If you are headed for Italy and you are to choose where to go and what to see, Calabira might not be your first choice for a number of reasons: there is rarely a direct flight to reach it, it is very much on the south and sometimes perceived as very hot and then, there is the competition from Sicily, which might be the first choice of those Italy travellers headed for the south.

When you look at the suggestions from travellers on places to visit in Italy you find quite a lot of information on Rome and Florence and Venice and very little about Calabria. Just have a look at our own categories on Italy Travel Notes and see how many we have on Rome and Florence and until now we have not had a single submission or traveller’s advice on Calabria.

Discovering Calabria ourselves, we decided to share our insights with you because there are so many beautiful places to visit in Calabria, it is alluring and the water in the sea is crystal-clean, there are some amazing and unique spots to see and delicious sea food to taste.

So here comes our suggestions on the must see places when you go to Calabria:

1. Tropea
Probably the best known of the touristy spots in Calabria – Tropea has been long discovered by the German, the Austrian and the French tourists. The town of Tropea carries that typical Italian atmosphere is full of life and light and sounds in the summer and it is very cosy and not so cold in the winter either. And then there are the white sand beaches of Tropea are spreading for 35 kilometres from Pizzo up to Capo Vaticano.

As for its culinary contribution to the world Tropea is proud to offer the red onions of Tropea – very sweet and recognized by connoisseurs throughout the world. The moment you land at Lamezia Terme airport and you head south in the direction of Tropea you start noticing these off the motorway artesian stands selling different vegetables among them the red onions of Tropea of course.

2. Amantea
Amantea might not be so popular as Tropea, but it is another charming town on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria – a bit on the north from the Lamezia Terme airport. And what Amantea offers is the relaxed atmosphere of the Italian sea towns with wide-spreading beaches, a remarkable sea-front full with places to stop by and pick an ice-cream or listen to the street musicians or just walk along in the evenings. Amantea also offers a good shopping experience with boutiques lining up its main street open until late in the evening.

3. Pizzo
Another marvel on the Calabrain coast which you drive through on your way to Tropea is Pizzo – deliciously known in Italy for its tartuffo and that being not the very expensive mushrooms known as truffles (tartuffo – the same word is used in Italian for both), but the tartuffo as an ice-cream. Delicious like most Italian ice-creams, the black tartuffo, which originates from Pizzo, is very tasty and with a core of pure chocolate, which surprises you with more sweetness at the end of your ice-cream enjoyment.

And then, there is the cosy piazza of Pizzo, where you are surrounded by the facades of houses which for centuries have been witnessing visitors who come to wonder and admire the beauty of Pizzo and to sit outside in one of the numerous caffes and taste their own tartuffo. Definitely worth a visit for all of your senses.

4. Sila
This is the only place in our must-see places in Calabria, which is not close to the sea, but is tugged up in the mountain. Sila is often compared to the north European regions, fresh for summer walks and offering two ski tracks and a lot of snow for those who prefer the winter sports.

Sila is the best mountain resort in Calabria – the authentic green heart of the Mediterranean. Known for its pastures and rich of streams, lakes and variety of woods. And that is where Sila’s name originates from the Latin word silwa, which means a place with woods.

5. Scilla
This is the last little town you can visit on the south of Calabria before you get on the boat to go to Sicily. An ancient fishermen’s village with its colourful facades, Scilla through the centuries has been an important Greek colony. And according to some, it was founded by Ulysses, who on his way back from the Trojan war, had to stop and look for shelter here.

Scilla is well known for the fishing of swordfish, best witnessed at Chianalea – the fishermen’s quarter. Its panorama being dominated by the Castello – the castle located in the center for Scilla.

6. Paola
Paola is one of the biggest cities on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, very well connected and it can be reached with train from almost any point in Italy. Paola houses the famous monastery of St. Francesco and this year it is celebrating the 500th anniversary of his death. The monastery is famous for witnessing some of the miracles performed by St. Francesco and is located inside a rock, up in the mountain with a river running beneath it.

Paola has some beautiful beaches, which spread for 3 kilometres accommodated with bars, ice-cream parlours and a fascinating seafront to take a walk in the evening.

7. Soverato
Soverato is located on the other side of the booth on the Ionian coast. And here the beaches are wider and longer, and the sand is finer than at Amantea with golden particles shining in the clean water of the sea.

A typical characteristic of Soverato is the constant warm wind, which turns your day on the beach into a fresher experience, but is also responsible for the long tents, which have replaced the umbrellas on a number of places on the beach, because they are more stable and you don’t run into the risk of your umbrella being carried away by the warm wind.

Soverato is also famous for its night-life and especially for these places which, during the evening turn from pizza restaurants, into piano bars and then into discos open until late and where you can greet the first sun rays in the morning.

Depending if you prefer to enjoy the rise of the sun or its dawn you could pick your favourite spot in Calabria, because while Soverato is the fist to greet the sun in the morning, for those of you who prefer to wave it good night in the evening Amantea, Tropea and Pizzo are the places to be.

More about Calabria:
Discover even more about Calabria what your fellow travellers recommend to visit while in Italy and what to do:
http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/calabria/

Calabria is the toe of the Italian boot. It is located in the southwest corner of Italy, with 500 miles of coastline on the Ionian, Mediterranean, and Tyrrhenian Seas. Its total population is about 2 million. The countryside is mountainous, and prone to earthquakes. For centuries peasants worked very hard to eke out a living from its poor soil. During the last century over a million people left Calabria to seek a better life in Northern or Central Italy or overseas.

