Welcome to Italy! Arguably one of the most beautiful countries in the world, possessing a bewitching quality, rich culture and blessed with some of the most breathtaking scenery of dramatic mountain ranges, fine sandy beaches and fragrant landscapes. Revered for its rich artistic, musical, historical and architectural heritage as for the famous Italian zest for life and mouth watering cuisine.
Famed as much for its cuisine, as for its romance, vivacity, rich culture and blessed with some of the most beautiful vistas, dramatic mountain ranges, fine sandy beaches and fragrant landscapes. With endless sandy beaches and due to its location below Naples it has some of the hottest weather in Italy and a fantastic year round Mediterranean climate. Some of the many surprises of this stunning region are the lakes, forests, wetlands, mountains and ski slopes in the Sila district.
Why Italy?
A country of many contrasts, steeped in history. Awash with spectacular architecture, historical monuments, picturesque piazzas, archaeological sites, museums and art galleries designed as a testament to the genius of Italy’s famous sons such as Michaelangelo and Da Vinci. More recently we can also add the internationally revered fashion houses of Milan. Add to this the delightful traditional villages, vibrant cities, exhilarating ski-slopes and kilometres of sublimely diverse coastline.
Italy comprises twenty distinctive regions. Venita in the north covers the Dolomites, Verona, Padua and Venice and most UK and US visitors are familiar with the landscape of Tuscany, especially the world famous Campo de Miracoli (leaning Tower of Pisa) and the shops on the Ponte Vecchio. It is almost impossible to choose between the architectural delights of Rome, Milan, Pompeii or the sophisticated city of Naples and the Amalfi coast.
In the south western corner in the ‘toe’ of Italy, Calabria has long been popular with Italian tourists, but has only recently come to the attention of overseas tourism and developers.
The area has seen a steady in interest from European tourists attracted by the natural beauty of the area and also the noticeably improved amenities and infrastructure.
Why Calabria?
Calabria is situated in the area known as ‘mezzogiorno’(lunchtime) due to its sizzling hot climate, bordered by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas, in the south western corner of Italy, south of Naples, with only the Strait of Messina separating it from the delightful island of Sicily. Calabria is one of Italy’s best kept secret amongst the multitude of Italian’s looking to escape the heat of the city during the month of August however it is only recently that the region has come to the attention of overseas investors and tourists.
The character of this beautiful region is formed by its breathtaking disparate landscape of mountain ranges; Aspromonte and Serre to the south and Pollino to the north, the central Sila plateau and miles of coastline with unspoilt sandy beaches, secluded coves, dramatic cliff faces and charming traditional villages and established resorts such as Scalea, Tropea and Praia a Mare, where everything stops for siesta.
Calabria province comprises five regions, each with its distinctive character. Reggio Calabria, was historically capital of the province and is still the seat of the regional parliament, however Cantanzaro has been the capital of the region since the 1970’s. Consenza, one of the largest towns of the area, is famous for historical old town with the cathedral which claims to house the grave of Isabel Aragon, twelfth century castle, the historic Piazza XV Marzo and the University of Calabria dating back to the ancient Greeks.
The town is also the best point from which to discover La Sila National Park, which can be reached from Consenza by train, offering beautiful countryside of lakes, waterfalls, dense forestation, home to many species of wildlife and birds.
Tropea, the most popular amongst Italian tourists, conveys a sense of history and grandeur, boasting pristine beaches, a patchwork of fragrant cypress, citrus and olive groves and spectacular views from the ancient hilltop castle across to the ring of smoke above the volcano at Stromboli. Sila Grande an area reminiscent of the Alps boasting a unique landscape of dense forestation, waterfalls and lakes with stunning sea views and the snow capped mountains of Sila Grande.