The toe of the boot guards the most celebrated archaeological find of twentieth-century Italy: the Riace Bronzes, two Greek warriors from the fifth century BC pulled from the sea in 1972 and now displayed in Reggio Calabria. The region alternates postcard seas — Tropea, Capo Vaticano, the Coast of the Gods — with three genuinely wild national parks: Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte.
This is where bergamot grows, perfuming the world's great teas, alongside Tropea's red onion and Spilinga's fiery 'nduja. Calabria isn't a tiptoe destination: you take it on, and it pays you back.
The provinces of Calabria
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The best of Calabria
The places worth the trip on their own, picked by our editors.
The top 5 places in Calabria
Our editors' ranking: the area's most important places, drawn from the individual town guides. See the national rankings →
1
🖼️ Museums Riace Bronzes – Archaeological Museum
📍 Reggio di Calabria
Found in 1972, these two exceptional Greek bronze warriors from the 5th century BC are a masterpiece of classical art.
2
⛪ Churches & sanctuaries Santa Maria dell'Isola
📍 Tropea
Founded in the 7th century on a sandstone rock, this former Byzantine retreat preserves ancient tombstone fragments.
3
🏛️ Squares & old towns Chianalea
📍 Scilla
Fishermen's houses with their feet in the Strait: the "little Venice" of the myth of Scylla.