View from SS18 heading down from Maratea

Ciao Bellis!

Chris here, enjoying some down time in between magnificent adventures here in  Italy. Pete and I have made our way South to our village. My mission here is to introduce you to all of the wonders of Southern Italy.

When most travel writers write of “Southern Italy”, they go down as far as Naples and sometimes even Sorrento. Then, for whatever reason, they completely ignore almost half of Italy and skip down to Sicily.

Belvedere Southern Italy

I have read vague references to Reggio Calabria on the tip of the boot as a “dusty backwater”. I have also heard people say that Italy gets more intensely Italian the farther South you go. This is true. All the more reason to explore farther South.

Meanwhile there are no references to any of the myriad of beautiful Southern Italian villages, towns and stretches of pure Mediterranean beauty that can be found here.

Street scene in Maratea

I am still mystified as to why this is.

Let’s look at some possible reasons someone might not be brave enough to venture south:

1) They are worried that English is not as prevalent as it is in the North.

Not everyone here speaks English and you do have to  make an effort to communicate. I understand the fear of looking stupid but the great thing about Southern Italians is that they warm to you very quickly. They are sincerely appreciative of your desire to communicate with them.

They are also supremely gifted at overlooking the common foibles of their fellows which makes Southern Italy a safe and warm place to visit.

I come to Southern Italy every few months and each time I arrive I am met with a fabulous welcome from my friends here. they never forget you.

Marina in Maratea

2) They are worried about transportation

In order to really see Southern Italy properly, you do need a car.

If, however, you just want a sunny beach holiday with fabulous food and a beautiful centro storico, you can stop in with my friends Clive and Kathryn and Casa Cielo B and B. Stick around Scalea, a lovely beach town with a beautiful historical center. Casa Cielo is the number one B and B on Tripadvisor.com and the title is well earned.

In any case, if you do rent a car, you can rent one at the airport in Rome and drive south. It is a beautiful drive and you have the option of stopping at many lovely and historic places as you venture south. There is also something to be said for the magnificent view you get as the SS18 road drops down into Scalea.  It is always breathtaking no matter how many times I have seen it.

If driving in Italy scares you, read my article on how to do it. It is not as intimidating as it looks.

Mural in Belvedere

3) The culture is very different and they don’t know what to expect.

This is also true but the same things that we value inherently are valued here.

Aragonese Castle in Belvedere

4) They have no idea what treasures are here.

I think I have hit the nail on the head with this one. I don’t know how many times I have thought to myself that if people knew what was here, this place would be awash with tourists.

Old stories die long and slow deaths. I still read horror stories about the N’Drangheta, the Calabrian mafia,  which does still exist but no one I have ever talked to who has lived here has ever been bothered by them.

On the other hand, there are tiny picturesque villages around every corner, each one having a different character. There are glittering beaches and happy festas and sagre celebrating just about anything that grows in soil. There are beautiful people who value family and community and who would give you the shirt off their backs if they thought you needed it.

Way cool poster in Maratea

All in all Southern Italy is one of the best places on earth and one of the best kept secrets.

I am planning on arranging tours here in the future. If you are interested in seeing some of the unspoiled jewels of the South, contact me at chrisellis24@hotmail.com

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