Home » Discover Italy » Calabria
Calabria is on the tip of the boot, the extreme south of Italy, lapped by the splendid crystal blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina. The warm climate, the beautiful colours of the sea, rocky coasts alternated to sandy beaches, the wild and mysterious nature, the strong and genuine flavours of local food and the vestiges of its ancient origins make Calabria a unique place to admire both in winter and summer.
Any wish can be fulfilled. Those who love nature, its scents and mysteries, can explore the Calabrian hinterland, discovering pure and unpolluted sceneries, where huge green belts alternate with blue lakes and falls.
On the other hand, those who prefer basking in the warm rays of the sun and dive into a crystal-clear sea can choose from the many charming towns along the long Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts. Instead those who prefer to learn about the past of this region, Calabria, the cradle of Magna Graecia and land of ancient settlements, offers a wide choice of churches, monasteries, castles, palaces and places where age-long traditions still survive.
The provinces of Calabria are: Catanzaro (regional capital), Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, Crotone and Vibo Valentia.
The whole world knows the famous Riace Bronzes, which are on display in the National Museum of Reggio Calabria and are an important vestige of Magna Graecia, a period that deeply marked the history of this region. These beautiful statues, representing two warrior heroes, are a rare example of classical Greek sculptural art.
With its 800 km of coasts, Calabria offers a wide choice of splendid beaches to sea lovers, including Capo Vaticano, in the province of Vibo Valentia, defined as one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world: a long tract of fine sand surrounded by age-old trees and lapped by crystal-clear water teeming with a variegated fish fauna.
An immersion into the wilderness of the Calabrian hinterland is an unmissable opportunity, while the National Parks of Sila, Serre, Aspromonte and Pollino are among the most interesting naturalistic destinations. The “torrents” and the “big stones” of Aspromonte, the “vegetable patriarchs” of Sila, the rich fauna of Serre are just some of the natural wonders offered by this region.
When we speak about Calabria, we think of the sea and the marvellous beaches to bask on.
Besides, these clear waters with thousands of hues are also a natural “gym” where one can go windsurfing, kite-surfing or scuba-diving and discover a wonderful seabed that houses colourful horny corals and intriguing wreckages from the Second World War.
Calabria offers many opportunities to have fun and relax for those who decide to spend their holidays in the hinterland. The National Parks, which cover most part of the hinterland, offer a wide range of proposals to satisfy all demands.
The most “traditional” can choose one of the many ski resorts, equipped with artificial slopes to ski all the year round.
Those who love challenges cannot miss the chance to experience a rafting excursion along the Lao river or through the Sila gorges. Alternatively, the river can be descended without the aid of special boats but simply by “walking”, diving into the water and descending with a rope in the most difficult tracts (canyoning). The support of expert guides makes these enchanting sports accessible to anyone.
Another possibility to learn and have fun at the same time is orienteering, a sport that was born in the Scandinavian countries to test the sense of direction. The participants, equipped with a map and a compass, must reach the goal in the shortest time; they can choose independently the route to take but they have to reach some preset intermediate stops.
And why not try the emotion of “flying” over these breathtaking landscapes? Specialized instructors will bring you among up in the sky, firmly hooked to a paraglider’s saddle to show you the beauty of Calabria from an entirely different viewpoint.
Calabria is a land of strong and intense emotions just like its flavours and the famous Calabrian hot pepper can prove it.
We can find it in most Calabrian typical dishes: from toasted bread with n’duja sausage or sardines – called the “caviar of the poor” – to pork sausages, from pasta sauces to fish dishes.
The strong flavour of hot pepper contrasts with the sweet taste of the Tropea red onion, protected by the PGI quality mark. This onion is used to season dishes but also for curative purposes.
We could write a book on Calabrian products and typical dishes. Extra-virgin olive oil, wines, bergamot liqueurs, liquorice, citron and herbs, honey and jams, special types of home-made pasta (strangugghj, fileja, maccaruni) that are made even today using old methods are just some of the delicacies you can taste while exploring this amazing region.
Basilicata is embedded between Calabria and Apulia , in the south of Italy. One does not stumble across this region accidentally but chooses to visit it if in search of a new experience, plunging into places where silence, colours, scents and flavours remove the visitor from the frenzy and stress ...
Campania is one of the regions in Southern Italy and stretches along the Tyrrhenian Sea, from the mouth of the Garigliano River to the Gulf of Policastro. The mildness of the climate, the beauty of the coasts, the richness of its art and history and the love for food make Campania an ...
Liguria is in the north-west of Italy and borders with France. This region has impressive mountains and sweet hills, colored by the green Mediterranean turf and overlooking the Ligurian Sea with high and indented coasts. This region has multiple facets, different yet indissolubly bound ...
Precious sea areas, not far from the mountains and from natural paradisiac oases. The province of Crotone is relatively young, founded in 1992 by separating part of the territory formerly included in the province of Catanzaro, now bordering on South-West, while the province of Cosenza borders on ...
Italy, the country of excellence Italy is the ideal destination for business tourism: many international airports, appropriate infrastructures and breathtaking landscapes. It’s no wonder that the “Bel Paese” stands out as the favourite place for congressional tourism. Its amazing ...
A land of religion and spirituality As the heart of one of the world's most significant religions , Italy has always been a destination for those who have made their faith a way of life and who wish to explore the roots of a world that has produced art, architecture, and objects of ...
Italy, a land of sport and adventure Italy offers endless and amazing opportunities for those seeking a vacation dedicated to sports and physical activity - for those who want to be in close contact with nature both during the summer and the winter, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and unique ...
Italy, a land of coasts and beaches Italy is the ideal destination for a seaside vacation. It boasts around 8,000 km of coastline, lapped by the waves of the Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian, the Ionian, the Ligurian, and the Sardinian Seas. From north to south, stretches of sandy beaches alternate with ...
Tropea is a small town of ancient history, deeply rooted not only in its archaeological finds, but also in the mythological origins credited to it, such as its legendary foundation by Hercules. Some studies state that its name, Tropea, may stem from some trophies which could be seen from the sea.
The Sorrento Peninsula has splendid coasts dropping to the sea covered in luxuriant vegetation. Sorrento stands on a tufaceous terrace at the foot of the Monti Lattari; its bay is equipped with bathing establishments and a tourist harbour that offers connections to the islands of the Campania ...
The turquoise sea and the modern bathing structures welcome us along the coast of Diamante, a town that lies amongst cedar woods and which the murals, painted by contemporary artists, have transformed into a sort of open-air museum.
The poet Gabriele d'Annunzio called this stretch of the esplanade of Reggio di Calabria 'the most beautiful kilometre in Italy'. From here it is possible to admire the profile of Sicily, which sparkles beyond the Straits of Messina in the evening. Palms, magnolias and exotic plants transform the ...
The ruins of 'Reghion', a Greek colony founded in a strategic position, are held in the National Museum of Reggio di Calabria. Fundamental for the understanding of Greek civilisation, the museum is considered one of the most important in southern Italy. Thousands of tourists come to see the ...
