Summer in Italy: the most beautiful swimming resorts in Calabria

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Calabria, at the foot of Italy, is the poorest region in the country. Agriculture, especially citrus and olive cultivation, characterizes the picture. Tourism is not yet as developed as in the more popular Italian regions of the north. In other words: Tuscany, Cinque Terre and Co. You will not find mass tourism like this here. But you can still find a more authentic Bella Italia: sleepy villages, typical Mediterranean scenery and simple bathroom facilities. And remember: 300 sunny days a year. If you’re looking for a holiday away from the mainstream in Italy, Calabria is for you. But you should hurry: the area is becoming more and more popular.

There is hardly a brochure or advertisement for Calabria without a picture of Tropea: sheer cliffs surrounded by medieval houses, a crescent-shaped beach, and the deep blue sea below. And, like many towns in the region, the old town is a maze of narrow streets with small squares where bars and trattorias set their tables. After a day at the beach, you can end the day here with an Aperol Spritz. Be sure to try Cipolla Rossa di Tropea and Pizza Cipolla: the red onion variety is said to be the best in Italy.

Fly: The best place for a selfie or Instagram shot is the church of Santa Maria dell’Isola perched on a rock.

There is an old legend about Scilla. According to Greek mythology, the sea monster Scylla lived here. Across the Strait of Messina (Sicily just a few kilometers away) his counterpart, Charybdis, is said to live. It is safe to swim on the long sandy beach under the medieval castle. And above all calm. Only local people come here in the summer. Scilla consists of three parts: the modern seaside resort with many holiday apartments, the traditional settlement on a rocky plateau, and the former fishing district of Chianalea. The latter is as romantic and picturesque as in a 1950s movie.

Fly: Make sure you stay directly at sea at one of the private accommodations in Chianalea.

The town of Soverato is located on the eastern side of Calabria, on the Ionian Sea that separates Italy from Greece. Due to several earthquakes in the last few centuries, Soverato doesn’t have a large old town – the reason it passes through is the wide, white sand beach, and the infrastructure here is correspondingly good. Still, the beach is never overcrowded. The sea is so clear that a large area off the coast has been declared a protected area. If you need to get away from the sea, you can visit the inner regions with a rental car. There are small mountain villages with traditional trattorias.

The town of Pizzo is another typical beauty of the west coast: a hearty old town with a castle on a rocky plateau with a small but fine sandy beach at its foot. Most visitors come here to see the city and walk in its historical footsteps: Napoleon’s brother-in-law was executed at Murat Castle in 1815, ending French rule in the region. And there is another reason to visit Pizzo: the famous Tartufo di Pizzo, ice cream made of hazelnuts and chocolate that looks like truffles. You can have a great swim on the small beach.

On the eastern side of Calabria, between the Sila Nature Park and the Ionian Sea, is the capo Rizzuto. The place is in the middle of a marine reserve. The Greeks were already fascinated by the wild, untamed beauty of the region and established colonies here that served as ports for the exchange of goods and cultures. To this day, an imposing medieval memento sits on its throne off the coast: the Aragonese fortress, Castello Aragonese.

Fly: The entire coast around the town is characterized by small swimming coves and fine sandy beaches (Spiaggia di Gigli is particularly beautiful), which attracts mainly local tourists. Accordingly, the infrastructure is good.

Perhaps the most beautiful piece of beach in Calabria is located on and around the small capo of Capo Vaticano, not far from the town of Tropea. Cliffs and magical coves, which can usually only be reached on foot, characterize the picture. However, since there are longer beaches in the region, many hotels and resorts, mostly visited by Italian tourists, have emerged. The peninsula is not built into hotel facilities and therefore offers an authentic bathing experience. On a clear day, the seven Aeolian Islands can be seen in the distance.

Source : Blick