About Calabria
The Calabrian people are very friendly and hospitable. It is not uncommon to get to know someone after a light conversation and feel that you have met a friend.
Calabria is a peninsula, in the most southern part of Italy with the moniker “toe of the boot”! If you look past Amalfi, and drive further south you will see not only big cities but discover kilometers of a beautiful coast, fabulous beaches, wonderful natural forests, rivers, waterfalls and of course picturesque and colorful towns and medieval villages! The area, of about 15,000 square kilometers lies between the Ionian Sea in the east and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west and a separation from neighboring Sicily by the Strait of Messina.
The local culinary is a combination of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with influences of nearby cuisines. A trademark of the Calabrian food is the red spicy peppers and Calabria's red-gold Tropea onions with the label of DOP or IGP (Indication of Geographic Protection) guaranteeing that it is the “original” product! During the month of August, the town of Ricadi celebrates the “red onion festival”.
Calabria is famous for its “salumi” sausage and especially the cured (black pig) pork, peppered and very spicy Soppressata which is Calabria’s origin-protected. You should also try another Calabria specialty – the origin-protected salami Nduja di Spilinga Fiamingo sausage which can be spread on bread or crackers.
Secret: Whether as a liqueur before a meal or as a digestive after the meal, Limoncello is popular throughout Italy. But when in Calabria – do as the Calabrian people do - we have been told that the most popular (and unique) liquor is the Vecchio Amaro del Capo – a specialty of Calabria.
Two museums were made into one state of the art archeological museum. Today it is one of the most prestigious and incredible museums - le Museo Archeologico Nazionale Di Reggio Calabria (the National Archaeological Museum, Reggio Calabria).
And if in this area – do you believe in ghosts? Pentedattilo, is an abandoned town – making it a “ghost town” on Mt. Calvary.
For nature lovers and those who would love to have a chance to go rafting, hiking or biking and even mountaineering, do not hesitate to take time out to enjoy the Monte Pollino National Park.
Tropea is one of the most stunning and interesting cities in Calabria and is the closest city to the little church, The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola which sits on top of a rock, surrounded by the sea. This might have been an island at one time, but due to earthquakes and other natural disasters, there is not much of the original sanctuary that was built around the 9th-10th century. The beaches are quite spectacular and
There is a local Italian honor given for the most unique town in Italy and in 2021 Tropea won the prestigious “Borgo dei Borghi” award for its outstanding natural beauty, architecture and seaside.
At parties and festival people will get up to dance the “local” tarantella (a folkdance dating back to around the fourteenth or fifteenth century), swishing to the music of accordions and drums and if you have the opportunity you can join in!