Calabria Holidays

Natural beauty

When Italy was carving up its beaches, Calabria hit the jackpot. As the toe of the boot, it’s surrounded on three sides by blue seas and has a whopping 500-mile coastline. It’s home to some of the country’s best beaches, but its good looks spread inland, too. Olive groves and bottle-green hills shape the landscape. And it’s as if the 21st century never arrived in the hamlets that stud the countryside. In short, this place is the boot’s best-kept secret.

Seaside towns

Calabria’s timeless seaside towns are what Instagram was made for – think rainbow-coloured gelato counters and streets lined with pavement cafés. Pizzo's a prime example. Its side streets and squares are packed out with shops and cutesy cafés. Plus, a 15th-century castle keeps an eye on it all.

Beach beauties

The beaches in this neck of the woods are talked about all over Italy. And there's a common theme. Both Pizzo and Tropea's Mr Whippy-white stretches are overlooked by landmarks. A castle stands proudly over Pizzo's, while a stripy Medieval church is perched above Tropea's belt. These beach babes are just 50 minutes' drive apart. Or you can swap sunbathing for sightseeing on the other side of the coast at Scolacium Archeological Park.