Calabria - Italy's best kept secret
Calabria, situated in the south western corner of Italy, south of Naples,
with only the Strait of Messina separating it from the delightful island of Sicily,
is one of Italy's best kept secrets amongst the multitude of Italians looking to
escape the heat of the city during the month of August. However, it is only recently
that the region has come to the attention of overseas investors and tourists.
The character of this beautiful region is formed by its breathtaking disparate landscape
of mountain ranges; Aspromonte and Serre to the south and Pollino to the north,
the central Sila plateau and miles of coastline with unspoilt sandy beaches, secluded
coves, dramatic cliff faces and charming traditional villages and established resorts
such as Scalea, Tropea and Zambrone, where everything stops for siesta.
The region comprises five provinces, each with its distinctive character. Reggio
Calabria, was historically capital of the province and is still the seat of the
regional parliament, however Cantanzaro has been the capital of the region since
the 1970's.
Geographically, Calabria has its own distinct individuality, due to its peripherical
and almost isolated position, compared with the rest of Italy, its characteristic
conformation and morphological structure.
The population of this fairly extensive region is slightly over 2 million, with
a population density lower than the national average.
Accessing Calabria has never been easier, served by airports at Reggio Calabria,
Crontone and a third at Lamezia Terme. Alternatively popular options are to fly
into Naples or Palermo (Sicily) and take advantage of the fantastic scenery via
train. There is also a direct intercity train from Rome to Tropea, Scalea and Consenza.
Calabria has enormous tourist potential. A wealth of splendid scenery lies along
the littoral which, including the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts stretches for nearly
800km and is characterised by a tremendous variety of panoramas, ranging from delightful
rocky coves (especially on the Tyrrhenian) to vast beaches fringing a clear sparkling
sea.
The magnificent inland area is dotted with tiny picturesque villages hugging the
hills that slope down to the water, with colourful and typically Mediterranean citrus
plantations and olive groves.
The Calabrian Region
Consenza ...
one of the largest towns of the area is famous for its historical
old town with cathedral which claims to house the grave of Isable Aragon, its twelth
century castle, the historic Piazza XV Marzo, and the University of Calabria dating
back to the ancient Greeks. It is also the best point from which to discover La
Sila National Park, which can be reached from Consenza by train. La Sila National
Park offers a beautiful countryside of lakes, waterfalls, dense forests and is home
to many species of wildlife and birds.
Tropea . . .
the most popular Calabrian resort amongst Italian tourists, conveys
a sense of history and grandeur, boasting pristine beaches, a patchwork of fragrant
cypress, citrus and olive groves and spectacular views from the ancient hilltop
castle across to the ring of smoke above the volcano at Stromboli.
Sila Grande . . .
an area reminiscent of the Alps boasts a unique landscape
of dense forests, waterfalls and lakes with stunning sea views and the snow capped
mountains of Sila Grande. In the winter the stretch between Monte Curcio and Monte
Botte Donato boasts a fantastic cross country ski run.
The Tyrrhenian coast . . .
of Calabria is quite varied and extraordinary
to say the least. It is especially rugged in the areas of Capo Vaticano, Monte S.
Elia and along the Costa Viola, while in other areas it expands into low lying areas
bordered by dazzling beaches. The most noticeable geographic feature which gives
the landscape its picturesque appearance are the marine terraces. This is a phenomenon
caused by the waves of the sea that level out the rocky coastline. The most striking
example of these terraces are in the areas of Capo Bonifati, Nocera Terinese, Falerna
and the western side of Aspromonte.
The Aeolian Islands
are a volcanic archipelago located just off
the western coast of Calabria, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Famed for their perfect weather
and a series of active volcanoes, the Aeolian Islands have a strong tourism industry
and can be visited on daily cruise ferries from Tropea and Zambrone Marinas.
The archipelago was colonised by the Greeks around 580 BC and named after the God
of the Wind Aeolus. The principal islands are Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi,
Stromboli, Panarea and Vulcano. Here you'll find beautiful scenery, castles, thermal
resorts and of course, great beaches.
Pizzo Calabro . . .
is a very picturesque city created in the late medieval
period and retains evidence of such in its buildings like the castle of 'Gioacchino
Murat' built by Ferdinando I D'Aragona. Gioacchino Murat's name was given to the
castle to commemorate his execution in 1815 when he failed to recapture the kingdom
of Napoli
The church of S. Francesco di Paola is a very small grotto like church, where all
the devout locals go to mass.
Pizzo is well know for its local ice cream 'tartufo' and people come from miles
away to sample the local speciality, and also 'Spaghetti al Nero' - Spaghetti with
cuttle fish ink.
Reggio Calabria . .
It's worth going to just to see the famous Bronzes
of Riace; these rare examples of Greek statues are housed in the National Archaeological
Museum. The beautiful Cathedral is also well worth a visit.
Capo Vaticano . . .
Situated in the borough of Ricadi, is considered
a breathtaking, panoramic coast not only in the Italian geographic area, but in
the whole of the Mediterranean. Capo Vaticano is characterised by its small bays,
sandy beaches and coastline rich in natural greenery, wild flowers and trees. Some
of the places to visit here are; Santa Maria, Formicoli and Baia de Riaci.
Sellia Marina . . .
is a small municipality situated on the Ionian coast
in the province of Catanzaro. With its crystal clear sea, it is an important seaside
resort equipped with good services and all kinds of amenities for tourists.
Italians have always holidayed here drawn to its fine sandy beaches, blue green
waters, promenade and authentic old town with picturesque streets where you can
find traditional restaurants serving the most delicious gourmet food.
Soverato . . .
Once only the holiday playground of Italians visiting from the North, the secret
is out and is set to become more and more popular with
visitors from across Europe.