big fan of street art so I absolutely loved just wandering around the small cobblestone streets and peeking around every corner to see what I might discover.
Scott DeNicola
January 7, 2020 at 3:54 pmI love reading your stuff Lulu and learning a bit about the history of my ancestors and seeing the beauty of Calabria. Oddly enough I had heard about the murals in Diamante perhaps on the Travel Channel or some other TV show. They are spectacular. I hope to one day see them in person. Keep up the good work.
LuLu
January 8, 2020 at 11:02 amThank you so much, your words mean a lot to me! I love sharing information about this beautiful (and often ignored) region of Italy! I’m so pleased that you are able to learn more about your heritage through my blog! There is much more to come, so I hope you’ll come back! 🙂 The murals are incredible, we spent hours getting lost in the city centre and finding so many incredible murals (old and new). It’s nice to know that it’s getting noticed outside of Calabria and Italy!
KareninCalabria
October 5, 2019 at 9:02 pmI first visited Diamante a number of years ago and coincidentally I was just there a few days ago! I agree that the town is really pleasant to stroll through. Its position on the water combined with the narrow alleyways with murals seems to beg visitors to explore. Plus, it’s completely different during the day and at night.
LuLu
October 17, 2019 at 9:36 amYes, it’s so true. I’ve visited during the day and also in the evening and it’s definitely different! It seems the old town is constantly changing with new murals and the wear and tear on the old ones! 🙂
Luci
October 4, 2019 at 5:30 amThat is a really beautiful little town. The art is as beautiful. My favorite piece of art is the Raven.
LuLu
October 5, 2019 at 4:35 pmThanks for stopping by my blog, I’m glad you liked this town! I have to agree, the raven is quite impressive!
Leanne Wong
October 2, 2019 at 1:45 amWhat a beautiful town! Thanks for sharing these murals at Diamante.
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:50 pmThanks so much for reading my blog! I’m glad you liked it!
Diana
October 1, 2019 at 6:55 pmThose murals are so beautiful! The lion is my favorite!
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:48 pmI loved the colours of the lion!!
Stine Mari
October 1, 2019 at 5:08 pmThat town is so interesting, I would love to wander the streets there. The murals are absolutely amazing!
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:48 pmI love wandering old towns and this one was an amazing experience!
Kristin
October 1, 2019 at 12:58 pmThe city sounds and looks amazing! I love the morals especially the one of the little boy with those pleading eyes. Thank you for sharing about this diamond city!
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:42 pmThe little boy mural literally stopped me in my tracks! I’m so glad you enjoyed learning about this wonderful town!
Courtney
September 30, 2019 at 9:10 pmOh my! Thank you for introducing me to this lovely town! I never heard of it till now and the murals are just exquisite!
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:39 pmThank you for your comment! I’m so happy to share these lesser-known places with people! 🙂 The murals are so much more incredible in person!
Giovanna
September 28, 2019 at 1:50 pmWhat an incredible town, these murals so beautiful! I’d love to visit one day.
LuLu
September 28, 2019 at 9:16 pmThanks, cara! I need to go back, there are so many murals I haven’t seen yet!
Bismah Bonnie
October 3, 2019 at 7:02 pmLooks like a beautiful place to visit. I love learning about historical events and the life of people from around the world.
LuLu
October 3, 2019 at 8:51 pmIt’s a wonderful small town perfect to just get lost in and enjoy the amazing art work at every corner!
Image Earth Travel
September 25, 2019 at 2:14 pmLove the murals in Diamante but also the gorgeous historic centre and its labyrinth of cobbled alleyways.
Am going back there in a couple of weeks with family and guests that are visiting us in Cosenza. Can’t wait to show them this stunning town!
LuLu
September 26, 2019 at 10:55 amEnjoy! Maybe this time you’ll be able to find the map! 🙂