Calabria

Pietro nel mondo

CatanzaroCosenzaCrotoneReggio CalabriaVibo Valentia

This region where I can go from the sea to the mountains in a few kilometers has conquered me. About eight hundred kilometers of coastline divided between two seas, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian. The mountains of the interior, with hundreds of small villages one more interesting than the other, so far little explored by me. A world to be discovered called Aspromonte, Pollino, Sila. Above all welcoming people proud of their land and its traditions. The two trips made so far have made me perceive kilometers of semi-deserted beaches all to myself, and castles unknown to most where for one day you can feel like a knight of the Holy Roman Empire. Calabrian cuisine deserves a separate chapter, with its typical products. My favorite dishes are: Laganelle and Ciciri, Baccalà alla Cosentina, all vegetables from aubergines to peppers, from Tropea onions to various types of chilli. The citrus fruits of Calabria are unbeatable: from bergamot to mandarin, from cedar to lemon. Finally, for the wines a ruby red: Savuto.

Province of Cosenza

Area: 6709,75 Km² Municipalities: 150

Rocca Imperiale: Swabian Castle

travel stories...

Rocca Imperiale

the coast between the rocks of Isca and the beaches of Coreca

A few kilometers after my entry into Calabria, I leave the busy Ionian state road and find myself at a crossroads: on one side Rocca Imperiale Marina with its beautiful beaches overlooking the Ionian Sea, on the other the historic center. This time I lean towards the latter, and I do well. First along a road dotted with citrus groves, then on the hairpin bends that lead to the Swabian Castle. This fortress is perfectly preserved. Entering the courtyard I am struck by the mighty towers, on the drawbridge they are shooting a telenovelas with the actress dressed in chiffon, perhaps the scene of a wedding. The director, having put down the drone for the shoot, gives me some decent photos to publish. Inside, the castle is bare except for the image of a warrior, some busts and a photo on a chest. I climb up to the crenellated towers where my eyes dominate the hinterland down to the sea. Going down towards the medieval village I am struck by some ceramic paintings hanging on the walls of the houses, in one the text of the song "Emotions" written by Mogol and sung by Lucio Battisti. Further down the alleys to the splendid Mother Church. Only the time to buy some lemons, the symbolic product of Rocca Imperiale, and then of this hot August day remains a sweet memory.

Amantea

Entering the municipality of Amantea from the north, my gaze fell on some rocks that emerge not far from the coast. These are the Scogli di Isca, a protected marine oasis of the WWF, a paradise for snorkelers. From there on begins the promenade of the city characterized by many bathing establishments, some of which run by large hotels like the one where I was staying; here during the day there was always entertainment and one evening the animators organized an event lighting the path that led from the hotel to the beach. At that point the coast is mostly sand mixed with gravel and the sea is pale blue. Going south, the coast alternates between wide, semi-deserted beaches and coves among rocks. Continuing along the Tyrrhenian state road we finally reach Coreca; here the beach is largely free; it is not very big but very beautiful; the gravel entering the sea gives way to pebbles, the sea is transparent, and every time I stayed in the water as much as possible.

This coastal town was the protagonist of a relaxing beach holiday. Which did not prevent me from visiting some interesting places: first of all the Church of San Bernardino da Siena reachable by a long and suggestive flight of steps, then I continued in the old part for steep alleys up to the ancient Church of San Francesco and from there I saw the ruins of the Castle. From up there the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea is spectacular and the eye goes as far as Stromboli. In doing so it became noon, and going down the narrow streets I met an inn. It was a house for which the kind landlady had set a few tables on the first floor; She served them tasty appetizers, with homemade vegetables in oil, and a fried with the catch of the day. Last but not least, for digestion, I took a walk in the Parco della Grotta, a site carved into the rock rich in Mediterranean plants a stone's throw from the sea.