week in calabria
 

starting to plan a month long trip to italy for next may. this is our 3rd visit to the italian countryside. plan 2 weeks in sicily, a week in caliabria and then a week at our favorite place - calitri, campania (3rd visit to this wonderful village). looking for a village in calabria for a week. planning to try using the train this visit so town should be on train line. our travel mottos are "we travel to eat" and "put down the map and get lost". we love just wandering and absorbing the local culture. ALSO suggestions in sicily, 2 places 1 week each, would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance for your help.

We really enjoyed Tropea in Calabria at the end of our 3 weeks in Sicily a few years ago. We were there in October so it was pretty quiet which suited us.

In Sicily will you be taking public transportation as well?

i think so, but still in the planning stages. did you use it during your visit?

We had a rental car in Sicily and Calabria - found the driving fine (even Palermo although you can easily avoid driving there). We had a great time in Sicily - spent 5 nights in Lipari (have you considered the Aeolian Islands?), 6 nights outside Siracusa and 6 nights in Sciacca (south - from where we visited Agrigento, Selinute and Segesta).

We stayed here in Sciacca - as I recall other guests were using the bus as transportation from here

http://www.verdetecnica.it/home.htm

I've spent very little time in the region,although I hope to return. As you are interested in food, I will tell you that I had a wonderful lunch in Castrovillari at Locanda d'Alia.

http://www.locandadialia.it/ristorante.html

I stayed one night in the town of Amantea, which I found charming.

Tropea is by far the best choice for a base in Calabria. Within the walls are many restaurants, shops, beaches and attractions to keep you busy. Calabria does not have the same level of tourism infrastructure as other parts of Italy, so the options are really quite slim. That said, it's a beautiful region and Tropea is definitely the pearl.

Apologies to the OP for highjacking with a question o my own to Elizabeth S:

what was the weather like in Tropea in October?

(I am belatedly putting together a S Italy itinerary for Oct 16 to 28, when we head to Provence: Puglia/Gargano and Salentino + ????)

thanks for the info. tropea crossed my mind. local transportation - day trips to nearby villages by bus? it is on the rail line? thanks so much again.

Ted it was till beach weather -- I think it was the second week of October.

We have been to Calabria many times since my folks come from there. Generally, we stay in Nicastro in the Hotel Savant. The hotel is a nice property and the staff is outstanding.

Up in the hills above Nicastro is a nice small town called Platania, but you would need a car to move around. My one grandmother came from this little town. Anyway, it is off of the beaten track.

The whole area along the Calabrian beach is an ever growing seaside resort. Falerna Marina is a nice place and my favorite pizzeria is located there, Pizzeria Gambero da Zio Pino. They also have a huge flea market on the beach along with a small amusement facility.

On the other side of the peninsula is Capo Rizzutto with it 10th century Norman Castle, Le Castelle. This place is also a seaside resort.

Tropea is nice, as mentioned above.

Lastly, not far from Nicastro is a centro commerciale, a shopping center, complete with many stores and a...McDonald's. Just in case you are homesick for junk food.

Buon viaggio,

I have nothing to add, but hope that you will write a trip report. Calabria is high on my "list", and I would especially like to read how you do using public transport. Thanks in advance!

Tropea is nice but it's also a typical tourist town, although it will be quiet in May. Calabria being one of the poorest areas in Italy, you may be somewhat disappointed by their <i>'cucina povera'</i>. It's not bad but pretty monotonous: tomatoes, peperoncini, red onions, eggplant, some meat, some fish. Nothing like the food in Sicily or Campania.

Myriam, can you think of another town on that coast that is less tourist oriented than Tropea and that also has a good beach for swimming? Thanks!!

To rbciao- I feel that we're almost related. My father came from the same area. Nicastro was the big town there, and that's where they all went for a big city visit. My dad's town was San Mango D'Aquino (St. Thomas Aquinas). I've been there several times, and I think it's a great town. I still have first cousins living there, and one has the exact same name as do I. It's a small world.

@ ekscrunchy
We spent a few afternoons on the beach in Parghelia and Briatico. Not much to see in the small towns, but no tourists either. It was nice to be among the locals (and sun loungers and umbrellas were a lot cheaper than in Tropea!!).

The prettiest beach, however, is in Capo Vaticano which is south of Tropea. But then again, lots of tourists (mostly German).