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Calabria is a region in southern Italy, located at the "toe" of the Italian peninsula. It is surrounded by the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, and it is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. Calabria is the southernmost region of mainland Italy and is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and delicious cuisine.

The region covers an area of 15,080 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 1.95 million people. Its capital city is Reggio Calabria, and other major cities include Catanzaro, Cosenza, and Crotone.

Calabria has a long and fascinating history, with evidence of human settlements dating back to the Palaeolithic era. It has been inhabited by various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Normans, and Byzantines, all leaving their mark on the region's culture and architecture.

One of the most distinctive features of Calabria is its rugged and mountainous terrain, with the Apennine Mountains running through the region. The mountains are dotted with charming villages, ancient castles, and breath-taking views. The coastline is also a major attraction, with long stretches of sandy beaches, hidden coves, and crystal-clear waters.

The climate in Calabria is typically Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and mild winters. This makes it an ideal destination for beach lovers, as well as for those seeking outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and water sports.

Calabrian cuisine is a highlight of the region, with a strong focus on fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Some of the most popular dishes include 'nduja (a spicy spreadable salami), swordfish, and eggplant parmigiana. The region is also famous for its production of citrus fruits, olive oil, and wine.

In addition to its natural beauty and culinary delights, Calabria also has a rich cultural heritage. The region is home to numerous museums, archaeological sites, and historical monuments, including the impressive Riace Bronzes, ancient Greek statues discovered in the waters off the coast of Calabria.

In recent years, Calabria has become a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a perfect blend of history, nature, and gastronomy. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach vacation, a cultural experience, or an adventure in the great outdoors, Calabria has something for everyone.

Calabria is a region located in the southernmost part of Italy, known for its rich and diverse culinary traditions. The region is surrounded by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, and its cuisine is heavily influenced by its coastal location.

Food:

Calabrian cuisine is characterized by the use of fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The region is known for its abundance of agricultural products such as olives, citrus fruits, eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. These ingredients are used in a variety of dishes, including pasta, stews, and grilled meats.

One of the most famous dishes from Calabria is the Pasta alla Norma, made with eggplant, tomatoes, and ricotta salata cheese. Another popular dish is the Calabrese sausage, made with pork, chili peppers, and fennel seeds, giving it a spicy and distinctive flavour.

Seafood also plays a major role in Calabrian cuisine, with dishes such as swordfish rolls, fried calamari, and spicy seafood soups being popular among locals and tourists alike.

Wines:

Calabria is home to several excellent wine-producing regions, with the most famous being Cirò, located in the eastern part of the region. The vineyards in Calabria benefit from the warm and sunny climate, producing high-quality wines such as Greco Bianco, Gaglioppo, and Magliocco.

Cirò wine, made from the Gaglioppo grape, is a full-bodied red wine that pairs well with the spicy and flavourful dishes of Calabrian cuisine. The region also produces white and rosé wines, with Trebbiano and Greco Bianco being the most common grape varieties.

Traditions:

Calabria is a region deeply rooted in traditions and customs, and this is reflected in its food and wine culture. One of the most significant traditions in Calabrian cuisine is the use of "peperoncino," a type of chili pepper that adds a spicy and distinct flavour to many dishes.

Another important tradition is the celebration of the Feast of San Giuseppe, or St. Joseph's Day, on March 19th. This feast is celebrated with a variety of traditional dishes, including Zeppole di San Giuseppe, a fried pastry filled with custard and topped with cherries.In addition, the region is known for its numerous festivals and fairs dedicated to food and wine, where locals and tourists can taste and learn about traditional dishes and wines.

Calabria is a region located in southern Italy, known for its rich culinary traditions and delicious wines. The cuisine of Calabria is heavily influenced by its Mediterranean location, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and simple yet flavourful dishes.

One of the most notable foods from Calabria is the 'nduja, a spicy spreadable salami made from pork, chili peppers, and spices. It is often used as a condiment for pasta dishes or spread on bread.

