Visiting Calabria by car: the perfect itinerary

Let's start our itinerary from the city that, in terms of location and logistical services, allows more than any other to travel independently and visit Calabria by car with different solutions: Lamezia Terme, in the province of Catanzaro.

Home to the International Airport and the region's main railway junction (Sant'Eufemia Central Station), Lamezia offers the possibility of renting the car that suits your needs, or proceeding by car along the A2 "Del Mediterraneo" motorway or the Statale Tirrenica 18.

After visiting the city of Lamezia, which offers a historical centre rich in cultural sites and works of art (Nicastro) and one of the most important spa complexes in Calabria (Caronte Thermal Baths, in Sambiase), we suggest two routes to discover the 'lametino' area by car.

You can choose to take the Monte Reventino road, behind the city, to discover the town of Soveria Mannelli and its Corporate Museums; or explore the picturesque "Riviera dei Tramonti", the Catanzaro Tyrrhenian coast between Nocera Terinese and Gizzeria, where kitesurfing is practised. 

The perfect itinerary for visiting Calabria by car continues southwards in the '"Costa degli Dei" Regional Marine Park in the province of Vibo Valentia.

From Lamezia, driving south, we encounter the 'picture postcard' towns of Pizzo (with the unmissable Murat Castle and Calabria's most famous ice cream, the Tartufo di Pizzo) and Tropea, among "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy" and a Blue Flag, famous for its view of the Scoglio di Santa Maria dell'Isola and the PGI Tropea Red Onion. 

From here, driving towards the hinterland, mountain lovers have two options: stretch their legs with a trek on Monte Poro; or reach the small Baroque jewel of Serra San Bruno, with the ancient Chartreuse of Saints Stefano and Bruno immersed in the Serre Regional Park.

A central stop on this "sea-mountains" itinerary is the provincial capital city of Vibo Valentia, with its historic centre gathered around the Norman Castle, home to the "Capialbi" National Archaeological Museum, and the Marina di Vibo, a tourist port from which to sail to the Aeolian Islands.  

Other unmissable locations on the Costa degli Dei? The beach known as "Paradiso del Sub" (in Zambrone) and the cliffs of Capo Vaticano (in Ricadi).

Visiting Calabria by car means making stops along the Costa Viola, also on the Tyrrhenian Sea, until you reach the provincial capital of Reggio Calabria.

The coast takes its name from the colour it assumes at sunset and is a magical place, rich in myths and legends (Scylla and Charybdis, Fata Morgana), where swordfish fishing has always been practised.

After a visit to the port town of Palmi, also known as the "City of the Varia" (for the folkloristic procession recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage Site), and the Tauriani National Archaeological Park, we drive to Mount Sant'Elia and the "Three Crosses" monument, to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in Calabria.

Among the unmissable places on the Costa Viola: Cala Janculla, flagship of Seminara "City of Artistic Ceramics"; Bagnara Calabra, home of Nougat of Bagnara PGI, Scilla, with the Ruffo Castle and the fishermen's village of Chianalea (the "Venice of the South").

Finally, we reach Reggio Calabria "City of the Strait and Bergamot", which welcomes us with its legendary Lungomare 'Falcomatà', the Aragonese Castle, the Cathedral and the unmissable National Archaeological Museum housing the Bronze Statues of Riace.

When visiting Calabria by car, one of the stops not to be missed in the province of Reggio Calabria is definitely the Aspromonte National Park with the so-called Greek area (where the local communities still speak the ancient Greek of Calabria) on the Ionian side.

By car, you can reach the beautiful mountain resorts of the Zòmaro Lake and Mount Cucudo (Tyrrhenian side); or the ski resort of Gambarie, in Santo Stefano in Aspromonte.

Visiting Calabria by car allows you to experience an Aspromonte that is also an open-air "literary park", in the footsteps of Edward Lear and the travellers of the Grand Tour, visiting the House-Museum of Corrado Alvaro, a writer originally from San Luca, and the Shrine of the Madonna di Polsi.

Not to be missed are the characteristic "ghost towns": Rogudhi Vecchio, Africo Vecchio and, above all, Pentedattilo. The latter, in the municipality of Melito di Portosalvo, is set in a five-fingered cliff (hence the name) and is linked to the "Slaughter of the Alberti".

The itinerary is perfect for those wishing to get to know the ''Greek villages'' of Bovesia, which are headed by the village of Bova, among the ''Most Beautiful Villages in Italy'', where one can visit the ''Gherard Rohlfs'' Museum of the Greek-Calabra Language and lose oneself in the alleys of the Path of Rural Civilisation. 

