Italy for Grownups

I just returned from a trip to Italy and a tour of the Calabria region, a region that is still an undiscovered one. Sandwiched between the well known Sicily and the Campania Amalfi Coast, Calabria brings happiness to tourists from Italy and Northern Europe in search of great food, excellent wines, plenty of sun and fine white-sand beaches. It’s still virgin territory.

On the Tyrrhenian side the rocky and fretted coast where Ulysses crashed attracted by the singing of sirens offers a rugged beautiful view from Capo Vaticano (southernmost point) up to the gulf of Policastro (northernmost point). On the Ionian side the white sandy beaches offer a great place for the sun worshippers and some of the best wines in the region.

The gastronomy of Calabria is a complete different chapter from the gastronomy of the rest of Italy. They make large use of the products from the land: fresh vegetables, kid meat, fresh fruit, cured meats, home-made pastas.

Red pepper is one of the main ingredients of the Cucina Calabrese; they even make desserts with it. A separate chapter should be written about their soppressata a unique cured meat that takes its unmatchable taste from a combination of factors that can be found only in Calabria. First the rep pepper, then the pork meat from a breed of pigs that can be found only on the Aspromonte Mountain Range that stretches, like a backbone for the entire length of toe Calabria, and the air temperature that is so perfect and steady throughout the winter season.

Oranges, kiwis and figs are the other used products that can be found in the region at very inexpensive prices.

A separate chapter needs to be written about the wine production.

The territory is 98% mountainous with the ranges of Sila on the northern part and the Aspromonte on the southern part or the tip of the Italian boot. The unique climate comes from the location between the two seas producing mild winters (it was in the low 50s a few days ago) with very hot and dry summers that can easily reach the 100° mark.

Two major airports are at disposal for travelers: Reggio Calabria on the extreme southern point with service from Rome and Milan, also from Venice, Bari , Bologna, Turin. Lamezia Terme airport has service from all major European gateways, including London-Stansted with Ryan Air. If you like to drive, you can reach Calabria by the Autostrada Salerno-Reggio Calabria, or by train. Bus services are available from some European capitals.