10 Reasons to Visit Calabria

Have you ever heard of the southern Italian region of Calabria? Meanwhile, Calabria is gaining more and more recognition from tourists both from Italy and abroad. The Italian government has attracted and continues to attract a large number of investments in the development of the region’s infrastructure so that Calabria is as convenient as possible for recreation.

Calabria is a unique region with diverse landscapes, where the mountains romantically meet the sea. Calabria is washed by two seas – the Tyrrhenian in the west and the Ionian in the east. It takes no more than an hour to get from one coast to the other, and the height of one coast is 300 m, and the second is 1000 m above sea level. This feature, as well as many other advantages and attractions, make Calabria a desirable holiday destination for many tourists.

We would like to share with you 10 reasons that will certainly convince you to choose Calabria for your next summer holiday. 

1. Dive into history

Santa Severina with its numerous churches and architectural monuments of different eras is considered one of the pearls of Calabria. The year is especially loved by Italians, who do not leave this amazing town without their attention. The city was founded by Enotri, an ancient Italian people, Santa Severina became a major religious center during the Byzantine period. Among the monuments of ancient architecture, it is necessary to note the Cathedral, built by Ruggero Stefanunzi between 1275 and 1295. At the moment, only the portico has remained in its original form, while all other parts of the building were rebuilt at the time for Archbishop Carlo Berlingeri at the end of the 17th century.

2. Take a walk through Sila National Park

The symbol of the Sila National Park is the Apennine wolf. Having visited the park, you can spend a wonderful day in nature, ride mountain bikes, horses and even canoe, watch birds and of course take a lot of colorful photos. And if you are tired, you can stop by to rest in the neighboring villages and get acquainted with local traditions and crafts:  weaving, jewelry production, sheep breeding, processing of dairy products, meat and porcini mushrooms.

3. Admire the bronze statues of the “War of Riace”

The National Museum of Reggio Calabria is one of the most prestigious archaeological museums in Italy. It houses many important relics from the colonies of Magna Graecia, which once occupied Calabria. One of the most famous exhibits is the pair of bronze statues of the “Riace Warriors” (5th century BC, their height is 205 and 198 cm). They are considered to be among the most important sculptural masterpieces of Greek art of the classical period.

4. Spend a day on the beach in Tropea

Calabria is famous for its beaches, and tourists can find many pleasant places for swimming both on the Tyrrhenian coast and on the Ionian. However, one of the most beautiful coastlines, stretching throughout the province of Vibo Valencia , is rightly called the Coast of the Gods (Costa degli Dei).

Tropea is one of the most popular tourist centers in Calabria – charming beaches alternate with steep cliffs, bays that can only be reached by a narrow path. So plan your day in Tropea – you can spend the morning and afternoon on the beach, and in the evening take a stroll along the tourist streets of the city, visit souvenir shops and have dinner at a local fish restaurant.

5. Take a tour of the Aspromonte National Park

The park was created in 1989 around a mountain range that is part of the Apennines in Calabria. The southernmost part of the “boot” is distinguished by its amazing nature: the contrast between the mountains and the sea is so strong that it seems as if it were a separate island.  In Gambarie, it is definitely worth visiting the “Garibaldi Column” – this is the tree near which the “Red Shirts” laid the hero of the Italian Risorgimento, wounded in the leg, to rest. Nearby is a historical museum created in memory of this event. In addition, the park has many routes created by “Grupo Gea” for those who want to go on hiking excursions.

www.parcoaspromonte.gov.it

6. Explore the Catanzaro Biodiversity Park

The park is an ecological resource of extraordinary value. It is also an open-air museum that is a venue for contemporary art exhibitions. The park also houses the Military History Museum of the Catanzaro Brigade. It displays weapons, uniforms, documents, maps and other memorabilia from various wars, from the time of Napoleon to World War II.

7. Try traditional Calabrian products

Calabrian cuisine is simple, but it has absorbed thousands of years of history and is influenced by Greek, Roman, Norman, Arabic, Spanish and French gastronomic cultures. Traditional vegetables include sweet red onions and tasty potatoes from Sila, while popular fruits include cedars and figs, which are stuffed with almonds and covered in chocolate.

Cold meats are the basis of all Calabrian cuisine, whose traditions date back to Ancient Greece. It is worth trying the salted and pressed sausage “sopressata”, as well as the sausages and dry-cured pork neck “capocollo”. However, the most famous delicacy of the area is “nduja”, a type of spicy soft sausage that can be spread on bread, produced mainly in the Spilinga area.

The many baked goods are also famous for their variety: Cuti bread, pizzata Nardoipace (flat bread with hot peppers), Reggio Calabria biscuits, Cerchiara di Calabria bread, rye bread “yermanu”, bread with fennel seeds from Serra San Bruno, and many other types of bread.

Italian cheeses are famous all over the world. Among the most famous cheeses of the region are “Pecorino del Monte Poro”, “Pecorino Crotonese”, “Cacorcavallo Silano” (semi-hard cheese made from cow’s milk).

Among the desserts, you should definitely enjoy the taste of the bucconotto mignon with almond and chocolate filling, nougat a Bagnara, Tartuffo ice cream in Pizzo, and mostacioli biscuits in Soriano Calabro.

8. Breathe in the air saturated with the legends of Scylla and Charybdis

Legend has it that on either side of the Strait of Messina, which Odysseus sailed through on his return from Princess Nausicaa on his way to Ithaca, lived the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Today, the city of Scilla is a major tourist center and beach resort. It is one of the most beautiful fortified cities in Italy. The old town of Scilla starts from Piazza San Rocco, which is overlooked by the facade of the Church of San Rocco, the patron saint of the city, and the town hall. The beach is surrounded to the north and south by two impressive cliffs, and before your eyes stretches the coast of Punta Paci, Sicily, and in the distance, some islands of the Aeolian archipelago and the Castle of Ruffo.

9. Try Moscato di Saracena

As early as the 16th century, oak barrels of Moscato di Saracena were brought to Scalea especially for the papal court. Moscato di Saracena is made from Guarnaccia, Malvasia and Muscat grapes. The wine is aged in wooden barrels or stainless steel tanks. The result is an amber-colored wine with an intense aroma: resinous notes are complemented by the aroma of dried figs, exotic fruits, almonds and honey. The taste of this wine is very elegant and refined, it has a good taste balance and a pleasant bitter aftertaste.

10. Discover the charm of Calabria's "small towns"

The region has a large number of small towns, distinguished by ancient charm and amazing beauty, which are located on the mountain slopes and along the entire coast. Historical centers, craft shops, ancient and traditional houses, civil and religious buildings, magical squares where you can feel the breath of the past. The most recommended cities to visit are: Scalea, Tropea, Pizzo, Gerade.

Whether you stay in Calabria for a week or several months, you will definitely find something to do to your liking! We look forward to seeing you!

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