There's a place in Italy where, in just a few kilometers, visitors can expect to find any number of marvelous beaches lapped by a sea of the most intense shades of blue, and mountains which at times reach heights of some 2000 meters. This is the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, the coast which gazes out towards Sicily, between Scilla (on the water's edge) and Gamberie (in the mountains). A favorite destination of divers, sailors, skiers and rock climbers, the West coast of Calabria is also much loved by gourmands; eager to savor the specialties created with the marvelous produce of the land and sea.
This Calabrian itinerary commences on the Costa Viola (the purple coast) and more precisely in Scilla, home to the magnificent Ruffo Castle: one of the most beautiful fortresses in the region. According to legend, Scilla was once inhabited by a fearsome monster who, together with the equally heinous Cariddi, positioned on the Sicilian coast directly opposite, terrorized the valiant sailors attempting to traverse the strait. No such dangers face today's holiday makers as they head to the long beach of Marina Grande or the more intimate bays of Rione Chianalea, the characteristic fishing village, the houses of which are situated directly on the water's edge.
You need only a few kilometers inland to experience how quickly the scenery changes and how the shimmering sea is so swiftly replaced by imposing mountains. Gamberie, in the heart of the Aspromonte National Park, is one of the best known ski resorts in Southern Italy. A paradise for winter sports fans in the months when the slopes are covered with snow, in the summer the mountainside provides ideal terrain for trekkers. A chairlift transports visitors to the highest slopes of Monte Scirocco and Monte Nardello, from where a magnificent view of the Tyrrhenian coast, the sea and Sicily can be seen.
The sight of the sea prompts the visitor to return to the coast, and take a dip in the sea. From Capo Vaticano a succession of white sandy beaches, one more beautiful than the other, lead all the way to Tropea. For divers, an immersion in the waters of Baia di Formicoli is an unforgettable experience; a unique opportunity to observe an incredible variety of marine life. Tropea is one of Calabria's most stunning seaside towns, with a wealth of elegant patrician palazzi, a magnificent 12th century cathedral, and the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Isola, this last situated on a tiny peninsula at the foot of the town. In Tropea, food lovers have the chance to stock up on the town's celebrated red onions, before heading just a few kilometers inland to Spilunga, to savor the town's specialty: the wonderfully fiery Nduja sausage.
