Calabria is without a doubt, the heart of Mediterranean: climate, culture, history, gastronomy and the wide open spaces along the sea and in the mountains make the Calabrian Ionian coast an ideal destination to spend your spare time… in the best way.
SEA AND MOUNTAINS
The choice between the sea and the mountains is easy thanks to the possibility of getting from the Ionic or Tyrrhenian coasts to the mountain areas in just a few minutes. The Calabrian Ionian Coast offers wonderful seaside landscapes contrasted by views of the rising mountain chains in the backdrop, both often available directly from your home. By purchasing one of these awe-inspiring homes you will open up a world full of lavish forests, sandy and rocky beaches, and breathtaking lakes and falls hidden throughout the region.
THE VILLAGES
The elevated position on the mountainside allows locals to enjoy the majestic views by day, while the cool night air helps to pleasantly overcome the heat of the southern sun. Drawn by the architecture profile of the villages, and the ancient charm of the homes, many Italians, as well as various foreigners, have already bought and renovated a holiday house. They are all independent and often rise according to the medieval model of tower- house. Every so often, a new construction is built with a more esoteric design. In any case, the structures still retain their soulful characteristics and refuse to be confused with the banal modern constructions.
NATIONAL PARKS
Calabria has 3 National Parks: the villages in the Serre region are in the middle of Calabria, while the villages in the Sila region are in the north of Calabria, and the villages in the Aspromonte region are in the south of Calabria. All of these villages face out towards the sea with their backs against the mountains, and are surrounded by the Mediterranean bush and its unmistakable natural perfumes. All the while, the orange, lemon, bergamotto, chestnut, olive trees offer a simple taste of the land’s history.
HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY
Those who are fond of history and archeology can go and visit the sites dating back to the “Magna Grecia” golden period. These sites are spread out all over the Calabria region. Just a few kilometers away from most villages you will also find various museums and archeological areas where, during the summer, suggestive cultural events take place, such as concerts, operas, prose works, sagre, and so on. In the Norman castles, rising on the highest spots of the ancient villages, you will find a medieval environment, enriched by costume performances and parades. The architecture is a testimony to the passing of time from the Middle Ages to the 1800s. Small cribs built on the mountainside raise one after the other, animating the whole. No two houses are alike. In each one you will find an ancient footpath leading you to the rejuvenation these hidden treasures deserve, all by your hands.
MEGALITHES AND MONOLITHES
15 kilometres away from Serra San Bruno, near Nardo di Pace (a little village in the Calabrian Serre), a recent finding had dug up some prehistorical constructions that rose up on a tableland near the higher peak of the Serre. There are many different interpretations about this archeologic area, but the most reliable affirms that the megalithes found there were a place of worship belonged to an ancient civilization, datable between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. The Megalithes of Nardo di Pace are maybe the last finding that has aroused the attention of scholars, researchers and many curious persons. there are also other monolithes in Aspromonte Park, very particular and amazing!
HAVE YOU EVER TASTED ITALIAN FOOD?
Italy is famous throughout the world thanks to a unique and unavoidable factor: food!
But it’s not just the actual food that makes Italy a food-lover’s paradise. It’s the way they think about their food that sets them apart from the rest. In Italy, the coffee is hot and to the point, the mozzarella is fresh and the people eat with gusto. Clearly, Italians are just better at life than the rest of us. And that’s just the short list. Read on for the 15 reasons that the rest of us should take notes on how to live from the Italians — or why we should all just up and move to Italy.
Huffington Post - US Edition
