About Calabria
Calabria is a region of southern Italy with a central position in the Mediterranean Sea, situated between the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Calabria boasts a great historical, artistic and cultural heritage as well as having a fine wide culinary tradition and breathtaking natural sites. During your stay in Calabria you will be amazed by the wide variety of places to visit, suitable for all ages and all preferences: crystal blue seas, spectacular mountains, delicious food, fine art and much more.
When you visit the Pollino National Park, for example, you can experience the thrill of rafting down the Lao River, which runs through narrow valleys with caves and waterfalls surrounded by lush vegetation. A few kilometres away, along the Ionian coast, there are two medieval castles: the Castle of Rocca Imperiale, nestled on a hilltop overlooking the old town, and the Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, which rises majestically on a rock by the sea. In the Gulf of Squillace, on the southern Ionian coast, you can see another impressive medieval fortress called Le Castella, which overlooks the protected marine reserve of Capo Rizzuto, characterized by the presence of underwater “meadows” of Posidonia Oceanica that can be viewed on glass bottom boats. In the same Ionian area, travelling towards the town of Crotone, you will find some beautiful sandy beaches which will amaze you for their orange and red colour.
On the northern Tyrrhenian coast (Alto Tirreno), looking over the Golfo di Policastro and the Isola di Dino, you can enjoy and relax on the magic Arcomagno beach, one of the most astonishing places in Calabria, with picturesque coves and cliffs, which is located in San Nicola Arcella, a pleasant and lively seaside borgo on the Riviera dei Cedri (citron).
The Sila is one of the oldest National Parks in Italy. It stands in between the towns of Cosenza, Catanzaro and Crotone. It offers astonishing landscapes, pathways in the wood, lakes and attractions. If you go there, don’t forget to visit the Fallistro Nature Reserve, which is also called “I Giganti della Sila” (Sila’s Giants) because of the dimensions of its centuries-old pine trees.
Moving south, in Pizzo Calabro you can enjoy the famous Tartufo, a delicious hazelnut ice cream covered with melted chocolate and cocoa. The beaches in Tropea and Capo Vaticano, on the Southern Tyrrhenian coast, are worth a visit; according to legend, Aeneas stopped here on his way back from Spain. You will be bewitched by the picturesque old town built on a cliff overlooking the sea with stretches of white sand and crystal clear water, known as the Caribbean of Calabria.
Travelling further south, you can admire the old borgo of Scilla, one of the most beautiful borghi in Italy, made up of little houses, narrow streets and ancient buildings and fountains which overlook the sea cliffs. On top of it, you will see the Ruffo Castle which stands between the Marina Grande and the quaint fishermen village of Chianalea. The Castle, which used to be the house of conte Paolo Ruffo di Calabria, is now a cultural centre hosting conferences and exhibitions. This place is worth a visit for the romantic atmosphere and the magnificent panorama on the Stretto di Messina. In the same area, you can also visit one of the treasures that underwater archaeology has brought back to surface, the famous Bronzi di Riace, exhibited in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria.
Finally, you can’t leave Calabria without tasting our delicious food, traditional dishes, and, in particular, our famous peperoncino (hot pepper).