The Region of Calabria in Southern Italy is a truly beautiful and unspoilt Region lapped by the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Easily recognizable, forming the toe of the Italian boot, it has over 800 kilometers of coastline and is known as one of the least unexplored gems in Southern Italy. New connecting flights have made this region more accessible with an influx of Tourism from all over the world in the recent years. However Calabria still retains its Historical roots evident in many of the old towns, castles and historic monuments. The coastline is one of the biggest draws with miles upon miles of pristine beaches and hidden coves. Inland is a beautiful contrast to the beach landscapes, this is where it turns to mountainous terrain, national parks and even ski resorts nested high up in the hills.

Activities

Beaches

Holidays

Places to Visit

Why Visit this region of Southern Italy?

Being such a warm and sunny region, Calabria has many Hotels, Resorts, B&B’s, Agriturismo’s and places to stay all year round. However during the Summer months it can sometimes be quite difficult to find a Hotel as the main holidaymakers are the Italians themselves who flock to Calabria for their Holidays. If you are looking for a perfect vacanze in Calabria which translates to finding your perfect Holiday in Calabria then click above.

With so much coastline Calabria has hundreds of beautiful pristine stretches of beaches. Some of the best know can be found at Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Pizzo, Reggio on the West Coast, and on the East Coast, Le Castella, Capo Rizzutto, Ciro, Soverato to name just a few.

The ancient churches and castles show us such a rich and diverse heritage dating bakc thousands of years. The first tribes that settled here spoke Oscan, a language of Italic family. They included Oenotri, possibly who cultivated vines and the tribe called Itali. In later days, Itali came in contact with the Greeks and the modern day Italy got its name.

The Greeks conquered this region and settled here in a huge number. Rhegion which is present day Reggio Calabria and the provinces of Crotone and Locri were regarded as the integrated part of Magna Graecia in and around 5-6 BC. The Oscan tribes hailing from the north conquering the Greek settlements. Along with them came Lucanians. A small branch of these Lucanians established the cities that are regarded as the main cities of the of this region until today. These cities included Cosenza and Catanzaro.

After Roman power declined, people were compelled to shift more inland creating what is now some very old inland towns and villages. From the Middle Ages to 15th century the inland towns helped stop raids by the pirates. Under the Normans in the 1060s, Calabria which was the border between Byzantine Empire and the emirs of Arab in Sicily, got an official borderland and government. This is when the local influential Greek people started to run the region. Since then this area has undergone many changes and many conquerors have come and gone.

Even till today, Southern Italy especially Calabria has remained a relatively undiscovered part of Europe. However now there has been a large amount of interest in the area  and is  attracting holidaymakers and people looking for historical Italian Culture and good weather.

As a backdrop to the town itself stands a large Norman castle on the hill behind, which is fascinating and well worth a trip to see. One great way of seeing some of the best of the Norman castle and other attractions close by is taking a scenic walk, from the castle itself, taking in the stunning and dramatic views of the coastline and the town. There is a lot to see around this castle and from here there is a path that leads down to the river on which you will see the ancient citadel. From here you can descend past the watchtower to the sanctuary of Maria of grace.

Roccella Jonica is well known for its festivals and events, and these happen throughout the year. Of these, the Roccella Jazz Festival is one of the most renowned, summer festivals, hosting many well-known artists that come to sing and play in some of the local bars and restaurants set along the coastline. There are many other festivals held throughout the year which are mainly festivals related to the church where processions are held through the main town. One of the most important of these is on the first Sunday of July, which is in the name of Mary of Graces and is held in honour of those going to sea.

Another of the seafront attractions slightly to the north of the town. The larger Marina, which can birth about 350 boats at any one time and visited by many sailors who are taking their yachts around the Italian coastline to Croatia to northern Italy. It is possible to hire a boat here and you will need to ask at the restaurant to be able to do this. The restaurant at the marina is also a very lively and good restaurant serving many people in the summer with seating outside. At this restaurant it is possible to order pizza by the metre as well locally caught seafood and produce.

Roccella Jonica is a great town to visit for those looking for a holiday on the east coast of Calabria.

Things to do

One of the best viewpoints in the area’s on the hill close to the lighthouse with access from centre of Capo Vaticano. From here the views are incredible looking down to Grotticelle beach which consists of two sandy bays surrounded with rock formations. On the Hill of one bar and restaurant, and a beautiful Wine bar. During the day you can order a pizza whilst looking at the fantastic views or merely just enjoy a coffee in the sun. As for the wine bar it sits almost directly on me cliff line and is a beautiful place to watch the sunset whilst sipping on a glass of Calabrian wine.

Activities

There are a large number of activities it is possible to do. Probably one of the most popular is small, as the crystal clear waters make it possible to see a large variety of different types of fish. The more adventurous it is possible to take a diving trip to see bigger fish and possibly even a sunken wreck or two.

Hiring a boat, whether a motorboat, pedalo, canoe or kayak this is a great way to see the coastline and the bays that can be difficult to get to by foot.