Historically, the region`s first name was Italia, probably from the Italic tribes that inhabited the area. Over time, Calabria has belonged to the Greeks, the Romans, and the Byzantines. Others who lived in the area include Armenians, Bulgarians, Catalans, Goths, Spaniards, Normans, and Bourbons. Talk about multiculturalism.

While Calabria has been poor, its agricultural production is important. For example, it is the source of about 25% of Italian olive oil. Other agricultural products include vegetables, especially eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, artichokes, asparagus, and mushrooms. Its citrus fruits and figs are special. There is plenty of wheat for pasta, country-style bread, focaccia, and pizza. The main meat is pork, and some Calabrian salami is famous. Other meats include lamb and goat. The seas yield anchovies, cod, sardines, swordfish, and tuna. Cheeses include Caciocavallo Silano and Crotonese, reviewed below. Christmas and Easter are accompanied by traditional desserts. You won`t go hungry in Calabria.

Perhaps you haven`t heard of Calabria`s cities including Cosenza, Reggio di Calabria, and the regional capital, Catanzaro. The largest of the three, Reggio di Calabria, has fewer than 200 thousand people. But big cities are hardly a requirement for good wine. Few would ever claim that Italy`s best wines come from Rome, or the surrounding area. Hills and mountains, sunny days and cool nights, maritime breezes, low rainfall, and poor soil are all factors that can lead to excellent wines. Calabria definitely has winemaking potential.

Calabria devotes about sixty thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks 13th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is slightly less than twenty million gallons, giving it a 15th place. About 91% of the wine production is red or rosa (a bit of rosa), leaving 9% for white. The region produces 12 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Only 2.4% of Calabria wine carries the DOC designation. The region is home to almost three dozen major and secondary grape varieties, half white and half red.

Widely grown international white grape varieties include Chardonnay, Trebbiano, and Malvasia. The best known, strictly Italian white variety is Greco Bianco, which makes an excellent sweet wine that is very hard to find outside of the region. In general, Calabrian white wines are difficult to find in North America.

Widely grown international red grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The best known strictly Italian white variety is Gaglioppo, whose flagship wine, we review below. Keep your eyes open for wines made from the indigenous Magliocco red grape.

Before reviewing the Calabria wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Pitta Chicculiata, Pizza with Tuna, Tomato, Anchovies, Black Olives, and Capers.
Then try La Carne and Ncantarata dei Fratelli Alia, Pork Loin in Honey-Chili Glaze. For dessert, indulge yourself with Fichi al Cioccolato, Chocolate-Covered Roasted Figs.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Librandi and Duce San Felic Cir Reserva 2001 13.5% alcohol about $15

Some claim that Cir is the oldest existing wine. It is said to come from a wine consumed by victorious Calabrian athletes on their return from the Olympics well over 2500 years ago. This DOC wine grows in the low hills near the Ionian Sea in eastern Calabria not far from the Sila Massif plateau. If you ask me, the geographical characteristics worked out quite well for this wine.

Cir is made from the indigenous Gaglioppo red grape, which has a light-colored pulp and very thick skin. In spite of the grape skins, this wine contains light tannins. Personally I found the tannins excellent, they melted into the food and I say this as someone who is not overly fond of tannins. I tried this Cir with barbecued boneless beef ribs marinated in a somewhat spicy tomato sauce and loved the way the fruit flavors accompanied the food. Sometime after the meal I reread the wine store`s review and agreed with their quote¦This Librandi has tangy texture with complex, juicy red fruit, and overall it`s very attractive. It`s just great for barbecued meats

Crotonese is a pure sheep`s milk cheese found in Calabria. It is made in 4 pound wheels with a very light rind. Its color ranges from pale yellow to creamy yellow. Crotonese is an excellent grating cheese. Another recommendation is to slice it thinly and drizzle olive oil, especially Calabrian Crotonese olive oil, over it. Its flavor is both salty and sweet, and is mildly sharp. I tried it for lunch with a mixture of humus (ground chickpeas) and processed vegetables, toast, and the Ciró Reserva. The wine and cheese flavors blended well. Another recommended wine for Crotonese cheese is the classic Tuscan Brunello di Montalcino at about three times the cost of this Cir.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com . You can reach him at ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com.

More about Calabria:
Discover even more about what Calabria has to offer and find out what your fellow travellers think of the city here: http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/calabria/

Calabria is one of the best kept secrets in Italy with its un-spoilt coastline, mountain grandeur and age-old historical towns.

Situated in the southern most region of Italy and caressed by the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Seas, it is a narrow peninsula where the “cliffs meet the seas”, the intricate coastline facing the water every way you look and pine trees, grape vines and olive and fig trees cling to the rugged mountains adding to the beauty of this region of Italy.

Calabria is an area untouched by mass tourism and is one of the current “hotspots” for buying a home abroad. There are many exciting new developments all situated in beautiful landscape settings with communal swimming pools. These villas, townhouses and apartments are proving popular as holiday homes or as an excellent investment opportunity and are on the market at very affordable prices.

The relaxed lifestyle, excellent cuisine and welcoming people of Calabria will appeal to many individuals who are seeking a holiday home in this part of Italy. From the harbour there is a cheap, regular ferry service to the Isle of Sicily, famous for its stunning, snow capped peak of Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

If you want to find out more about Calabria or view some of the available properties go to www.calabria-properties.com

About the author
The author is a property consultant for purchasers of homes overseas.

Article Source:
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More about Calabria:
Discover even more about what Calabria has to offer and find out what your fellow travellers think of the city here: http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/calabria/