If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the region of Calabria in southern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea and Ionian Sea. Calabria is the tip of the Italian boot. There are excellent tourist attractions, and you will not have to fight crowds, but you have to fight hot, hot summers. With any luck you'll avoid the tourist traps and come back home with the feeling that you are truly visited Italy. This article examines tourist attractions in the northern part of Calabria. BeBe sure to read our companion article in Southern Calabria.
Our tour begins in northern Calabria Diamante, on the west coast of the Tyrrhenian. Then we head south along the coast and a bit east to Rende. In theory, we proceed in a nearly straight line to the east, except that the roads are almost equal, which is part of the fun place to Cosenza, pop-up a little north of the Parco Nazionale della Calabria and Crotone then southwest on the east coast of Ionic. We follow the coastal road northand east to the town Cerchiara di Calabria. We turn left (east) and finish the tour in Castrovillari about forty-five miles (seventy kilometers) northeast of our starting point.
Diamante (you can guess what the name means?) Is a beautiful fishing village of about five thousand to the protective rock along the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike much of southern Italy, its climate, sunny and still mild. It's quite an artist colony, boasting plenty of narrow streets and alleys. Diamante isThe walls are covered with murals, the old tradition that still holds on. You'll love the century-old stucco houses and balconies. You'll never believe what a small red objects are hung out to dry on clotheslines at the end of summer, red-hot chili peppers. They are so peperoncini local specialties at the beginning of September the city holds Festival de peperoncini, entitled "Carnival of the South", which attracts one hundred thousand visitors. There is dancing on the street, people on stilts,traditional music and plenty peroncini-flavored food.
Rende is home to the University of Calabria in the green hills of suburban Cosenza (see below). The city itself has a population of about thirty-five thousand, but the university population is about twenty-five thousand. Stop on your way to Cosenza, appreciate the cobbled streets, even if you have a bit convoluted negotiating stairs and escalators.
Cosenza population is about seventy thousand, but almosttriples when you consider the urban areas, including universities. It is located at the confluence of two rivers: Crathis and Busento, home legend Visigoth king Alaric, who captured Rome in 410, the first to do so in more than eight hundred years. Naturally, the accumulated quite a treasure. Two years later he died in unclear circumstances. He was buried with his horse and his treasure under the bed, Busento was temporarily away from his coursefor digging the grave. Once the tomb was completed, the river was returned to its original place and the grave covered with water. In order to ensure that no one would reveal this location Alaric soldiers killed all the slaves. Perhaps not surprisingly his tomb and its treasures were never found. If you like history you can learn about the various professions of this beautiful city and how it was destroyed, and again several times during the first millennium and thecentury.
Cosenza was known as the Athens of Calabria. His academy, one of the first in Italy, was founded almost five centuries ago. To this day Cosenza is home to numerous libraries, museums and theaters. This is a very picturesque city of about seven hundred feet (two hundred and forty meters) above sea level. You'll love the castle and old town. Castello Svevo is mostly in ruins, but not for reasons you can imagine. First came several earthquakes. Then luck(misfortune) A lightning strike set off gunpowder stored on site.
Nobody is sure when the Duomo (cathedral), the first built, but estimates favor the mid-twelfth century. At that time the feudal Norman duchy of Calabria and Cosenza was its capital. Earthquake destroyed the temple in 1184 and was rebuilt in forty years. Is one of the most interesting buildings in southern Italy. Over the years there have been many additions (and subtractions) thatstyles, including Baroque, Gothic, Gothic and Provençal.
Be sure to visit the fifteenth century church of San Domenico, which combines medieval and Renaissance elements. Do not miss the round window with tufa (limestone), columns, decorated wooden portal of floral motifs, and the high altar of polychrome marble. Nearby is "The monastery of virgins," which boasts many historic images. Cosenza Other churches include the Church and Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi, andThe sixteenth century church Sant'Agostino, also known as the Spirito Santo. In this area in 1844, the famous Italian patriots, Bandiera brothers were executed in the struggle for Italian independence.
Of course, the new city will not be as interesting as the old town. But it does include open-air museum Museo Bilotti all'aperto named for the guy with the checkbook. Sculptures include Saint George and the Dragon by Salvador Dalí.
Would you believe that thereLots of good skiing in Southern Italy? Sila is a vast forested plateau a mile in Calabrian interior. It is the largest such formation in the whole Europe. It is divided into three parts and form the Parco Nazionale della Calabria (Calabria National Park), whose largest part is on the east Consenza. Most forests have been breeding and as a sign of ecological health, the wolf is a symbol of the park on the way back. As you might imagine, local farmers arepleased.
Crotone, population of about sixty thousand, was a major city in the time of the Greeks. The famous philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras founded a school here for about twenty five hundred years ago. Be sure that the ninth to eleventh century neo-classical cathedral houses the Black Madonna icon, said to come from the east in the early Christian era. Then I'll walk to the island and its sixteenth-century castle of Charles V, home to the archaeological cityMuseum.
Cerchiara di Calabria, the city is about three thousand located on the east coast of the Ionian Sea. Site has been inhabited since ancient Greece. It is best known for the tenth-century sanctuary of S. Maria delle Armi, which includes the historic pilgrim hospice. Streets are cobblestone, the view is amazing, and I said that La Locanda di Alia restaurant is out of this world, when you watch the spice.
Castrovillari is the last stop on our journeynorthern Calabria. Its population is about twenty two thousand. There is a historic synagogue, a Spanish castle and church of the sixteenth century. Castrovillari is the gateway to the national park above. But one of the main reasons why people stop is to visit La Locanda di Alia restaurant. Next time I'm in the region ...
What about food? Sila mountain range, which somewhat resembles the Swiss Alps is famous for its mushrooms, especially porcini and truffles, andCaciocavallo Silano cheese. As well as it sounds, I think I like the wild boar even better.
Let us suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Macco di Favorites (Broadbean Soup). Then try Costolette d'Agnello alla Calabrese (lamb chops with olive oil, tomatoes, sweet peppers and olives). For dessert, the pampered Mostaccioli (Anise-flavored Cookies.) Sure to increase your dining pleasure, including local wines with food.
We will conclude with a glimpse ofCalabria wine. Calabria devotes about sixty thousand acres of vines, ranks between 13 20 Italian regions for acreage devoted to grapes. About 91% of its wine is red or pink, with 9% for whites. The region produces twelve DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine controllo, which can be translated as currency controlled origin, probably a high-quality wine. Only 2.4% of Calabria wine bears DOC.
Best-known red wine is Ciro,some say that is the oldest wine in the world. Since the region of high altitude, mild climate, and poor-quality land, we hope, an excellent wine. Right now, it's a question of hope. But sooner or later, as well as in other regions of southern Italy, Calabria wine would step forward.
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