Calabria is the region in Italy where many members of the team at Italy Vacation Specialists, still call home and lead guided tours and experiences for travelers from all over Italy and the world at large.   On our siste site, VisitsItaly, which is quite literally an encyclopedia about Italy, we have written about over 50 different towns and cities in the region that you can read about here:  http://www.visitsitaly.com/calabria/ 

Because of advances in technology our old website based on Html code became like a dinosaur and we had to re-build with Italy Vacation Specialists, where we are currently listing many of our new experiences in this area which is an exciting one to discover in terms of geography, food, wine, adventure, culture and history.    You can read about many of the towns and cities we have written and photographed on the right hand corner, though for various reasons we really urge you to get in touch with us to see some of these places for without local guides many of these destinations are difficult for English-only speaking clients to access and because of sometimes difficult terrain, locals who still don't speak very much English we really urge you to consider when traveling here to reach out ot us or even another company who can assist you with possible language barriers and truly making the most out of this area of the world which has been slower in some instances to evolve than other areas in Italy, though this is partly the beauty of travel here and something many people who really want to slow down and appreciate authentic Italy, savour and lover during their travels here, for while the rest of the world has seemed to evolve time here for the most part has stood still and traditions, local culture and the way of life has been lovingly preserved and kept in tact.  In fact, mostly Italian toursists come to places like Praia a Mare, Scalea, Soverato, San Nicola and many others because it's a truly Italian holiday destination where authenticity and a very relaxed style to the day evolve naturally and entirely authentically, something we ourselves as the ownes of the company love. 
 
It is easy to understand why this land is one of myth and incredible history.  Home to 'Magna Grecia' or greater Greece - this is where Homer, the Greek author of The Odyssey and The Illiad, Calabria was a far-off magical and dangerous place, where heroes rose to spectacular challenges and overcame Olympian odds.  Ulysses and his crew sailed through the monstrous pass of Scilla and Charybis, which in reality was the narrow, turbulent strait between the Calabrian mainland and the Island of Sicily.

 

The Greeks were not the first here.  When they arrived they encountered settlements of pre-historic tribes such as the Sabines, whom they called the Enotrians, or "lovers of wine".  In this word, etymologists find the origin of the country's name, "Italia", as well as the root of the Italian people's love of life.

 

Praia a Mare, Calabria Italy - Photo by Jesse Andrews 

 

Over the centuries, successive empires invaded Calabria and asserted their domination.  The Byzantines, the Romans, and the Normans duing their quests to and from the Crusades in far-off Jerusalem. Even Hannibal and his army came through, on the backs of elephants after sacking Rome. The Nazis hunkered down in Calabria in World War II befor being driven out by the massed forces of the Allies, who pushed them north, and eventually back into Germany itself.

 

Thousands of years ago, the local people, no fools, removed themselves from the vulnerable coastal areas and onto the mountain tops, where they built improbable towns and villages along canyons and mountain peaks; thus making conquest difficult, and sometimes impossible.  There they scratched out a living on small farms, growing figs, olive and lemon trees, while tending to small herds of goat and sheep. They mined the streams and rivers for gold. They carved roads and trails which are still in use even today.

 

For millenia, the people here have made pottery, spun wool, knitted plain garments.  They've milked their goats, made bread, rolled pasta, fermented wine and distilled limoncello, a sweet lemon aperitif.  They have gone about their business, shop-keeping, worshipping in their numerous churches and duomos, and observed holy days and feast days around the year with pious gusto.

 

 

And they still do all this today; a self-sufficient, self-reliant, practical, stubborn, no-nonsense people whom other Italians say are "testa dura" - hard headed.

 

In ancient times, there were periods when Calabria could boast wealth and importance, but by the end of the 16th century, Calabria fell into decline, its people are some of the poorest in all Italy.  Their poverty propelled the mass immigration of the late 19th and early 20th century, when millions of Calabrese came down from the mountains and clamoured onto ships that took them to "new worlds", particularly to the USA and Canada.

 

But now...Calabria is reclaiming its past glory and pride, tired of being the forgotten and neglected part of Italy it grew accustomed to being during the last 500 years or so and are ready to transform itself into a premier destination. Why not;  it's got everything going for it.

 

When you come to the "new" Calabria, a place that has been inhabited for over 3,000 years, you will be dumbfounded by its scenery - whether you stay up in the mountains, or find your way along the winding coastal highways to it's seaside towns and beaches.  You will find resorts, hotels, inns, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, lidos and tourist parks of every quality catering to people with small, medium or large budgets.

 

And once you've arrived and settled in you will have the opportunity to savour the hearty, tasty, Calabrese cuisine all made from local produce, meats, fish and fruit.

 

It's true that the Calabrese are not quite ready for masses of English-speaking tourists.  Indeed, you won't find too many people who converse confidently in English.  Nor will you  find many signs printed in English or be able to buy English books, newspapers or magazines.  But, so what?

 

Visit Calabria now - before the crowds arrive.  You will get by with relative ease if you are patient and respectful, and all your needs will be met while you enjoy the vacation of a lifetime!