Remote and rugged, Calabria forms the ‘toe’ of the Italian peninsula. A world away from the Baroque churches, lavish art galleries and gently rolling hills of ‘traditional’ Italy, the region offers a very different experience. It's unspoilt Italy at its best. And herein lies its charm. Calabria has successfully retained a real sense of ‘southern’ authenticity and over the years has made little concession to modernity and mass tourism. Wandering through its towns and villages is like stepping back in time - you are just as likely to meet a flock of sheep in village alleyways as you are a Fiat Cinquecento. Whilst sparsely populated and slightly impoverished, Calabria is, however, rich in natural beauty, idyllic beaches and fascinating historical sights that simply demand investigation. Immortalised in the 19th-century drawings of Edward Lear, Calabria boasts an almost savage-looking landscape - the jagged Aspromonte and Sila mountain ranges give way to deep caves and dramatic valleys cloaked in woods and pines of deep forest green. Calabria’s vast seaboard, meanwhile, plays host to a collage of tranquil sandy bays and hideaway grottoes.There is a massive shopping centre en-route between Lamezia Terme and Amato. The centre has recently been extended with the addition of a Warner Vilage movie complex, restaurants and more shops. What to Buy Italian leather is among the best in the world and is excellent value. Italian shoes, bags and belts can be bought almost anywhere, and Soverato Market is worth a visit for these and other crafts. Italian clothes are stylish high quality. The major shopping malls at Lamezia and Catanzaro can yield some great bargains. Activities Local Golf Information: Golf Club PORTO D'ORRA Casella Postale 102 - 88063 Catanzaro Lido (CZ) Tel : (0961) 791045 Fax : (0961) 791444 Directions On S.S. 106, km 194 @ Simeri Mare, 9km north of Catanzaro Lido on the coast. (Approx 25 mins drive from the property). Course Details: Golf Course: 9 holes, mt.5.686, Par 72 / 74 Equipment: Driving range, Puttingreen, Lighted Bunkers, Bar, Restaurant, Trolleys-hire, Golf-bags, Carts Season: All year round Closing Day: Tuesday (from October to May), except holiday Other courses: http://www.skiitaly.com/golfinitaly/calabria/info.htm Local Ski Information: The fabulous Sila Mountains are accessible just a short drive from Catanzaro town. Forests and nature trails are accessible all year round, with excellent Skiing and snowboarding facilities in winter. Diving * BLUE DEEP DIVING "Catanzaro Lido" diving-centers catanzaro - Tel. 0961737523 - 0330356655 * GRUPPO SUBACQUEO LOJONIO diving-centers catanzaro - Tel. 0961738076 - 03388165309 * L'APPRODO DIVING CENTER diving-centers catanzaro - Tel. 0961738718 Adventure There is a water theme park at Zambrone, a few kilometers from the property. Details - AQUAPARK DI ZAMBRONE Casella Postale 68 I-89900 VIBO VALENTIA (VV) ITALY Tel: (39) 0963.392.009 Fax: (39) 0963.392.863 SuperStores and Malls There is a large hypermarket called Carrefour, and a mall comprising dozens of shops selling electrical goods, shoe shops, mobile phone shops, fabrics and clothing, etc There is also a B&Q / Homebase superstore equivalent, called Raffale (generically these DIY stores are known as 'Brico') Events and Festivals Calabria has two principal types of festivals: religious and gastronomic. Calabria's traditional festivals have religious origins based on art, spirituality and plain entertainment. Given its origins of Ancient Greek and Roman, Norman and Byzantine, French and Spanish.., the events combine the orthodox with ethnic rituals creating a colorful, festive and dramatic atmosphere. Gastronomic festivals, or sagre in Italian, are based on a certain crop or farming at a given time of year. In January, when pigs are slaughtered, entire towns have "La Sagra di Maiale", Pork Feast, where every imaginable type of pork based dish is prepared in town squares by numerous families and the entire population spends three days feasting together. There are many others as well for those who don't eat pork! CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS January 20 Cropani, San Sebastiano April 2 Paola, San Francesco April 23 Stilo, San Giorgio Good Friday Laino Borgo, la Giudaica. Catanzaro, Naca. Nocera Terinese, i vattienti. May 1-4 Paola, San Francesco May 3 Cutro, festa del Crocefisso May 7 Squillace, S. Ignazio May 12 Monasterace, S. Andrea Avellino Pentecost Gimigliano, M. di Porto Last Sunday in May Acquaformosa, M. della Misericordia June 12 Stignano e Laino Borgo, S. Antonio June 13 Lamezia Terme, S. Antonio June 29 Lamezia Terme, SS. Pietro e Paolo Last Sunday in June Monasterace, Maria SS. di Porto Salvo First Sunday in July Girifalco, Madonna del Monte Covello.Maida, S. Francesco di Paola. Monterosso, S.Maria del Soccorso. Roccella, First Sunday in August Aprigliano, Madonna di Jesu. Bova Marina, Madonna del Mare, Carlopoli, Madonna del Carmine. Condofuri, S. Domenico, Ioppolo, S. Sisto Papa. Squillace, M. del Ponte. August 5 Tiriolo, Madonna della Neve Second Sunday in August Bagaladi, Madonna del Carmine. Parghelia, Madonna di Porto Salvo. August 10 San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo. August 14 Seminara, Madonna Nera August 15 Acquaro, Madonna dell'Assunta. Bova, S. Rocco. Briatico, Maria Assunta. Cardeto, Madonna di Mallamace. Luzzi, Madonna dell'Assunta in Sambucina. Montalto Uffugo, Madonna della Serra. Palmi, Processione della "Varia". San Nicola da Crissa, Madonna di Mater Domini. Soveria Simeri, Festa della Madonna. August 16 Gioiosa Jonica, San Rocco. Si festeggia pure a: Acquaro, Caccuri, Calamera, Dasà,Dinami. Filogaso, Gerocarne, Girifalco, Longobardi, Maierato, Mileto, Montauro, Pazzano, Roccaforte del Greco, San Sostene, Soverato. Third Sunday in August Platì, Madonna di Loreto. Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, Madonna del Carmine August 22 Gerace, festa in onore dei Santi patroni Fourth Sunday in August Badolato, Festa della Sanità. September 1-2 Polsi, Madonna della Montagna September 6-9 Torre di Ruggiero, Madonna delle Grazie September 8 Curinga, Madonna del Soccorso Rota Greca Second Saturday in September Reggio Calabria, Madonna d. Consolazione September 27-28 Riace, SS. Cosma e Damiano October 30 Acri, Beato Angelo November 6 Lungro, S. Leonardo November, 9 Laino Castello, S. Teodoro December 6 Lungro, S. Nicola da Mira Traditional Calabrian costumes are a celebration of colors and give an insight into the amazing history of the Region.