Those who choose to visit Calabria by car cannot avoid driving along the legendary State Road Ionica 106, cross and delight of this land.

Passing through the Riviera dei Gelsomini we pass Locri, with the unmissable National Archaeological Park of Locri Epizefiri, 3 Blue Flag resorts where you can bathe among the Caretta Caretta turtles (Siderno, Roccella Ionica, Caulonia Marina) and 3 medieval historic centres among "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy" (Gerace, Stilo, the "City of the Sun" of the philosopher Tommaso Campanella, and Badolato).

Having reached the Costa degli Aranci, the Regional Marine Park "Baia dell'Ippocampo" awaits us in Soverato, another Blue Flag. Here we discover the beauty of a crystal-clear sea, which is the ideal habitat of the seahorse, the park's symbol.

Other places not to be missed along the Costa degli Aranci? The beaches of Copanello, Caminia and Pietragrande (in the municipalities of Stalettì and Montauro respectively), the village of Squillace, ancient home of the historian Cassiodoro, and the National Archaeological Park of Scolacium (Roccelletta di Borgia).

Visiting Calabria by car is the perfect opportunity to explore the Sila National Park, the region's "green lung" where you can breathe the cleanest air in Europe.

We set off for the Catanzaro Sila (Sila Piccola) after visiting the historic centre of Catanzaro, the "City of Morzèllo" (typical street-food made from entrails) and the "Three Vs" (Wind, Velvet and Vitaliano, the patron saint): the Cathedral, the Monumental Complex of San Giovanni, the Fountain of the Cavatore, the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park and Grecìa, the popular quarter.

The Sila Piccola offers the uniqueness of the Fallistro Nature Reserve and the Giants of the Sila (centuries-old trees), the beauty of Lake Passante and the tourist villages surrounded by greenery: Villaggio Mancuso (in Tyrolean style) in Taverna, birthplace of the painter Mattia Preti (the 'Calabrian Knight'); Villaggio Racise, Buturo, Cutura, Pantane, Monaco and Tirivolo. In the municipality of Sorbo San Basile there is a treat not to be missed: the MABOS - Museo d'Arte del Bosco, an open-air contemporary art space.

By car from Sila Piccola to Sila Greca, in the province of Crotone, is an instant!

Here we encounter the "Palumbo Sila" ski complex, a mountain hamlet in the municipality of Cotronei, on the shores of Lake Ampollino. The perfect place for those who decide to visit Calabria by car in winter.

From Sila Greca we descend again towards the Ionian coast and the territory of the "Marchesato Crotonese".

After visiting the Arbëreshë (Italo-Albanian) language and culture villages in the province of Crotone (Carfizzi, Pallagorio and San Nicola dell'Alto), we reach the 'Marchesato' and the portion of territory between the Tacina and Neto rivers. Here we encounter the typical clay hills and gullies that inspired Pasolini during his trip to Calabria, and the rocky site of the Verzino Caves.

Arriving in Crucoli, "Land of the Crotonese Sardella", we take the Statale Ionica 106 again and continue our tour along the Costa dei Saraceni, whose name evokes ancient stories of pirates, coastal watchtowers and marvellous fortresses such as that of "Le Castella", on the Blue Flag coastline and Protected Marine Area "Isola Capo Rizzuto".

The main stop is the city of Crotone, the provincial capital. Also known as the "City of Pythagoras", in honour of the mathematician and philosopher who founded the Pythagorean School here (530 B.C.), Crotone is home to the Castle of Charles V and the Cathedral of the Madonna di Capo Colonna, as well as the National Archaeological Park of the same name.

The Costa dei Saraceni is the territory of Gaglioppo grapes, the basis of the fine Cirò, Melissa and Sant'Anna DOC wines, produced in the respective "Wine Cities" (Cirò Marina, Cirò, Melissa and Isola Capo Rizzuto).

When visiting Calabria by car on the Ionian Sea, heading north, one crosses the Costa degli Achei and the lush Sibari Plain ('Sibaritide').

The ancient plain where some of Calabria's excellent agri-foodstuffs are produced (Sibari Rice, Clementines of Calabria PGI and Liquorice of Calabria PDO) is immersed in the archaeological scenery of Magna Graecia, as witnessed by the remains of the National Archaeological Park and Museum of the Sibaritide, in the municipality of Cassano all'Ionio.

