The Lesser-Known Beaches And Beauty Of Calabria In Italy

Calabria, Italy

If you’re looking to see the glory of Italy but on a budget, then this is the place for you. It has everything – beaches, quaint villages, breathtaking landscapes, and amazing accommodation. The best part is that it isn’t one of the main tourist attractions in the country, making the prices a lot cheaper for those who need to watch their spending.

Calabria first attracted us because it has something unique – you are staying in the toe of the boot. As we looked closer at what this region had to offer, we realized that it was the perfect summer getaway. The beaches looked pristine and the prices were good, even in the peak of summer. We booked immediately and are not sorry we did so.

We stayed in Tropea, which is the main hub of the region and seemed like the best point for a base camp for exploring. The city itself is teaming with life and history and culture. You will never eat better food in your life than at the restaurants here. Even though the area isn’t a big tourist hub, Tropea can still get quite busy so it’s good to hire a car so you can travel to the quieter spots for some relaxation.

There is a lot to explore here. Plenty of small villages dot the coastline, some of which can trace their history back to the fifth century BCE. Back then, it was actually a colony of Greece and was called Magna Graecia. The area has also been heavily influenced by a number of different cultures, including Norman, Arabic and Spanish. This incredible, rich and varied history can be seen in the homes, the people and the way of life.

The first thing you’re going to want to do, and the first thing that we did, was tour the beaches. There are 500 miles of coastline here, all showcasing white, sandy beaches and turquoise ocean that you have to swim in. We thankfully hit the area just before the height of tourist season, which is July-August, and the beaches weren’t too crowded for us.

The next thing on our to-do list was to visit as many of the local markets as possible in all the little villages. You can get the best food and fresh ingredients. We were staying in a self-catering place so we could cook up a storm with the amazing produce. The pepperoncino is a staple in everything there, providing a healthy kick of spice to many dishes.

If you’re tired of the beaches and need a change of scenery, or even if you’re not, take a moment to register right here, or look inland on your trip. There are three national parks in the region, the biggest being Pollino. The hiking trails are brilliant, and if you get high enough, you can look out over whole area and all the way out to the sea. This was well worth the sweat and effort to get up to these vantage points. If you come in winter, you can also enjoy skiing in these mountains.