Calabria Overview

Sometimes called the last great oasis of the Mediterranean, Calabria (ca-LAH-bree-ah) is an undiscovered land of inspiring history and unspoiled natural beauty. Long stretches of beaches lie on the coast, and untamed mountain wilderness reigns in the interior. As one of Italy’s less developed regions, it is one of the few places that has not become completely overrun with camera-toting tourists. Two and a half millennia ago, when the northern cities that now belittle Calabria were but small backwaters, the region was of international importance, home to leading philosophers, artists, and athletes. Fortunately for local pride, traces of this illustrious past remain in abundance, from the castles that dot the coast to the stunningly intact Greek bronze statues still on display in Reggio di Calabria’s Museo Nazionale della Magna Graecia. What Calabria lacks in urban bustle, it makes up for in quiet natural beauty and a relaxed attitude that the North simply cannot match—or understand for that matter.

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.