Not far away, in the Marina di Cassano, we encounter the beauty of a unique ecosystem: the Sibari Lakes Oasis, along the Foce del Crati Regional Reserve, near which the Sibarite Thermal Baths and the Sant'Angelo Caves are also located.

The main stop in this area is the town of Corigliano-Rossano. Here, a visit to the Ducal Castle of Corigliano, the Baroque churches in the historic centre and the Rossano Diocesan and Codex Museum, which houses a valuable UNESCO World Heritage evangelarium, is a must. Not to be missed is the Abbey of Santa Maria del Patire (Pathirion) and a visit to Calabria's most famous liquorice factory: the 'Amarelli' Liquorice Museum.

The itinerary along the Costa degli Achei continues with a string of Blue Flags: Villapiana Lido, Trebisacce, Roseto Capo Spulico with its Castle and Rocca Imperiale, home of the famous PGI Rocca Imperiale Lemons. 

Visiting Calabria by car means savouring the beauty of the Pollino National Park, in the province of Cosenza, starting with its little big capital: Castrovillari.

A stroll through the city of the famous Castrovillari Carnival reveals the beauty of its historic centre (la Cìvita): the imposing Aragonese Castle and the monumental complex of the Franciscan Protoconvent, which houses the Archaeological Museum and the Sybaris Theatre.

A true 'gateway to the park', the town is the starting point for trekking and hiking trails to discover the Pollino: from the Loricato Pine trees, symbol of the park, to the UNESCO Geosites.

Among the places not to be missed are the Caves of the Nymphs in Cerchiara di Calabria, ("City of Bread" which houses the evocative Shrine of Santa Maria delle Armi), and the Romito Cave in Papasidero, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe because of the famous graffito depicting the Bos Primigenius, a bull (bos) with perfectly defined features.

The Pollino's "Most Beautiful Villages of Italy" include Civita, famous for its "talking houses" (or "Case Kodra") and an important Arbëreshë (Italo-Albanian) community, and Morano Calabro, a wonderful medieval village with a must-see in spring: the Campotenese Lavender Park.

Visiting Calabria by car allows you to discover the Sila National Park and the provincial capital of the Sila Grande: Cosenza.

The "City of the Bruzi", referring to its most ancient history, awaits us perched on its seven hills, on one of which the imposing Swabian Castle stands out. Cosenza Vecchia stands at the confluence of the Crati and Busento rivers where, it is said, the legendary Treasure of Alaric is buried. Cosenza is also known as the "Athens of Italy" for being the birthplace of the humanist Parrasius and hosting Bernardino Telesio at the Accademia Cosentina.

The landmarks? The Alfonso Rendano Theatre, the Cathedral (among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and a series of must-see museums: the National Gallery at Palazzo Arnone, the Archaeological Museum of the Brettii and Enotri and the MAB - Open-air Museum Bilotti on Corso Mazzini, which exhibits contemporary sculptures including Mimmo Rotella's famous 'Sila Wolf'.

It is precisely the Sila wolf that offers us the assist to reach Sila Grande by car, with the two splendid ski resorts of Camigliatello Silano and Lorica (respectively in the municipalities of Spezzano della Sila and San Giovanni in Fiore, where there is also the famous Florense Abbey of Gioacchino da Fiore).

Visiting Calabria by car and the Sila in autumn is an opportunity to taste some delicious branded products: from the Sila IGP Potato to Caciocavallo Silano PDO.

We conclude our itinerary for visiting Calabria by car by driving through the 'Riviera dei Cedri' Regional Marine Park, the stretch of the Upper Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Cosenza, along State Road 18.

The name evokes the fruit that finds its ideal habitat on this coast: the prized Cedar of Calabria PDO. An indigenous citrus fruit, with unique characteristics, so rare that it attracts rabbis from all over the world every year for the Jewish festival of Sukkot (or "Feast of Tents").

The citron echoes in several places along the coast: from the small 'capital' of Santa Maria del Cedro, which dedicates a Cedar Museum to the precious fruit, to the medieval village and tourist port of Cetraro.

The Riviera dei Cedri is renowned for its beaches, from which to reach the two small Calabrian islands: the Island of Dino (opposite the coast of Praia a Mare) and the Island of Cirella (opposite the beach of Diamante "City of Murals and Chilli Pepper"), two natural oases and Blue Flags.

Other Blue Flags to discover along this coast? San Nicola Arcella with the charming Arcomagno Beach, Scalea and Belvedere Marittimo.

The tour of visiting Calabria by car ends here, just a few kilometres from the starting point of our long 'ring circuit'.