Captivating, charismatic, compelling. Calabria, Italy draws you into itself, enchanting you with the richness of its beauty and culture. Calabria, with its un-spoilt coastline, mountain grandeur, and age-old historical towns, is simply beautiful. With perfect weather all year round and a relaxed, Italian life style, Calabria is undoubtedly one of the best spots in Italy.

Calabria is the southern most region, the “toe” of Italy´s boot. Caressed by the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Seas, it is a peninsula where the “cliffs meet the seas”, the intricate coastline faces the water every which way. Calabria comes from the word “Calab” which means a dense forest. And indeed, you will see pine trees, grape vines and olive trees clinging to the rugged mountains, adding to their majesty and grandeur. One thing you will not forget is the colours of Calabria – vivid blue water set against fine black or white sand and with a backdrop of green, verdant forests. Multi-coloured rocks or fine black pebbles smoothened by the waves flash like jewels, reflecting the afternoon sun.

Calabria´s coastline is dotted with lidos (beach clubs), where you could lounge and enjoy a cold drink right at the beachfront. On evenings, the lidos come alive and turn into discos and you can dance the night away.

Bask in sun-drenched beaches. Step into history with Ancient Greek, Roman, and Norman ruins. Explore historical monuments and Byzantine churches. Dance until the break of dawn. Feast on fresh fish, vegetables, sausages, figs and wild mushrooms. Whatever you do, Calabria is full of cultural, natural and historical treasures you are not likely to forget.

Calabria is essentially “Mezzogiorno” (meaning ‘‘midday’ in Italian). Calabria presents an Italy that is both traditional and Mediterranean.

Calabria´s rich history spans a variety of cultures and civilizations – Greek, Roman, Byzantine, French, Spanish, and ultimately, Italian. These cultures left their distinct legacy on Calabrese culture and cuisine, resulting in a fascinating blend that makes Calabria a gem of a find. You can see this side of Calabria by visiting its historical monuments. You will find architectural treasures harking back from different eras of Calabrese history. Turkish guarding posts, castles and forts and Byzantine art are just some examples of Calabria´s quiet splendour.

Calabrese food is hearty, tasty and spicy hot. The Calabrese people love it that way and they are famed for having the spiciest food in Italy. Its specialty, pasta al arrabiata is roughly translated as “angry pasta”. Eat it and you will discover how ‘angry’ it is - you will be sweating for hours after!

Their diet is almost exclusively made up of pasta, pizza, fish, and vegetables. But they are also known for their seafood, lamb, cheese, almonds, and spaghetti ala Calabrese. Wash this down with some of the local wines, such as Greco di Bianco, which is a sweet white wine.

It will delight you to discover, however, that dining in Calabria is very easy on the budget. In fact, everything in Calabria is easy on the pocket!

The Calabrese people are very warm and welcoming. People still have the habit of tipping their hats and calling out a Buon Giorno or Buona Sera to the people they meet. They will have a ready smile for you and will make friends with you just as easily. Their gestures of kindness and hospitality will blow you away as they welcome you into their homes.