Until recently Calabria has managed to stay off the tourist radar, keeping this fusion of untamed mountains, idyllic beaches, pristine sea and charming hill towns a secret enjoyed by Italians alone.
Now, with new flights opening up to the region and planning permission for limited development, the rest of the World is beginning to discover the joys of Calabria too.
When it comes to the perfect holiday and the perfect holiday home, this undiscovered region at the tip of Italy’s ‘boot’ could be about to kick the competition out of the water. Here’s why.
The world’s best beaches
Fringed by rocky, forested mountains and national parks, piled in soft sand and lapped by the azure ultra clean waves of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas, the beaches of Calabria have been named some of the best in the world.
Hitting the top spot for best beach is Tropea, with its long expanse of white sand, crashing waves and spectacular sunsets. Smaller romantic coves can be found hidden all along the coast and accessible by boat throughout the Ioanian islands.
Traditional Italian charm
A lack of tourism has preserved a very traditional Italian way of life in Calabria that gives you a real sense of adventure when you head out and about.
You can expect the locals to be genuinely pleased to meet you and expect to enjoy plenty of authentic local cuisine. Sample smoked seafood, aromatic hand rolled macaroni and traditional ragù in the rustic restaurants.
Property hotspot
Low prices, new development and a potential for high growth makes Calabria property an exciting prospect for those in the know.
Not only are there are excellent rental possibilities, but plenty of potential healthy capital gains too. And for anyone looking for a place in the sun, Calabria has it all – beauty and tranquillity backed by solid infrastructure.
Getting to Calabria
Travelling to Calabria is easy and affordable. There are regular flights to Lamezia and the onward journey to Crotone on the east coast is just 65 miles. Reggio Calabria and Crotone airports receive direct flights from many European cities with flight times of under three hours. There are of course direct flights to Italy from Johannesburg
