Calabria Attractions

There are some parts of the worlds still unknown to tourism in Europe and one of these is Calabria. The only thing that saved the province from the flock of tourists is the fact that Calabria is a not very developed region and it’s far from major cities in Italy. Most tourists don’t go further south of Naples. It’s a huge mistake! If you want to visit Calabria you have to plan your trip carefully. The largest city in the region is Reggio di Calabria with an airport that welcomes mostly domestic flights especially from Rome. The other option is to land in Sicily in the Catania Fontanarossa Airport than take the ferry across the Strait of Messina. Trains run from Naples all the way on the seashore and the railway is closely followed by a highway on the shore

Where to go once in Calabria?

Tropea lies in the North, a city famous for its azure beaches and a historic city centre. Try kayaking, motorboat renting and snorkeling at the beach. Tropea has a specialty called the tartufo, which is something like a chocolate ice cream filled with even more chocolate and with some chocolate on top.

Continue further South and you’ll see the magnificent Costa Viola with beautiful beaches and scenic outlooks. Stop wherever you want the view and the charm of small fishing villages will leave you breathless. Probably the most beautiful village is Scilla which is known from Greek mythology as Scylla. It lies on top of a huge rock in the sea with a fortress at the peak. You can taste fresh seafood and even see the fishermen arriving with the latest catch in the sunset. Calabria is famous for swordfish and it is the local delicacy, especially grilled or in tomato sauce. If they offer you with the meat from the parts around the head they mean to honor you. From the shore you can see the Strait of Messina.

A half hour trip takes you to Reggio Calabria the largest city in the region. Take the hydrofoil to Sicily or enjoy the most wonderful kilometer of Italy at the Lungomare Falcomatà walkway right next to the shore and beaches. If the weather is clear you can see the Etna in the distance. Sometimes during eruption you may see the hot lava coming from the volcano. In the city the ancient Greek treasures worth a visit like the famous Riace bronzes. Reggio di Calabria is a great starting point to discover the region especially for those who plan hiking. The public transport is not the best so rent a car at the station. Inner Calabria boasts of the Aspromonte National Park with its natural wonders.

South of Reggio little villages hide between mountains and untouched shores are waiting to be discovered. Don’t miss Bova, Pentidattilo or Gerace to name the best villages. In these places people still speak Greek as a reminder of the 2500 year old colonization. The Southern shore of Calabria is called the Costa Ionico where the sun always shines and warm winds from Africa make your stay unforgettable. There are numerous orange and lemon trees around the land and not without a purpose. They make great local products and drinks from these and also bergamot is indigenous to the land. The Calabrian cuisine is spicy and uses hot paprika with almost everything. Italian cuisine is at its best here! It is important to know that tourism is quite new to the region therefore not many people speak English and hotels are somewhat scarce. Tour offices and information is rare too. Despite all of this the kind and friendly local people will help you with everything. They like to talk to you even if you don’t understand a word. Learn to communicate somehow and they will do their best to help you. Wonderful people and the discovery of an unknown land makes your stay memorable.