Calabria - the real Italy

Calabria is a contrasting region made up of isolated cities, villages and mountain refuges.

Located on the toe of Italy, with its rugged cliffs, spectacular coastlines, picturesque towns and over 500 miles of pristine beaches Calabria is an ideal beach destination for anyone looking to experience the ‘real Italy.’

The charming resorts grow out of cliff tops set on the backdrop of the Aspromonte mountains with both roman and Greek influence.

Calabria is a fantastic location which offers ancient churches, stunning walks along the dramatic coastline and even views of the island of Stromboli, the continuously active volcano set in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

A glorious mountain range commands the centre region of Calabria, because of this the locals have learned how to live and take advantage of the agricultural terrain. For thousands of years homes, churches and even entire towns have been carved out of the face of the mountains. Once thought of as a disadvantage or a deterrent to outsiders moving in, the rugged hill cities are now being connected with roads that drive over and through the mountainside, opening up areas of Italy that have been hidden for centuries.

Two of the biggest draws to the region of Calabria are the ancient ruins that can be found in or near almost every city, and the unspoiled beaches that are a centre of life to the towns facing the sea.

The Ancient Greeks recognized the defensive advantages the mountain offered and left behind the ruins of their temples, tombs and even rough theatres cut into cliffs.

The Byzantine civilization is preserved by both the mountain air and the seclusion the location offers, leaving an endless trail of Heritage sights.

Coming down from the mountain caves leads locals and travellers straight to seaside cliffs where tiny village beaches spread out beneath the cliff-side homes that have been facing the Mediterranean for years.

For more details visit: http://wikitravel.org/en/Calabria

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