Self-catering holiday homes: Calabria

Make a holiday rental villa or property in Calabria, Italy your home away from home

The Calabria region of Italy is the countries best kept secret. Rugged and remote, Calabria is the region forming the ‘toe of the boot’ of Italy, neighbouring Basilicata to the east and Sicily to the west. There is an astonishing authenticity to Calabria holidays, as tourists have only very recently discovered this fantastic forgotten corner of Italy. Calabria accommodation is almost all in the form of private villas, cottages and apartments, many of which have been lovingly resorted as luxury Calabria properties, perfect for a relaxing, peaceful exploration of real southern Italy.

Things to do in Calabria, Italy

There are almost endless opportunities to relax on the beach from a Calabria property. With both Ionian and Tyrrhenian beaches to choose from, the wildly picturesque, white sand beaches tucked in between jagged cliffs and fertile hills. There are numerous sandy beaches hidden along the coast to choose from, many of which you rarely have to share, even during the height of summer. Those who love idyllic beaches all to themselves or those taking a romantic break in the sun will be absolutely at home in a self catering Calabria villa. The main beach resort in Calabria, Tropea, is a great destination for family beach holidays, as the beach is gently sloping and clean, with all the facilities you could need from a beach apartment in Calabria. Snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing and deep sea fishing trips are especially exciting from Calabria accommodation, with a vast range of sites available.

The cuisine in the area is simply irresistible, and no Calabria holiday would be complete without visiting one of the small family owned restaurants serving sagne chine and tartufo, the fantastic local ice cream. The food you will experience from Calabria accommodation is famed as being the spiciest in the whole of Italy, as well as being the most natural and healthiest. Most people returning from a self catering Calabria property return laden with olives, artichoke and many bottles of the sweet local wines grown in the area, and once you have tasted the sun-soaked quality, you too will be tempted into stocking your shelves with nothing but the best of local produce.

Taking a self catering Calabria property rental is an excellent way to discover the long history of the area too. There are a huge number of Greek and Roman sites to explore from a Calabria cottage, and the Museo Nazionale in Reggio di Calabria is an unmissable attraction. The museum houses the famous Riace bronze statues, as well as a huge range of artefacts discovered in the area and under the waves.

The national parks of Serre, Aspromonte, Sila and Pollino all fall within the borders of Calabria, providing visitors with some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in which to walk and ride. There are many fantastic trails to follow, information on which are easily available from any of the Calabria tourist information offices.

Weather in Calabria, Italy

When you take a self catering Calabria property, villa or cottage, you are taking accommodation in Italy’s sunniest region. Even during December and January, temperatures hover between 10 and 15?C during daylight hours. The period between May and October sees average temperatures soaring past the 20?C mark, almost reaching 30?C in August. The evenings are wonderfully warm, easily warm enough for eating outside in the evening.

Cheap flights to Calabria, Italy

There are two airports in Calabria, Calabria Reggio (REG) and Lamezia Terme Airport (SUF), the latter of which receives direct flights from London Stansted with Ryanair. Palermo Airport (PMO) in Sicily receives a much greater number of flights from the UK, and is connected to Calabria by train.

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