How can so much variety of landscape 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. Featured in the writings of Homer and Virgil and fought over by Hannibal, Romans, Spartans and many others, there is evidence of 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 glimpses of ancient Greek and Albanian culture. The famous 5 th century BC ancient Greek sculptures, the Riace bronzes, are in Reggio Calabria's National Museum. These elegant bronze warriors with lips and nipples of copper, eyelashes and teeth of silver, and eyes of ivory are just perfection!

Calabria is also rich in living tradition and folklore, with festivals and carnivals, involving music and dancing, often in traditional costume. Not contrived for tourists, these are long-lived traditions, passed on generations, and 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.

Or, do you want to discover food and cooking? Have fun in cookery lessons, sitting around the table, eating and drinking to your heart's content, arguing the best way to make a simple sauce, with the odd glass of wine (or three!) in hand, talking about anything and everything – it's an experience that you'll never forget!