The old town of Amantea climbs the hill above the modern seafront on a maze of stepped lanes, archways, and small piazzas. Most of the buildings are 17th and 18th century, layered over older medieval and Byzantine foundations. The big landmark is the Convent of San Bernardino at the top of the rise; below it sit the church of San Biagio, an arched cisterna probably of Arab origin, and the old town hall.
The climb is steep but short, and almost every alley opens onto a view of the Tyrrhenian. Local kids play football in the main square, and a couple of small bars on the way up are good places to break the walk. Best in the late afternoon, when the stone glows orange and the worst of the day's heat is off.