Calabria is one of the most beautiful regions in Southern Italy! High mountains, forests, wonderful sandy beaches with a crystal clear sea and small interesting towns in an untouched landscape.

A holiday in Calabria is primarily a holiday focusing on the sea and nature which are quite unique in this region. But the western coast also offers many picturesque, small towns where you can experience the wonderful relaxing atmosphere.

In Antiquity times, Calabria was part of Magna Graecia, and mythology almost seems to be attached to the beautiful and desolate landscape. But Calabria is much more than just mythology; large personalities such as Pythagoras lived in Calabria, and the best training centres for the Antiquity participants in the Olympics were founded in Sibari. 

The landscape of Calabria

Large parts of Calabria have a magnificent and unspoiled nature, and the region also has a lot of mountains. The districts are still relatively unknown. Some of the mountains are steep, rough and harsh with deep gorges while others are soft and covered by forests. The mountains have rich flora and fauna. 

Snow is a natural part of the mountains in the winter. The autumn is particularly beautiful with the changing colours. 

If you like unique experiences of nature in a still unspoiled landscape when going on a holiday, Calabria has everything one’s heart desires.

Large cities in Calabria

Catanzaro, Palmi, Cosenza.

Tourist attractions in Calabria

The Calabrian mountains offer nothing less than three national parks, Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte, and more than 16 natural reserves.

Sports activities in Calabria

Calabria is just another popular skiing resort in Italy. When the snow has melted, you can explore the mountains on mountain bike or by trekking.

Gastronomic characteristics of Calabria

The food culture of Calabria is characterised by two important factors: That it is near the sea and the large mountain areas. 

To a high extent, the type of food depends on where in Calabria you are. A stay along the coast, of course offers fish, a lot of tuna and swordfish but also sea urchins, while a stay in the mountains offers venison and overall much more meat such as lamb and venison. 

Calabria is not yet known for its performance within wines though you will find some excellent vineyards such as Odoardi, San Francesco and Librandi. Of course, this does not mean that you cannot have a glass of good local wine, but the big wine experiences are few and far between. 

The climate of Calabria

Calabria is certainly among the hottest regions of Italy. In the coolest months, the average temperature is still 15 degrees. In the summer months, the temperatures reach more than 30 degrees.

Some of the photos are kindly lent out from the Italian Tourist Office. Photographer: Fototeca ENIT.