Spotlight on Calabria, Italy

When you’re looking for a quiet escape, away from the crowds, Calabria is the destination for you. One of Italy’s best kept secrets, this area is a calming sanctuary for anyone wanting a bit of time out. Calabria is also where we’ve settled our Airone Beachclub, meaning holidays to Calabria come with the Neilson activities and spirit combined.

The lack of tourism here means that holiday makers - be it families, beach lovers, culture vultures or couples - can all enjoy the mix of peaceful villages, world-class untouched beaches and tranquil peaks of the mountains. Not forgetting the delicious cuisine that features in many of the region’s festivals, you can stuff yourself full of the treats of Calabria.

Other than being bathed in sunshine for most of the year, and having unspoiled beaches, Calabria is best known for its largest city, Reggio Calabria, which sits on the coast and is home to the 5th century Riace Bronzes – two lifesize bronze warriors. Another highlight of the city is its long panoramic seafront with the wide Falcomatà promenade - the ideal spot to look out to Sicily.

Pack your hiking boots, because when you get to Calabria you’ll see it’s undulating landscape. Boasting some of the highest peaks in Italy, with four mountain ranges -the Aspromonte,Pollino, Serra and Sila- you will find both dense forests and open spaces with amazing vistas, as well as charming hilltop towns, like Badolato.

Eating in Calabria? Prepare to be spoiled! Orchards bloom with citrus fruit and the vineyards are bountiful on the lower slopes of the mountains, whereas olive trees thrive higher up the slopes. Due to the southerly location, fresh and locally grown tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and garlic rule, so their punchy flavours can be found in most dishes.

If it’s fish you crave, then head along the coast to sample freshly caught cod and sardines, or try the local speciality of cured swordfish alongside typical Mediterranean fresh vegetables. It’s no wonder the locals are so healthy!

Known as the ‘Land of Wine’ with its ancient grape varieties, it would be rude not to accompany your meal with a glass of local wine.

Dining in Calabria comes in many forms, from Michelin starred to authentic, rustic cuisine, you’ll find something to suit your palate. Choose to dine in a remote hillside trattoria or on the coast with a sea view.

As you become accustomed to the Italian way of life - espressos throughout the day, dinghy sailing off the beach, tennis on our courts, and rambles in the nearby hills, you may want to spend a little time getting to know Calabria’s history and culture.

The best place to start would be the town of Le Castella, with its unmissable fortress which looks out to sea. Sitting offshore on a small islet, the castle is best visited in the evening when you’ll find it bathed in pretty lights bouncing on the surrounding water.

Another coastal town is Pizzo, which features a church hidden in the caves; the Chiesetta di Piedigrotta, adorned with statues. There is also an Aragonian castle to discover, as well as the ancient Roman temples up in the hills of Cantazaro. Despite all these archaeological treasures, the main reason for your visit is likely to be for the town’s famous ice cream, the chocolatey Tartufo di Pizzo.

If your holiday to Calabria is going to centre on the three S’s - sun, sea and sand - then look no further than the 700km of coastline at your disposal, our own Airone beach included! The ‘Coast of Gods’ has a range of long sandy beaches and pebbled coves which offer you a serene retreat for sunbathing and swimming or become the backdrop for a variety of water sports.

When the family is in tow, take them to Amantea for some old-school seaside fun, with fine sand and play areas for children, it’s a place you can all relax. For more of an adventure, follow the meandering Via Grotticelle to find a collection of beaches hiding within the curves of the Tyrrhenian coast.

When you want an award-winning beach, head to Capo Vaticano, which often features in Italy’s top ten beaches. This true beauty has a swathe of sweeping white sand with spectacular blue waters. Scuba diving is popular here, thanks to the rich seabed where diverse marine life dwell.

On the Ionian coast there are some more dramatic beaches which drop down from the cliffs of Pietra Grande, like Caminia. With deep waters, it’s a lovely place for swimming and snorkelling.

Obviously temperatures peak in summer, soaring into the 30s and warming up the sea. The summer heat of July and August is ideal for a beach getaway, but if you’d prefer cooler climes, then spring is probably the best time to visit Calabria.

Surprisingly, snow does fall in the mountains, where Calabria has two small ski resorts in the national parks, so it’s best to visit between November and March if you want a winter break.

Visiting in August? Don’t be surprised if you get swept up in one of Calabria’s many festivals. This is the party season and there seems to be a festival for everything - locals celebrate sausages, swimmers, and even tambourines!

Get a different perspective of Calabria with a white water rafting trip down the River Lao rapids, within the Pollino Mountains (1 hour from Airone). Or get an alternative view looking up at the region’s tallest trees in the National Park of Sila (1.5 hours from Airone).

There’s no better place to get lost than in the little streets of Chianalea, one of the most picturesque villages in Italy. Don’t believe us, explore for yourself this corner of paradise, where the sea laps up to the colourful houses and restaurants.

As historic landmarks go, Corigliano Castle is hard to miss. The prestigious fortress in Corigliano Calabro is a wonderful museum that tell the tales of historical and artistic figures that have left their mark.