Calabria – The Mountains in the Sea
A true hidden gem for Italy lovers is just a few hours away by plane: Calabria, the southernmost region of the Italian mainland, has been largely spared from mass tourism. With nearly 2.2 million inhabitants spread across an area of around 25,000 square kilometers, Calabria is relatively sparsely populated. 100,000 Calabrians live in the capital Catanzaro, situated right in the instep of the Italian boot. Almost 90 percent of Calabria is mountainous, which is why it's often called the "mountains in the sea." Because the Italian boot is so narrow here, no point is more than 40 kilometers from the water, and sun-seekers are treated to almost 800 kilometers of coastline with stunning beaches. To the northeast beckons the Gulf of Taranto, to the southwest the Ionian Sea, and to the west Calabria is lapped by the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Anyone who has ever enjoyed a sunset at Capo Vaticano with views of the seven Aeolian Islands will not soon forget the breathtaking beauty of this natural wonder.
More Than Sea and Sand
The coastline is the most striking feature, but Calabria offers much more than just sea and beach. In the interior, you'll find forests reminiscent of the Trentino in northern Italy. The north resembles Tuscany with its terracotta hues and baroque towns. Almond trees, prickly pears, eucalyptus, wild fennel, and chestnut trees flourish abundantly. Lemons and oranges are harvested four times a year.
The massive Aspromonte mountain range with its bizarre rock formations, deep gorges, and abandoned mountain villages showcases Calabria's diversity and contrasts.
Until the Middle Ages, Greek was spoken throughout the entire Aspromonte mountain range, and to this day, street signs are displayed in both Italian and Greek. "The mountain dwellers here live superstitiously and archaically, as can rarely be found anywhere else in Italy," explains Oscar Zanoni from Meeting Point Calabria.
A Land of Contrasts
A must-visit is the now completely abandoned "ghost village" of Pentedattilo ("Five Fingers"), which clings picturesquely to the steep flank of a rock massif shaped like an outstretched hand – giving the village its name. Earthquakes, floods, and the risk of erosion drove all residents to leave the village during the last century. What remains is a mystical place of silence and solitude, a labyrinth of picturesque beauty made of narrow lanes, rooftops, and half-crumbled stone houses. "Calabria and the Calabrians are full of contrasts," says Oscar Zanoni. "I constantly experience the most varied reactions to the land and its people. But – nobody returns from Calabria untouched."
Best Time to Visit:
Calabria delights with a pleasant Mediterranean climate and 300 days of sunshine per year. The ideal time to visit is during the "tempo fino" – the fine weather from October onwards, when the hot summer has passed and autumn bathes everything in wonderfully warm colors – or from April through the end of June, when the blooming season sweeps across Calabria.
Accommodation:
Smaller hotels, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfasts can be found more frequently in the coastal towns. FTI recently opened the "Garden Resort Calabria" with over 600 rooms of various categories, offering an all-inclusive package starting at 43 euros per double room. Located on the Tyrrhenian coast, just 10 kilometers from Lamezia Terme airport, it is the only year-round resort in Italy with a comprehensive all-inclusive offering.
Culinary Highlights:
Calabrian cuisine impresses with wonderfully fresh ingredients prepared in hearty and simple yet incredibly flavorful dishes. Always present are the fiery "peperoncino" – Calabria's trademark. The chili spice is used in the famous Pecorino sheep's cheese, for example. Calabria is also renowned for its red onion, Cipolla Rossa, from which a chutney-like jam is made. Delicious and intensely flavorful! Should the peperoncino burn your throat, the best remedy is the regional Cirò wine, grown in the town of the same name.
The insider tip: In Pizzo, a small Calabrian coastal town, the world-famous Tartufo ice cream was invented. The recipe is guarded like a treasure to this day, and on Sundays, people make a pilgrimage to Pizzo to indulge in this calorie bomb.
