This trip was a bit different from our usual ones. We came to Calabria to visit friends who live there, so we only had a couple of days and no specific plans. Luckily, Calabria has a lot to offer. With the Apennines running almost all the way down to the sea, in just a few days we wandered around medieval villages, walked along many beaches, and (tried to) hike in the mountains.
Coastal Towns
Our first stop was Fiumefreddo Bruzio, a historic medieval village located above the coast. We wandered around Castello della Valle, old castle ruins sitting on a hill with a view straight over the coastline. Just a short walk away, at a nearby viewpoint, you'll find the Surfer Girl (La ragazza del surf).
In Amantea, we parked near the beach and walked around the town. We stopped at a couple of cafés hoping for a vegan croissant, but no luck. We also tried to climb up to the local castle, but never found the right way, so it turned into a little adventure instead. If you plan to go, it's probably a good idea to check the route in advance (or just embrace getting lost).
In Fuscaldo, we took a walk along the beach. The weather was pretty post-apocalyptic that evening, which made the sunset look a bit misty. Not the golden hour colours we originally expected, but somehow better. We grabbed some ice cream and just enjoyed the beach for a while ☺︎
Apennine Trails
The Apennines rise just behind the coast here, so it only took us a short drive to reach Buonvicino, the starting point of our hike. It is a small village in the mountains above Diamante.
Although we had a specific hike in mind, the Apennines are quite different from Czechia or the Alps where all trail markings are crystal clear. At some point we had to turn back as the trail simply disappeared into the forest.
The final viewpoint of the trip was Santuario Madonna della Neve, a sanctuary in the mountains.
What seemed funny to us was meeting a full-on grill party in the middle of the hike. The Italian group was very welcoming so we stopped for a short chat and a dance, before continuing our trip back.
Not our last time
It was not the typical picture-perfect Italy, but Calabria turned out to be a really nice mix of everything: sea views, moody beaches, and wild mountain trails.
Next time, I really have to find that vegan croissant.
Ciao, Calabria! ♡
