Sun, sea, food, wine and quality of life – sums up this diverse and captivating region of Italy.
Calabria is at the toe of the boot, the extreme south of Italy – lapped by the splendid crystal blue sea and separated from Sicily. The warm climate, the beautiful colours of the sea, rocky coasts that alternate with sandy beaches, a nature that is wild and mysterious, the strong and genuine flavours of local food and the vestiges of its ancient origins make Calabria a unique place.
Calabria is unlikely to be the first place in Italy you’d visit. But if you’re intent on seeing a candid and uncensored version of la dolce vita, look no further!
Calabrese food is wonderful – spicy and built on sun-ripened produce and the freshest possible meat.
Calabria’s unofficial symbol is the horn-shaped red chilli pepper. Not only does it add a spicy kick to any dish, it also wards off malocchio (the evil eye).
Calabria is a land of salumi, you have to taste it. Soppressata is Calabria’s origin-protected, cured, flattened sausage made from pork. YUM!
In Calabria, the most common term you might hear is riposo. In Calabria, just about everything is closed from around 12-5 p.m. People don’t necessarily spend these hours napping, but it’s still a time to rest, especially in smaller villages. Because of these breaks, you won’t be able to get a whole lot done in the afternoon anyway, so it’s best to get out and about early, rest in the afternoon, and then stay out late. The Italian way.
