Reconnecting with my roots, it’s time to head back to the beaches of Calabria
I have never met an Italian beach I didn’t like.
Naturally, there are certain stunning stretches of coastline that stand out in my mind more than others but, the truth is, I delight in the experience and reap all the benefits of unencumbered beach time regardless of which shore I find myself on. That magical combination of sunshine, the hypnotic sound of the waves, the warm sand underfoot, the blissful sensation of immersing myself into the Mediterranean waters and that inevitable salty taste my lips have after a glorious swim… Summer Sil comes alive and she is in her element.
Summer holiday at Montepaone Beach, Catanzaro
It’s almost like a life-enhancing oxygen, which inevitably helps me relax, reset and reconnect with my joy again, that is until another Canadian winter challenges my resiliency and puts me back in survival mode. Naturally, I then start thinking about the Caribbean.
Overall though, Italian beaches have that something ‘extra’ about them. I know I am not alone in this calling for the spiaggia italiana. It resonates with many, the only difference perhaps is having a preference for a particular sea or area over another. I am always curious to find out where that might be and the reasons why. So, if you’re a beach-loving Italophile, let me ask you: Where on the peninsula or its two islands nestled between the tre mari is your favourite, go-to beach? Are you team Adriatic? Tyrrhenian? Ionian? Which mare speaks to you most and why? Is it pure topography, the colours and clarity of the water, the services, the amenities, or maybe the special memories of magical summers and the people we spent them with which dictate this preference? Or perhaps a combination of both?
In this two-part blog post series, I decided to go back to the source and explore my Calabrian roots and its blessed 800 kilometres of coastline, divided between two of the three seas: the Tyrrhenian and Ionian. I can’t cover all of the region’s beaches, although I have visited many of them on both sides of the toe and can safely say each has its own flavour and unique beauty. Some even leave you breathless, ask any Calabrese, or for a less biased opinion, CN Traveler cited Calabria’s beaches as “one of Italy’s least celebrated and yet most spectacular, a sight easily the equal of the Ligurian or Amalfi coasts.” This year, Calabria has earned two new Blue Flag awards, totalling 17, in recognition of the most pristine and sustainable coastal resorts and marinas, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international NGO based in Denmark.
From the Riviera dei Cedri to the Jasmin coast, this region of unaccustomed tourism and raw beauty is one that I began exploring at an early age, inevitably setting the standard high. In fact, it is always the mare I compare all others to. What can I say? My first love is a tough one to beat.
After two years of intense pandemic life mixed in with threatened world peace, I feel this summer more than ever, we all need a reprieve from the bad news and to enjoy the simple pleasures of an Italian beach holiday.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the many lakes we have here in Ontario. However, they are a temporary fix for me—the dress rehearsal before the real thing.
So, whether you love the beach or fancy the mountains (we have those, too) join me on this coastal journey of Calabria and find out why this last stop before Sicily is one you should make, even if you’re not Calabrese.
SCILLA CHIANALEA
Next time, follow me on my journey of Calabria’s beautiful beaches on both coasts. Let me know your favourite Italian beach in the comments below…of course, I am curious to know. :)
For more information on Calabria, go to Calabria Straordinaria
PHOTO CREDITS: Banner image: Shutterstock, my collection, Unsplash and last three images courtesy of Calabria Straordinaria Tourism Office