About Scalea
Scalea is one of the most picturesque towns in Calabria. The town takes its name from its terrace-like layout on the steep hillside where the old town (Centro Storico) is situated high above the new town centre. It is a picture postcard setting, with the magnificent backdrop of the mountains and the incredibly blue ocean in front of it. Much of the old town has vanished over the years, but the remains of the ancient town wall and the tower are well preserved. Scalea Holiday Homes have a selection of unique Calabrian properties for sale in the old town as well as in the new centre and beach area. In recent years an increasing number of non Italians have bought vacation / holiday homes here. and there is an expanding community of English, Irish, Canadian, American and Scandanavian homeowners in the area.
The walk up to the top of the old town is well worth the effort. The maze of narrow winding streets suddenly open onto small piazzas with incredible views. The new town is a well developed centre with all the amenities you require, including a wide of shops, restaurants, bars, piazzas and parks. The sea front is well served with modern hotels and the beaches have well equipped bathing areas looking out onto a sea of incomparable beauty. The surrounding area has ancient olive groves, roadside fountains dispensing natural mineral water and endless rows of orange and lemon trees. 
Scalea has survived countless invasions, raids and maurauding armies. The old town has been inhabited from as long ago as the Paleolithic period and interesting pre historic finds have been made in a cavern near Torre Talao. The Aragonese and Spanish eras brought a wealth of culture and learning to Scalea and many of the ancient monuments and works of art can still be seen today. The Norman Castle, the Palazzo Palamolla and the Torre Cimalonga are all well worth a visit.
If your ideal holiday involves more than just sunny beaches and if you enjoy exploring untamed mountain ranges, you'll love this part of Calabria. The Pollino Massif of the north merges south into the Catena Costiera mountains and these in turn drop to the Tyrrhenian Sea and east of Cosenza lie the beautiful Sila Mountains and forests. Scalea and the surrouding towns offer a huge variety of leisure activities including hiking, camping, mountain biking, white water rafting, swimming, scuba diving and more. It is also one of the few holiday destinations where you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon….about one and a half hours drive from Scalea are Calabria's main ski resorts located in the Sila Grande mountains near Cosenza. The entire area has very little industry ; the air is clean and pollution free, the rivers are crystal clear and the countryside offers a wide range of activities and interests including hiking, hill walking, swimming, fishing, small villages, bustling town centres, ancient ruins and modern hotels.
Torre Talao was built in the early 16th century, part of a system of coastal towers designed to deter pirate attacks.
Getting Here: There are flights from Ireland and the UK to ROme, Naples and LaMezia.
New: Flights to Lamezia from London Gatwick Airport are now available with Monarch Airlines. Flights will operate throughout the summer until the end of October 2011.
