CALABRIA

Calabria is the ‘tip of the boot’ of the Italian peninsula. The region is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, and by the Ionian Sea to the east. Mountains of different elevations cover most of its territory. It shares borders with Basilicata to the north. Reggio Calabria lies at the southern edge, overlooking the Strait of Messina and facing Sicily. It is the most populous city of the region, and has a graceful seafront lined with elegant buildings. The Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia (Museo Archeologico della Magna Grecia), housing the famous Riace Bronzes, speaks to the ancient history of the region. Calabria has five provinces: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia. Agriculture is well-developed, with olives, grapes, citrus and the traditional bergamot oranges being the main produce. Industry is crippled by the lack of infrastructures and by external influences, which negatively affect any initiative. Tourism is a major resource for local economy, and the region offers a wealth of options to cater to all needs: seaside tourism on the lovely beaches, mountain tourism on the Sila and the Aspromonte, and cultural tourism to explore the rich history of the region throughout its monumental heritage. A multi-faceted reality whose extraordinary potential deserves to be nurtured and explored to the fullest.