Calabria

Calabria is the Italian region that constitutes the so-called tip of the boot, located at the southern end of the peninsula. With the Strait of Messina to the southwest and Basilicata to the north, it is bathed by the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. The administrative subdivision includes the Provinces of Catanzaro (the regional capital), Cosenza, Crotone, Vibo Valentia and the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria. Only 9% of the territory is flat, while the rest is hilly or mountainous. The reliefs consist of the last stretch of the Lucan Apennines, the Calabro Apennines and the Sila, Serra and Aspromonte plateaus.

The so-called land between two seas has 800 kilometers of coastline. On the Tyrrhenian side there are the Riviera dei Cedri, the Costa degli Dei, Costa Viola, on the Ionian side the Riviera dei Gelsomini, the Riviera degli Angeli, Costa degli Aranci, Costa dei Saraceni, Costa degli Achei, the Marine Protected Area of ​​Capo Rizzuto.

The Calabrian national parks are those of the Pollino, with the loricato pine and the UNESCO geosites, that of the Sila, with the iconic local wolf and many of the nine Calabrian nature reserves, and of the Aspromonte, with many paths among the sites of geological interest. There is also the Serre regional park, the naturalistic oases of Lago Angitola and Lago Ariamacina, and the Foce del Neto Special Protection Area.

The Calabrian UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the Cathedral of Cosenza (Witness of the Culture of Peace), the Varia di Palmi (religious manifestation proclaimed an intangible asset), the three National Parks and the Old Beech forests of Pollinello and the Infernale Valley. The Greek of Calabria (the Calabrian one was in fact the main territory of Magna Graecia) is mentioned in the languages ​​at risk of extinction, while the church called Cattolica di Stilo with the Byzantine Basilian Complexes and the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, a preserved ancient Greek manuscript at the Diocesan Museum of Rossano, are candidates for UNESCO recognition.

Agriculture is based on the cultivation of olive trees, vines and citrus fruits. Within the latter, the Calabrian agricultural sector stands out for the production of clementines, cedar and bergamot. But figs, peaches, strawberries are also grown, without forgetting the famous Tropea red onion.

Pastoralism, as well as fishing, is very popular. There are many breeding of both pigs and cattle, as well as goats and sheep. The most bred animal is certainly the pig, with the fatty parts of which the famous and spicy 'nduja is prepared; the prized parts are stuffed to make the soppressata; Calabrian sausage, capocollo and pancetta are also excellent. Many cheeses, such as caciocavallo silano and podolico, pecorino crotone, butirro, limina goat cheese, felciata, giuncata, provola silana, smoked ricotta. Furthermore, the preservation of meat and vegetables, but especially of fish, salted, pickled or in oil is very implemented; as in the case of sardella, produced with juveniles of blue fish, and canned tuna and stockfish.

The finest wines are Cirò, Terre di Cosenza, Lamezia, Palizzi and Pellaro, Greco di Bianco and Zibibbo di Pizzo.

Artisan weaving is one of the activities of local excellence, with the handwork of silk, wool, cotton, linen, broom and hemp.

Region very rich in history and culture, it can boast several sites of archaeological interest. Just to name a few, the Scolacium Archaeological Park in the province of Catanzaro, the ruins of the historic center of Cosenza, the excavations of Thurii and Sibari, the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone, the countless archaeological sites of Reggio Calabria, where there is also the National Museum of Magna Graecia with the Riace Bronzes, and Vibo Valentia.

There are freely accessible spas, such as those of Sambiase and Lamezia Terme and the Bagni di Bivongi, or in the establishments, such as the Terme Sibarite, Luigiane, Spezzano, Caronte, Galatro and Antonimina.

The railway lines are the Southern Tyrrhenian Railway, the Jonica Railway, the Lamezia Terme-Catanzaro, the Paola-Cosenza and the Sibari-Cosenza. The most important ports are those of Gioia Tauro, Reggio Calabria, Villa San Giovanni, Vibo Marina, Crotone, Corigliano Calabro. The civil airports are Lamezia Terme Airport, Reggio Calabria Airport and Crotone Airport.