25 April in Calabria: 5 ideas for a unique weekend

This year 25 April falls on a Friday, an excellent opportunity to plan a long weekend with your family or friends. Where? In Calabria, of course.

Regenerate, enjoy the outdoors, get to know new places, breathe clean air, be surprised at the beauty of nature, taste new dishes and toast in front of the sunset. If you are looking for all this, then here are five destinations to make your next trip unique.

The Pollino National Park is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse natural areas in Calabria. In addition to discovering villages rich in history and authentic charm, you can explore the nature trails by bicycle (you can also rent pedal-assisted bicycles), an activity that is suitable for everyone, even children.

This area offers a combination of nature, culture and mountain scenery and the opportunity for hiking, outdoor activities and relaxation. Your 25 April weekend will be an opportunity to discover Morano Calabro, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, famous for its medieval old town and Norman Castle. Take advantage of this for a walk through ancient alleys and squares. The castle dominates the village with a spectacular view over the valley.

Agriturismo or B&B? You can choose from the various offers in this area as rich as its typical gastronomy, which includes rich legume soups. Dessert? Also strictly local, such as the famous ‘bocconotto’ (shortcrust pastry shell filled with jam or nutella) prepared in Mormanno.

Breathtaking views and crystal-clear sea: these are the characteristics of the Costa degli Aranci, which harbours little-known natural gems such as Copanello and Caminia in addition to the better-known Soverato. Although it is not yet summer, the temperature here in April is usually so mild that being on the beach will be a very pleasant experience.

In less than an hour you can go from the Ionian to the Tyrrhenian coast, from the cliffs and inlets of Copanello to the sandy expanses of Gizzeria Lido. Particular wind conditions make this stretch of coastline suitable in almost all months of the year for windsurfing and kitesurfing, a spectacular sport to behold for the beauty of the colours of the kites used to whirl the boards over the sea.

Some lidos offer courses for beginners, but you can also choose to enjoy the show from the comfort of the beach. Lunch is strictly at one of the many restaurants overlooking the sea offering freshly caught fish.

The next stop on this itinerary is Curinga, listed as one of Calabria's Villages of Excellence, but also famous for its thousand-year-old oriental plane tree, 21 metres high and with a circumference of 18 metres. The giant tree is located in a small forest with many paths to follow. In Acconia, a hamlet of Curinga (about 4 km away), there is also an archaeological site dating back to Roman times: these are the remains of thermal baths that were part of a large monumental villa from the Diocletian era.

If the temperature permits, a last stop on your journey could be in the territory of Lamezia Terme, a few kilometres from Sambiase: here the Caronte Thermal Bath offer sulphurous and hot waters (around 38 degrees) near a waterfall of cool water. Admission is free with a free offer.

Summer is still a little far away, but on the Costa degli Dei it feels like it has already arrived. And with spring comes the awakening of the town of Tropea, the ‘’pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea‘’, famous for its panoramic views over an incredibly turquoise sea, its gardens, and its ever-crowded alleyways, amid souvenir shops (you can't fail to take home a braid of the famous PGI Red Onion), restaurants and lounge bars. In the historical centre, you can admire the 18th and 19th century aristocratic palaces perched on the sheer cliff and look down to discover the white sandy beach. And then the enchanting Blue Cave and the twelve churches that embellish the town. Visit the Franciscan Monastery and the Norman Cathedral from 1100.

Just 20 minutes from Tropea awaits Zungri, ‘’the city of stone‘’, a place that seems out of time. In the heart of the historic centre, in fact, stands an ancient rupestrian settlement composed of about 100 cave-dwellings carved into the rock that you can visit to take a plunge into the history of this land.

Also put a stop in Pizzo on your agenda for a visit to the Castle where the French general and King of Naples Joachim Murat was held prisoner, and of course a stroll around the little square. Because it is forbidden to leave without having consumed an unrivalled ice cream truffle, sitting in the sun at one of the many small tables available to tourists.

On this long weekend you could plan a little tour of the surroundings: Capo Vaticano is definitely worth a stop.

If you imagine this coveted 25 April long weekend as a rejuvenating break in contact with nature and your passion is food and wine, this destination is designed to satisfy your body as well as your mind.

Head for Crotone, a land with roots in Magna Graecia. Your holiday includes a tour of the numerous wine cellars (you can choose independently or opt for the complete packages offered by tourist operators) that offer the possibility of visiting the vineyards and living this experience in nature, with tastings between the rows of vines or among the barrels and pairings with typical local dishes.

The Cirò and Cirò Marina areas are famous for their wine (Gaglioppo is the indigenous grape variety) and you will learn the modern techniques used to preserve the quality of Calabrian wine and the art of winemaking. The estates are often located in a panoramic position and offer spectacular views of the vineyards and the coast. It is always advisable to contact the wineries in advance to book the tour and tasting. To complete this experience, you can visit the Wine Museum in the village of Cirò.

The journey continues along the coast towards Isola Capo Rizzuto, an ideal destination to appreciate the crystal-clear sea and splendid beaches. A link between the sea and the history of this area is the impressive Aragonese Castle of Le Castella, which stands on a small island connected to the coast only by a very thin strip of land. The largest Marine Protected Area in Italy extends here over 15 thousand hectares. You can get an idea of the life that moves underwater by visiting the Acquarium.

At this point, after having tried the gastronomic delights of the place, which include dishes based on fresh fish, there is still time to plan a final stop at the Archaeological Park of Capo Colonna, where the imposing column of the temple of Hera Lacinia will welcome you on the promontory.

Calabria really does have a wealth of resources to offer you, and 25 April will truly be a unique and unforgettable weekend. If you have not yet visited Reggio Calabria, this is the right opportunity for a tour of the area. It starts in the city itself, made unique by its Lungomare (defined by Gabriele D'Annunzio as ‘’the most beautiful kilometre in Italy‘’) overlooking the Strait of Messina. Time for an ice cream and then on to the National Archaeological Museum, known for housing the imposing statues of the Riace Bronzes, but where you can admire a very rich collection of artefacts from prehistoric to late Roman times. If your thirst for knowledge has not yet been satisfied, in Reggio Calabria you can visit the Metropolitan Planetarium Pytagoras and the National Bergamot Museum.

It is time to move on and go to Scilla, one of the most evocative places on the Costa Viola, imbued with the magic of the myth of Ulysses. After admiring the beach and the crystal-clear sea, a walk to Chianalea, the ancient fishermen's village, nicknamed ‘’Calabria's little Venice‘’ because the houses are flush with the water, is a must. Here you will have the opportunity to dine in one of the many restaurants that set up tables on special wooden platforms overlooking the sea. If the evening calls for a less demanding dinner, the choice can only fall on the iconic swordfish sandwich prepared on the fly in kiosks or pubs.