The coast of Calabria near the famous resort town of Tropea.
Tropea, a picturesque old fortified town up on the cliffs above beaches and blue sea.
Beautiful Capo Vaticano, formed by a particular white-gray granite. The area is considered as having the ideal climate for growing the red onions from Tropea.
The old castle and the beach in Le Castella, a small historic town a popular destination for summer vacations.
Zambrone (Vibo Valentia province), a small town near the sea.
Classic delicacies from Calabria: peperoncino (chili pepper) and 'nduja, a cured, spicy, spreadable cold cut.
Svevian Castle of Rocca Imperiale.
Morano Calabro, in the province of Cosenza, has been named one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.
View of the Castle Ruffo di Amendolea in what is considered the old Greek area in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Calabrian charm in Rocca Imperiale (Cosenza).
The beginning of the year is usually a time for lists of the must-see destinations for the coming year - we've done one too, and always enjoy looking at what other publications say it's worth discovering. Rough Guides, the prestigious travel guide publisher, has recently presented its list of the Top Ten Regions to visit in 2016, and we were excited to see that it features Calabria among them.
Here's Rough Guides' reason for including it:
"Charming resorts along two gorgeous coastlines, rustic mountain villages and peperoncino-heavy cuisine make this region a favourite below-the-radar Italian holiday destination. But, until now, Calabria’s tourism has been primarily domestic. Historically underdeveloped, this stretch of the far south was long neglected and remains somewhat marginalized, with the ‘Ndrangheta mafia still a powerful presence across parts of the region. However, this year new budget flights from Turin to Lamezia Terme, along with websites like Airbnb, are opening up even the most rural towns to adventurous travellers seeking another side of Italy. Homes heated by wood fires, organic farm-to-table food, local wines, uncrowded Mediterranean shores and unparalleled hospitality wait as reward."
So in honor of Calabria, here's a slideshow displaying the varied beauty of this southern Italian region, hoping it will inspire you to go exploring!
