Monte Sant'Elia rises behind Palmi and gives the town its great natural balcony. The summit looks over the Costa Viola, the Strait of Messina, Sicily, and, in exceptionally clear weather, the Aeolian Islands.
It is a good choice when the beach is too hot or too crowded. Roads and paths climb from the town side, but the final experience is simple: stand above the sea and see why this stretch of Calabria has such a dramatic reputation.