CALABRIA
- Explore
its contrasts - a dramatic mix of mountains and sea
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| CALABRIA
makes up the “toe” of Italy and is an area little known
to British visitors, although in the summer, it is a region
well-loved by Italians. Its landscape is a dramatic mix
of mountains and sea and exploring its contrasts is always
exciting. |
"The
weather was hot and sunny and we explored as much as we could.
Tropea and Pizzo were
great,
as were our forays to the East Coast: Borgia and Stilo were
well worth a visit
and
the monastary at Serra San Bruno was fascinating"
Mr & Mrs Bone, Shrewsbury
" We have just returned from Calabria.
the scenery is beautiful, with the most wonderful
white,
sandy beaches. A thoroughly enjoyable week."
Joyce Smith, St Albans
 |
One
wonders how so much variety of landscape can be captured
within one region. You will be amazed at the beauty
of the tree-covered mountains, with lush green valleys
below and summits capped by little towns, which seem
to perch precariously or else be sculpted into the rock.
The winding roads, which climb through the mountains,
reveal at every corner, breathtaking views of the valleys
below and the sea, sparkling in the distance. In the
northern corner, spanning Calabria and Basilicata, lies
the wild and magnificent Pollino National Park.
The mountains drop steeply to
Calabria’s coastline, which is magnificent. You
will marvel at dramatically craggy cliffs overhanging
secluded bays; steep cliff paths to small rocky coves;
caves to explore; islands, dotted about in the crystal
clear, blue Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas; long stretches
of beach and crescent-shaped bays, gently curving into
the distance - all are lapped by the clear azure sea.
Perhaps the starkest contrasts
come in the colours. Mother Nature has painted her canvas,
with no half measures in Calabria. The sea is a deep
turquoise blue and the mountains are strikingly green.
Even the sky takes on a different, stronger hue.
In fact, strength is in everything
in this rugged region. The people look strong and solid,
as they must have been for generations - maybe a necessity
for survival, in what must have been a difficult, remote
and challenging terrain. Nowadays, much more accessible,
exploring these hidden corners gives a glimpse into
the past. The cuisine is full of strong and intense
flavours, co-existing with more delicate ones. It is
famed for serving chilli peppers, as a side dish to
many meals, so that they can be made “piccante”.
Beware! The chilli paste sometimes offered with bread
turns your mouth into a furnace. Nothing is a compromise
in Calabria – everything is full on.
This is a land, steeped in history,
myth and legend. There are prehistoric settlements and
early cave dwellings. The region features in the writings
of Homer and Virgil and has been fought over by Hannibal,
Romans, Spartans and many others, so that there is evidence
of numerous different civilisations, mediaeval towns
and villages, castles and towers. Even in the small
hilltop towns, you can stumble across fine examples
of Byzantine and Norman architecture and evidence of
ancient Greek and Albanian culture.
The famous Riace bronzes are exhibited
in Reggio Calabria’s National Museum. Discovered,
off the coast of Calabria, in 1972, they are thought
to date back to the 5th century BC and are truly superb
examples of ancient Greek sculpture. These elegant warriors
stand about 2m high and, whilst made of bronze, have
lips and nipples of copper, eyelashes and teeth of silver,
and eyes of ivory. They seem to represent perfection
and beauty. Experts and laymen alike view them with
equal enthusiasm.
Calabria is also rich in living
tradition and folklore. Throughout the year, there is
a wealth of festivals and carnivals, involving music
and dancing, often in traditional costume. These are
not contrived for tourists, but are long-lived traditions,
which have been passed on through the generations, and
are still strong today. Nevertheless, this area is a
popular holiday destination for Italians, so it can
be buzzing with life, and particularly busy on the coast,
in the summer, especially around the Festival of Ferragosto,
when there are religious festivities, traditional melon
parties on the beach and fireworks. Italians on holiday
love life and fun and seem not to need much sleep!
For us, the impact of Calabria
always comes through exploration and discovery. You
will be spoilt for choice. Whether in the mountains
or on the coast, there is more to see and explore than
can possibly be done in a couple of weeks. |
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