Capital: Catanzaro
Calabria
Italy's Untamed Toe
Overview
Calabria forms the toe of Italy's boot, a sun-scorched land of dramatic contrasts where the mountains tumble into crystalline seas. This is the Italy of a century ago—fiercely traditional, intensely flavored, and refreshingly untouristed. Ancient Greek colonies left their mark here, as did Byzantine monks who carved churches into cliffsides. The Calabrian kitchen is bold and spicy, built on 'nduja, pepperoncino, and the freshest seafood.
Highlights
- 01Tropea, a clifftop town with famous red onions
- 02Bronzi di Riace, ancient Greek bronze warriors
- 03Sila National Park, 'the lungs of the South'
- 04Scilla, a fishing village from Homer's Odyssey
