I just returned from a week in Calabria, staying in the lovely coastal town of Tropea. I wanted to share with all of you how incredibly beautiful that area of the country is--so green and lush with pine and chestnut forests, cleanest air and sunny beaches.<BR>Several towns like Tropea, Pizzo, Cozenza, as well as some of the tiny mountain-top towns like Stilo and Bivongi are well worth exploring for those of you who are more adventurous.<BR>I know few Americans are travelling there because the only tourists were German or British. My husband and I were the only two US citizens in the area for the time we were there. The local people are beyond friendly and there are many restaurants where the fruits of the Meditteranean are deftly prepared and offered cheaply.<BR>Go!!!

It's nice to hear this- I have family in Calabria and may stop there on my way to Sicily in June. They are in a town named Marina di Giosia Jonica. Any chanve you were near there?

Hi Donna! Please tell us more about the towns - what did you see, what did you do, what were the highlights, from where did you drive from (I'm assuming you drove there).

What a coincidence. I haven't been checking Fodors much for the past month or so, and hee as soon s I got on I saw this. I'm really surious about Calabria. From your brief description, it sounds like your experience in this region was a little like mine in Basilicata. Did you get around entirely by car? Do you think it would be possbily to travel around without driving, i.e. by using trains and local buses and maybe hiring drivers that aren't too expensive? If you have been in small towns in either Sicily or Basilicata (both incredibly hospitable), would you have any opinion on whether Calabria might be a little more difficult for a woman alone? <BR><BR>P.S. One of my grandparents was born in Cir&ograve; in Calabria. It's the only one of my three ancestral towns that I've never visited.

That's "curious"--don't go puzzling ove what "surious" mean--just a bad typist.

Carol--I don't have a real opinion about women travelling alone, except that on the days when my husband and I decided to do different things, I never had any trouble either on the streets or with shopkeepers--everyone is so polite and friendly.<BR>I do have an opinion about cars--In Calabria, unless you plan to stay in one place for the entire visit, I would rent a car. Some of the sweetest towns are way up in the mountains and the trains just don't go there. We saw some buses, but I'm not sure how reliable they are or where they go. I find driving in Italy very easy--everything is always well marked and we have rarely gotten off track in our three trips there.

Ann-<BR>We did not hit Marina de Gioisia Ionica, but we were about 30 minutes north of there in Monasterace Marina and then took the coastal road further north from there.<BR>The towns along the Ionian are all similar--they have a hilltown somewhat inland and then a bustling, commercial, somewhat tacky seaside district along the coast.<BR>The beaches are beautiful and the hilltowns are cute, but the middle sections where all the industry resides are pretty unattractive.<BR>Still, I would go anyway.

Donna,<BR>My sister went to Tropea twice this year to take Italian classes and she absolutely fell in love with this part of Italy. <BR>She didn't do many daytrips because her program was rather filled and she didn't have a car. So maybe you could tell us a little more about what there is to see in the area. Would Tropea be a good base? We always look for a combination of sightseeing and relaxation, so I think probably this might be a good area for us to visit. What do you think?

Myriam--Yes, Tropea is a great town to act as a base. It has a fabulous beach, at least 7 good restaurants, shops, and great people.<BR>The only drawback is that it takes about 45 minutes to get to the A3 Autostrada from there. If you want something that allows easier travel, I would stay at Pizzo, which is in the same area, but just 10 mins. off the A3.<BR>I can't recommend hotels as we rented a house from The Parker Company, but I saw a few that looked promising.

Thank you, Donna. Searched the web for Pizzo. Looks nice as well.