Calabria - Tropea - Old Town - Krista photo
1. The late afternoon atmosphere of Corso G. Mazzini in Reggio Calabria
Krista photo
2. The miraculously clear, azure waters of Tropea beach, with its almost kitschily gorgeous panorama (especially the view across to Stromboli at sunset)
Krista photo
3. Walking the Lungomare Falcomata trail in Reggio Calabria in the evening and gazing across the straits towards Sicily
4. The unbelievably beautiful sunsets from Capo Vaticano Ricadi
5. Scilla, the most beautiful town in Calabria, and the wonderfully fresh fish
Krista photo
6. The picturesque disrepair of many small towns – not dilapidation, but just a charming sign of their antiquity
7. No tourist crowds (except in August)
8. The university town of Catanzaro, with a vibrant nightlife in the town center thanks to all the young people
9. The evening promenade (or passeggiata) in small towns between around six and eight in the evening, with many charmingly garrulous old men and families
10. Clean air – maybe the cleanest in all Italy 10. Learning about the many interesting epochs in the region’s history (Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish etc.)
1. Without some knowledge of Italian it’s difficult to communicate with the locals (very few speak English)
2. The weaknesses of the tourist infrastructure can occasionally cause discomfort or inconvenience
3. Italians from the north look down their noses at these southerners, and almost consider them denizens of the ‘third world’.
4. Signs of economic distress include many half-finished buildings and closed businesses
5. You have to watch out for pickpockets at the markets
6. Many sellers try to cheat on price, especially if they spot an inexperienced tourist
7. Long-distance bus services are not reliable (better to rent a car)
8. Apart from the famous pastry shop, Lamezia Terme didn’t seem to offer much that interested us
9. Many old houses of historic value are crumbling to ruin
10. After two hours in the small town of Pizzo we had run out of things to see or do
