Scalea divides neatly between the hilltop old town and the modern beach resort below. The Borgo Antico is by far the more interesting half — a labyrinth of lanes, archways, and staircases clinging to the rock, with the Torre del Cimalonga watching over everything from the summit. Below, the long Tyrrhenian beach is clean and well-equipped, and the Lao river gorge to the south offers a complete change of scene. The area around Scalea is still relatively undiscovered by international tourists, which keeps prices low and the atmosphere genuine.