Beaches

Probably the most enticing and beautiful of all the beaches is Grotticelle Beach. The road down to the beach can be quite difficult to find that as you come down and arrive in the car park at the bottom you will see two golden Sandy beaches, one on either side of you enclosed by the natural rock formations. The water is beautiful and clear with a aquamarine colour and it is one of the most enjoyable places to go for a swim. Other beaches near here include Santa Maria

Hotels & Accomadation

La Bussola Hotel – this is a nice reasonably priced hotel, family run with some fantastic food.
Smedile Residences – offering some of the best views of this coastline is a beautiful hotel with good amenities.
Capovaticano Resort Thalasso and Spa – directly on the beach this newly built four-star hotel offers a breathtaking view, very friendly and good service as well as some excellent food.

Eating & Food

Donna Orsola restaurant on Via Solis serving traditional Calabrian food
Peppino il Pescatore in Piazza Santa Maria – this is of the freshest and best quality fish in the area
Ristorante Trattoria La Campagnola on Viale Giuseppe Berto – serving all types of food from traditional starters, main courses and deserts as well as pizzas and a varied selection of fish dishes.

Getting around

Although the town itself is quite small some of the beaches can be a little bit more difficult to get to. Apart from walking around the town and knew my beaches you should also consider getting a free tourist bus which you can hop on and off at different destinations down this coastline. Also getting a shuttle bus from your hotel is also a however the best way to see this area is to hire your own car which gives you the option to also visit many of the other towns and villages along the coastline.

How to get here

To get here it takes about 45 minutes from Lamezia airport. Transfers are available via your hotel, by transfer bus or by taxi. It is also possible to catch a train as there is a local train line running all the way along the coast.

Stilo is located about 12 km inland from reacting and is well worth the time to view this beautiful little village.

BEST TIME FOR CALABRIA SKIING

The lovely mountains, ridges and deep valleys provide an excellent locale for various types of skiing activities in Calabria. The ideal time for  Calabria skiing tours is during the winter months between December and March when there is good snowfall.

POPUALAR SKIING CENTERS IN CALABRIA

La Sila area of Calabria is one of the popular places to ski in the region. It is located in the foothills of Sila National Park arrange and attracts lots of adventure lovers from various parts of the world. One needs to pass the winding tracks as steep hills which are a real test. Some parts of the route are very steep and as such it takes lots of technical and physical strength to ski through the area.

TIPS FOR SKIING

Travelers and sports lovers who undertake skiing expeditions should obtain proper information about the skiing tours, the weather conditions, the routes that are available and other useful tips. They should be physically fit enough and able to ski for hours.
A number of travel agencies arrange for skiing tours in Calabria. At times, in inclement weather conditions, skiing is a bit difficult as there are periods of little snow so it is important to check the conditions and webcams before leaving. The cost of skiing depends on the ski resort but is relatively inexpensive in comparison to some of the other resorts in Northern Italy or France.

SKI RESORTS IN CALABRIA

To cater to the lodging needs of the travelers, quite a few ski Resorts have been created. They offer wonderful facilities and services to take care of the lodging needs of the guests. One can choose from expensive resorts and affordable resorts depending on the location.

Slightly inland from Siderno sits the town of Gerace which is just 15 minutes away. Gerace has to be one of Calabria’s most spectacular old towns with its imposing castle, many Churches and old stone built houses sitting on a large rock like hill overlooking the sea. During the Summer months Siderno has many beach bars and events which entice many Italians and Europeans to its beaches. One of the most well know places to stay is Grand Hotel President with its private beach and within walking distance to the main town. September is a very good time to visit with Festa della Madona which is the patron saint of  Siderno. During this time it closes its main high street and for about a week street sellers offer everything from historic art to modern clothing.

To get here it is just an hour away from Lamezia and Reggio Calabria airport or it is possible to take the train. The journey through the mountains from Rossarno is a sight in itself as the road is on stilts with many tunnels.

Apart from location there are some additional advantages for diving here. For example, the seawater temperature remains absolutely congenial for enjoying Diving around Calabria sea-zone from April to November each year.

The main diving areas of Calabria

Depending on where you are on the 800km of Calabrian Coastline, there are many under water reefs to dive. One of the most dived areas is the Capo Vaticano to Tropea stretch of coastline with some of the clearest water and spectacular fish. Mantenio is another wonderful place to dive; it is rock covered with green plants and lots of caves surrounding it. This is a unique place, like a natural aquarium under the sea and one of the major attractions.

Another wonderful diving zone in Calabria is a volcano an hour away by boat – the island Stromboli with its black sand is and unspoilt coastline. There are many more attractive diving spots can located in Calabria, here is our list of top places to dive (in no order):

1. Tropea
2. Capo Vaticano
3. Joppolo
3. Pizzo
4. Amantea / Lungobardi (wreck site)
5. Reggio Calabria
6. Roccella jionica
7. Scilla
8. Stromboli
9. La Castella
10. Capo Rizzutto

]]> http://calabria.info/scuba-diving/feed/ 0