Calabria, Italy

Calabria is in the southern region of Italy and is a wonderful blend of coastline and mountains. Many people think that the southern part of Italy is full of rocky land, but if you are looking for a stunning beach vacation, Calabria has a beautiful coastline to offer. It is becoming more popular to tourists as more and more people discover its beauty and charm.

The history of the region goes back to its time as a part of Greece. Visiting the hamlets and villages of this region are like taking a step back in time. To get a sense of the culture of the area, a traveler should explore some of the areas outside of the traditional tourist spots. Here you will see the region as it really exists without the luxury of the resorts and beaches.

The food in Calabria is an extraordinary mix of Greek and Italian. Ingredients that have a decidedly Greek influence include honey, figs and almonds. Pasta is a traditional dish in the area and Italian cheeses such as ricotta, pecorino and provolone are used in a number of the traditional dishes in Calabria.

In the 1950’s the government forced more than fifteen thousand inhabitants of Matera, cave dwellings, into modern housing. Today, you can visit the area to view what is now a World Heritage location and it is a very beautiful as well as modern location now.

The economy of Calabria has benefited from the tourist trade in recent years as more people discover the beaches and mountains of the area. As it is a largely mountainous region people who enjoy natural views and hiking are in for a treat. But it is the resort towns along the beaches that are largely responsible for the increase in tourism.

The language that is spoken in the area is mostly Italian but there are various dialects spoken in the region as well. Albanian is spoken in some of the smaller villages and there is even a hybrid of Italian and Greek spoken in small areas.

The wine that is produced in the region does not have the same kind of attention that other Italian wine regions have garnered around the world. There are vineyards in Calabria that go back as far as the time when Greece occupied the area. Wine lovers will be happy to learn that there are grape varieties currently being cultivated in the region today that have been around for thousands of years.