Carbonai in Serra San Bruno

Carbonai, The Last Charcoal Artisans in Calabria

Once upon a time, the hills and mountains of the Calabrian Serre were abuzz with an activity that today may be characterized as a form of industrial archeology, an out-of-doors cottage industry of carbon production. Woodsmen practiced the artisanal craft for millennia. In our times, the labor-intensive process is almost extinct. However, in Calabria, a handful of men still carry …

contemporary sculpture

Contemporary Sculptures of Edoardo Tresoldi in Calabria

Calabria is synonymous with spectacular landscapes and outstanding cuisine. Visitors flock to the region in the toe of the Italian boot for its beautiful beaches and even to visit the Riace Bronzes, expecting to soak up a bit of ancient culture along with a few rays and a lot of great food. But contemporary art? Yes, you can catch that, …

Tropea, Calabria: Italy’s Most Beautiful Village – It’s Official!

The people have spoken. Tropea, Calabria has just been voted the Borgo dei Borghi, the Village of the Villages, in a contest that asked Italians to choose the most beautiful amongst the Borghi più belli d’Italia, or Italy’s most beautiful villages. A difficult choice, to be sure, but Tropea isn’t called la Perla del Mediterraneo for nothing. Let’s have a look …

Amaro Silano, Amaro Lucano, Vecchio Amaro del Capo

Amaro, Those Alluring Bitters, A Few Classics from Calabria and Basilicata

At the end of a copious Italian meal, you will invariably be offered something to drink, a digestivo, such as a liquore, possibly an amaro, or a brandy, perhaps a grappa… These beverages with a rather high alcoholic content aid in digestion, thus the name, digestif. Most have a strong connection with their place of origin, such as the Vecchio …

Italian cave house

The Grottos of Zungri, Atmospheric Cave Houses in Calabria

Last but not least, the village of Zungri occupies the final place in an alphabetic listing of Italian communities. The fascinating Grotte degli Sbariati di Zungri or Sbariati Grottos of Zungri lie just outside the historic center, seemingly so far yet just 16 kilometers from the bustle of Calabria’s famous Tropea. Here, carved out of the natural stone, the ancient settlement …