What to see and do in Calabria in January

What could be better than starting the new year with a holiday? In Calabria, of course, where the festive atmosphere continues well beyond the long weekend of Epiphany.

In some of Italy's most beautiful villages, by the sea or in the snow, surrounded by wild, unspoilt nature and pampered by food and wine traditions that warm up the winter.

Let's discover together what to see and do in Calabria in January.

The scent of smoking chimneys, slow rhythms, traditions and rituals that herald the new year: it's the perfect time to visit the villages of Calabria, 14 of which are listed among the Most Beautiful in Italy and all of which are worth discovering. Here are a few suggestions.

Let's start with Civita (CS), nestled in the mountains of the Pollino National Park. Its beauty is evident even from a distance, and you only need to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the village to capture its authentic Arbëreshë soul, as the inhabitants are strongly attached to their Albanian roots. From the Devil's Bridge over the Raganello stream to the characteristic Kodra Houses, buildings that seem to have human faces, to the aromas and flavours of a typical cuisine that preserves ancient recipes, Civita will captivate you.

January is the perfect time to discover or return to Tropea (VV) and see this wonderful village overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, usually crowded with tourists, in its authentic beauty, with views of the sea, noble palaces, churches and the unmistakable scent of red onion, the true symbol of the place. Are you thinking of a destination that combines art, history and nature? Santa Severina (KR) is the ancient Magna Graecian Siberene, with its imposing and marvellous Castle rich in Baroque decorations and overlooking a breathtaking panorama. Located halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Sila Crotonese mountains, the castle is open to visitors all year round and houses the Archaeological Museum with artefacts unearthed during excavations carried out within the walls of the village. In the historic centre, you will discover the Byzantine Baptistery, the only one of its kind in Calabria, with frescoes dating back to the 10th-12th centuries.

Moving south, Bova (RC) will be an incredible discovery. In this village nestled in the Aspromonte National Park, you will hear the inhabitants speaking an unfamiliar language. This is because Bova has kept its Hellenic identity intact and preserves its rituals and traditions. You can find out more at the Museum of the Greek-Calabrian Language named after Gerhald Rolfhs. The historic centre, dominated by the remains of the Norman Castle, has many churches to visit and picturesque corners to capture on camera.

Winter blankets the landscape in white, yet in Calabria it brings sunny days with mild temperatures that encourage you to spend time outdoors. If you love snow, January is the perfect month to enjoy the Calabrian mountains. The ski resorts of Sila (Camigliatello Silano, Lorica, Villaggio Palumbo in Cotronei) and Gambarie d'Aspromonte (RC) offer slopes of various levels, suitable for beginners and experts alike. If you are one of those who dream of snowshoeing on soft snow, Calabria's National Parks await you with their trails overlooking incredible landscapes and forests populated by wild animals and centuries-old trees. Some associations also organise evocative night-time snowshoeing excursions. Not keen on skiing or snowboarding? You can opt for a snow excursion (there are options for all ages and suitable for the whole family) or, in Sila, choose to take a relaxing walk around Lake Arvo or Lake Cecita.

Put off any plans to diet. The typical dishes, traditional desserts and excellent wines produced from native grape varieties are temptations that are best indulged in. In January, the villages of Calabria host patron saint festivals and food fairs. Christmas may be over, but the echoes of the festivities can still be heard in the kitchens, where the typical yeast doughnuts continue to be fried, changing their name - cullurielli, cuddrurìaddru, crustuli or crispelle - depending on the area. You may also be invited to a "quadara", and refusing would be sacrilegious. It is in this month, in fact, that an ancient ritual linked to the farming world is renewed, that of the slaughter of the pig. In the days that follow, the copper pot (the quadara) is cooked for hours on the fire, in which the less noble but very tasty remains of the animal are cooked: the cotiche, lardo and frisuli. Trattorias and restaurants offer special menus to sample these specialities.