Exploration Tour in Calabria
First Tip: Michelino Beach
Near the Falkensteiner Club Funimation Garden Calabria – specifically, after a 45-minute drive south – you’ll reach the enchanting Michelino Beach. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean: white sand, turquoise water. The view looks like a postcard.
Before you reach Michelino Beach, you’ll pass through Pizzo Calabro. This charming spot is just 15 minutes from the resort and is famous for its typical Tartufo ice cream, which you can enjoy at one of the cafés on the square overlooking the sea. Additionally, you can visit the castle where Joachim Murat was imprisoned. The combination of culinary delights and history is always a great choice.
Michelino Beach is only a short distance from Tropea. You’ve probably heard a lot about the jewel of Calabria, so it’s enough to know it’s just a few minutes by car. There are free parking options in the area, but as you get closer to the stairs leading to this enchanting spot, parking fees start to apply (2€/hour).
Once you’ve parked your car, you’ll reach a panoramic viewpoint that immediately reveals the beauty of the sea below. Your view opens up to a vast, postcard-perfect sea. The sound of the waves hints at the beauty to come. A descent of about 240 steps through the Mediterranean scrub leads you down to the rocks: You can choose to stay on the left or right side of the beach. Naturally, it’s a must to try both.
White sand, turquoise sea, and a wild environment. On clear days, you can even see Stromboli. It’s a truly enchanting place, with a Mediterranean scent and such clear water that you can see the seabed for a long time. The vegetation along the edge can provide natural shade from the sun. During peak holiday times, the beach is usually quite crowded, so visiting in the off-season is definitely worth it!
Second Tip: Scilla
But let’s return to the village named after a sea monster from ancient legends. Scilla embodies much of Calabria and is not to be outshone by many of Italy’s famous destinations.
Scilla has the charm of a true fishing village. It is located in an area called Chianalea, a district with countless small houses facing the sea, with those in the front row battling the wild waves.
It’s delightful to lose yourself in its narrow streets and equally pleasant to enjoy fresh fish for lunch, just pulled from the fishermen’s nets. On the other side of the village, you’ll find the new part of Scilla with a wide beach that’s perfect for swimming. The village is dominated by a small square offering a magnificent view of the Strait, one of the most beautiful spots where you can almost touch two regions that come close to meeting.
Third Tip: Sila National Park
The ‘Parco nazionale della Calabria’ is one of Italy’s first national parks. It originally covered areas in Pollino and Aspromonte, which are now separate national parks. Among them is the Sila National Park.
The Sila is a mountain massif where, once you reach the highlands, you might feel like you’re in Northern Europe, even though you’re actually in the heart of the Mediterranean. This applies to both Sila Grande and Sila Piccola.
Sila Grande offers numerous hiking and biking trails within its park. There are countless opportunities for water activities on its lakes and along its rivers. The visitor center in the village of Cupone is particularly beautiful and educational for children. Lake Cecita is perfect for a picnic, while the Sila Giants area features centuries-old Laricio pines of impressive size. It’s truly a remarkable place.
If you head to Sila Piccola, you’ll remain in the province of Catanzaro. You can explore the tourist villages as well as the Garcea Visitor Center of the national park, which is also very beautiful and well-organized. Of course, there’s no shortage of hiking and biking trails here either.
The Sila National Park is a great option for relaxing on a summer day with milder temperatures and experiencing a lesser-known side of Calabria that has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Der Sila-Nationalpark kann eine gute Idee sein, um sich an einem Sommertag bei milderen Temperaturen zu entspannen und eine Seite Kalabriens zu sehen, die vielleicht nicht so bekannt ist, aber von der UNESCO als Biosphärenreservat anerkannt wurde.
