Calabria

Between two seas, wild mountains and deep-rooted identities

Calabria is a region of sharp contrasts and strong identities.
Narrowly set between the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, crossed by rugged mountain ranges and sparsely urbanised inland areas, it retains an authentic character, often far removed from more superficial representations.

It is a land that requires time and attention. Travelling through Calabria means embracing a direct relationship with the landscape, its strength and its layers of cultural history.

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Places to Discover

Reggio Calabria and the Strait of Messina

Reggio Calabria lives in constant dialogue with the sea.
Overlooking the Strait of Messina, it offers one of the most striking views in the Mediterranean, with Sicily seemingly within arm’s reach.

The Lungomare Falcomatà runs along the coastline and is one of the city’s most iconic spaces.
The National Archaeological Museum houses the famous Riace Bronzes, extraordinary masterpieces of Magna Graecia that testify to Calabria’s central role in the ancient world.

Historic inland villages: Gerace, Stilo and Civita

Calabria’s interior is dotted with hilltop villages, often built for defence and territorial control.
Gerace, with its Norman cathedral, dominates the Ionian coast from above.
Stilo preserves one of Italy’s most important Byzantine buildings, the Cattolica, a symbol of Calabria’s deeply Mediterranean identity.
Civita, within the Pollino National Park, reflects the presence of the Arbëreshë community, still alive in language and traditions.

These towns represent an essential historical and cultural heritage for understanding the region’s identity.

Natural parks: Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte

Calabria is one of the Italian regions with the largest extent of protected areas.
The Pollino National Park, the Sila National Park and the Aspromonte National Park safeguard very different landscapes, all united by a strong sense of wilderness.

The Sila, with its plateaus and lakes, offers wide, luminous scenery.
The Aspromonte, by contrast, is harsher and more vertical, marked by gorges, seasonal riverbeds and trails that descend rapidly towards the sea.
These areas are ideal for hiking, trekking and journeys in close contact with nature.

The Riviera dei Cedri and the Tyrrhenian coast

Along the northern Tyrrhenian coast stretches the Riviera dei Cedri, a bright and open shoreline where the sea meets villages and cultivated land.
Towns such as Scalea, Santa Maria del Cedro, Praia a Mare and Diamante offer wide beaches, rocky cliffs and historic centres perched above the water.

The old town of Scalea, with its narrow lanes and sea-facing terraces, is one of the area’s most distinctive features.
The region takes its name from the citron, a symbolic citrus fruit cultivated here for centuries and tied to important cultural and religious traditions.

The Ionian coast and Magna Graecia

The Ionian side reveals a different Calabria, more open and luminous.
Here lie important remains of Magna Graecia, such as Locri Epizefiri, Kaulon and Sibari, recalling the region’s central role in the ancient Mediterranean.

The Ionian coastline alternates long sandy beaches with small towns, offering a less crowded experience, closely connected to everyday local life.

Flavours of Calabria: character, heat and territory

Calabrian cuisine is bold and strongly rooted, born of a farming and pastoral culture.
Chilli pepper is the emblematic ingredient, used not only for flavour but also for food preservation.

Among the most representative products are ’nduja, artisan cured meats, sheep’s and goat’s cheeses and preserved vegetables in oil.
The maritime tradition highlights oily fish, tuna and anchovies, prepared in a simple and direct way.

Food in Calabria is an expression of land and character: decisive, uncompromising and deeply authentic.

Experience Calabria with Toucan Travel

Calabria is a region that does not reveal itself immediately.
It rewards those who choose a slow journey, shaped by pauses, inland roads and genuine encounters.

Through itineraries that combine historic villages, natural parks, coastlines and the heritage of Magna Graecia, Toucan Travel offers a way of experiencing Calabria that values depth, identity and a meaningful connection with place.

Because Calabria is not just a destination: it is an experience that leaves its mark.