Places of interest

Orsomarso - National park entrance , beautiful waterfall and scenic river walks, agri/eco tourism  restaurants

San Nicola Arcella - caves, ancient ruins, a picturesque village , trendy cafe bars and restaurants and much more 

Maratea - this lovely old town has real old world charm plus a trendy marina and peaceful secluded beaches.

Diamante- "City of Murals" this is a "must see" when in Calabria! The scenic town with its stunning beach and promenade is famous for its wall murals and peppers - not many towns can claim such diverse attractions! The murals can be seen on most walls throughout the old town - it is thought this practice started in the 1900's - artists who couldn’t afford canvas began painting on the walls and soon artists from all over Europe arrived and filled almost every wall with stunning works of art. Diamante is also known as the home of the famous red chilli pepper - this is what gives Calabrese food it's particular kick. During the summer, strings of peppers are hung out to dry in the sun - every balcony has strings of peppers drying happily alongside the weekly washing.

These hot peppers are so popular that a special festival is held in September each year to in honour of this gastronomic delight. For more information on this fascinating town and for details on accommodation during the festival please visit www.diamantevacanze.com and www.fiery-foods.com

Cosenza - set on a hill, Cozensa has an ancient quarter, and a modern, vibrant new town below the old city. The old town is the setting for the famous Cathedral, where Isabel of Aragon is buried, and the medieval churches of S.Domenico and S.Francesco.

Under Emperor Augustus, Cosenza became an important stopover on the Roman via Popilia which connected Calabria to Sicily. Thanks to its cultural past, Cosenza was once known as the Athens of Calabria. To this day, the city remains an important cultural centre with museums, theatres, libraries, and the University of Calabria.

Between the major centres, there are a myriad of charming old hillside villages and rural settlements, each with their own local speciality dishes and wines, local sights and village markets which are all worth visitng.