Another popular dish is the Cipolla di Tropea, a sweet red onion grown in the region and used in many dishes, including salads, sauces, and even as a topping on pizza.

Seafood plays a significant role in Calabrian cuisine, thanks to its coastal location. Swordfish, sardines, and anchovies are commonly found in dishes such as pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines) and pesce spada alla ghiotta (swordfish cooked in a tomato and caper sauce).

Calabrian cuisine also includes a variety of vegetable-based dishes, such as the peperonata (stewed peppers) and melanzane ripiene (stuffed eggplants). These dishes often feature a combination of herbs and spices, giving them a distinct and delicious flavour.

When it comes to wine, Calabria is home to some excellent varieties, particularly the red wine Cirò. Made from the indigenous Gaglioppo grape, this wine has a deep, rich flavour and pairs well with many of the region's dishes.

Aside from its delicious food and wine, Calabria is also known for its rich cultural traditions. The region has a strong agricultural heritage, and many festivals and celebrations revolve around the harvest season. These events often feature traditional music, dancing, and of course, plenty of food and wine.

In conclusion, Calabria is a region in southern Italy that offers a delicious and diverse culinary experience. From spicy meats to fresh seafood and flavourful vegetables, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So, if you ever find yourself in Calabria, be sure to try some of the region's famous foods and wines and immerse yourself in its rich cultural traditions.

worlds hot zone in the  mediterranean sea

 

The South of Italy

7 REGIONS from ROME to SICILY

 

 

APULIA

Apulia, a land located in the centre of the Mediterranean at the southern extremity of Europe, offers splendid views from commanding positions, over fertile valleys towards the sparkling Adriatic, delicious food and wine and a wonderful warm climate. Here, Nature imposes itself with a wonderful variety of rich colours: red earth, dark green pine, silvery green olive trees and lush vineyards; sparkling white labyrinths of towns which seem to glisten in the sun; milky white medieval centres with tangles of streets and alleyways, all against a backdrop of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. In this land you will find gems of architectural and historical interest: Romanesque, Byzantine and  Baroque churches, cathedrals, castles, towers, prehistorical remains and last but not least the Trulli Houses.

BASILICATA

Basilicata, magical and vague. Land of light and clay, woods and mountains, that can lead to the desire of its discovery without noticing. This is a small region who’s solitary mountains gently fall to the Tyrrhenian Sea on one side and to the Ionian Sea on the other. Basilicata is surrounded by other territories of Southern Italy, like Calabria that leads to Sicily, Campania with it's Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, or Apulia with it's Trulli Houses. Some of it's typical villages lay peacefully on the rocks allowing a silent and reserved stay with great views of it’s rugged coast, others lay next to the beach, surrounded by nature, offering fun and entertainment.

CALABRIA

This is a land with a wonderful coast line; dramatic cliffs overhanging secluded bays; steep cliff paths to small rocky coves; islands and caves to explore; long stretches of beach, gently curving into the distance all are lapped by the clear, azure sea. Calabria makes up the "toe" of Italy and is an area little known to British visitors. The scenery is spectacular and dramatic, rising to over 6000 ft in the mountains, and dropping steeply to the coast with its long stretches of beach, crescent-shaped bays, craggy cliffs and islands dotted about in the crystal clear, blue, Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. 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. On the other hand, the slow southern Italian pace of life is perfect for just relaxing. Calabria is 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, Sparticans and many others. It is also rich in living tradition and folklore. Throughout the year, there is a wealth of festivals and carnivals, involving much music and dancing, often in traditional costume.

