A Book About Calabria, Italy

ONCE THE HUB OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, Calabria now dangles, largely ignored, at the bottom of the Italian boot, struggling for survival, acceptance and a place in modern Italy and the world. Little-known even to Italians outside the nefarious activities of its ‘Ndrangheta mafia organization, Calabria allures with its simplicity and rewards with an underlying complexity, as in the savoring of an artisanal cheese, appreciating an ancient Greek masterwork or interpreting a particularly expressive phrase in the local dialect.

Based on the author’s experiences, living, working and traveling throughout the region, as well as on extensive research, Calabria: The Other Italy paints a compelling picture of contemporary Calabria. The book intertwines observation, personal anecdote, salient historical information and social commentary into a nonfiction narrative that combines travelogue with an exploration of everyday life and culture. At times humorous, at others poignant, this fascinating work shares the joys and challenges of the “other Italy.”

From colorful tales of encounters with the Calabrese people to those of a windsurfing saint, from the unparalleled pair of 2,500-year-old Riace Bronzes to a couple of dancing giants, from ancient castles and towers to pristine beaches and mountains, from the unique bergamot fruit to an exceptional culinary tradition, Calabria: The Other Italy embraces daily life, culture, history, the arts, food, society and tourism of this beautiful, southern Italian region. Excursions to Sicily and Basilicata are also included!

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