Praia a Mare

Praia a Mare is a beginner-friendly Tyrrhenian coastal site in Calabria, southern Italy — a small but easy takeoff at ~600 m ASL that's perfect for gentle thermal flights. It's very hard to get strong wind here, and average pilots typically make 9–15 km cross-countries reaching around 1,500 m. Access to the launch is by 4WD or the school's minibus. It's an official school flying site; contact the local school before using the takeoff.

Launch & conditions

Small but easy takeoff at ~600 m ASL.

Getting there & local rules

By car from the north: motorway exit Lagonegro Nord, then follow signs for Praia a Mare. Access to takeoff requires a 4WD or the local school's minibus (which brings you up easily to 600 m). Landing: mandatory as marked. Anywhere in winter; ask the school for the official summer LZ.

Local rules & hazards

Official school flying site — contact the local school before using the takeoff (not private, but locals have invested a lot to build and maintain it). Watch for school pilots during activity. Best window: 11:00–17:00 in summer, 12:00–15:00 in winter. Watch for SSW wind at landing — it usually creates turbulence behind the Isle of Dino.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Praia a Mare, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Praia a Mare with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.