CAMPANIA

This is the land where the deep South of Italy truly begins. Campania is the region that houses wonderful world wide known sceneries like the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Capri but is also doorway to other most beautiful locations of Southern Italy like Calabria with it's wonderful rugged coast, Sicily and it's romantic and historic towns like Agrigento and Taormina, and also just few hours away from Apulia and it's characteristic Trulli Houses or Basilicata with beautiful towns like Maratea. Campania features a volcanic sea of the deepest shade of blue lined with miles of dramatic coast and dotted with such lovely islands that almost seem to be tiny, brightly coloured jewels. Sharp contrasts don't miss in this region going from the heat, noise and urban sprawl of troubled Naples to the calming qualities of Sorrento, from the romantic islands of Capri and Ischia to the undiscovered coastline of Cilento. One typicality of Campania will never miss throughout the whole region and that's the warm welcoming as well as the calm qualities of it's people. Enjoy all of Campania's culinary gems, starting from the world known "pizza" that originates from this region of Italy, and created in Honour of the Queen Margherita, going through it's cakes and sweets and ending to it's typical liquors.

 

MOLISE

The Molise region shared its history with Abruzzo until the fall of the Roman Empire, as evidenced by findings in Pineta of Homo Aeserniensis, who moved between the two regions on a seasonal basis. All the main centres in Molise became Roman colonies with the conquests during the Social War and the Samnite Wars and Second Punic Wars (such as Morrone del Sannio, Isernia, Larino, Venafro and Pietrabbondante), with the formation of new Christian-led urbanisations, such as the Diocese of Trivento, until the Normans arrived. Invasions by the Goths and Lombards followed and, after the latter's conversion to Catholicism, the church gained much power over Molise. A key date in the history of Molise is 1221, when Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor turned Molise into a district of imperial justice. Several monasteries were founded here, including the splendid site of the Madonna delle Grotte in Rocchetta a Volturno.
 

SARDINIA

Seaside views in Sardinia are among the most marvellous in the world. Beautiful little isles scattered around its coastline. The coasts are scraggy and rocky, surrounded by shallow sea and astonishing beaches of fine sand and coves. Striking beauty of nature, christal-emerald clear waters of the Mediterranean sea, warm, welcoming people, typical cuisine, old traditions and wonderfull culture, all in one territory, with museums to visit, plenty of activities to take part to, natural environments to explore or beautifull beaches to simply relax on. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, full of culture, history, nature, folklore and entertainment.

SICILY

This wonderful island is the home of great historic and romantic sites like Agrigento and Taormina and only few hours away from other beautiful locations of Southern Italy like Calabria and it's wonderful rugged coast, Campania and it's splendid sites like the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, or even Apulia and it's characteristic Trulli Houses. This beautiful island hoststhe Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, which looms menacingly over the eastern end of the island. If you are lucky, you could witness the glow of molten lava flowing from fissures in the rock and the most spectacular fireworks display you have ever seen. This is the island that hosts great historical architectural buildings andwhere Africa meets Europe blending Baroque with Classical. Sicily is a land where not only you can sit and enjoy the heat of the sun but also discover and explore its Greek Temples, Baroque churches and any other historical site you can find. No need for great studies to make great discoveries: Sicily will just show them to you, with all their glamour.

 

the  tyrrhenian sea

the worlds hot zone

worlds

from Rome south The South of Italy

 

MOUNT VESUVIUS VOLCANO

POMPEI ERCOLANO PAESTUM

AMALFI POSITANO COAST

MOUNT ETNA VOLCANO

STROMBOLI VOLCANO

EOLIAN ISLANDS

CAPRI ISLAND

TRULLI LAND

FRIENDLY PEOPLE

HOT ROMANTIC CHARACTER

BREATH TAKING COASTAL VIEWS

BREATH TAKING MOUNTAIN VIEWS

HISTORICAL CHARACTER MONUMENTS

TRADITIONAL OLD CHARACTER ROOKED TOWNS

LOCAL TRADITIONAL CELLAR WINES TESTING

LOCAL TRADITIONAL FOOD

LOCAL TRADITIONAL CHEFS

LOCAL TRADITIONAL WINES

 

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south italy

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South Italy package by PRC Tour Executive

South Italy package by PRC Tour Executive

South Italy package by PRC Tour Executive