For many tourists, southern Italy is still unknown territory. But it’s exactly this lack of mass tourism that makes the regions around Calabria and Basilicata so interesting. Hotel complexes and resorts by the sea are few and far between. Instead, there are plenty of holiday homes, bungalows, and “agriturismi”, or in English: farm holidays. There are sights to see on every corner. Every village has two or more churches, and a castle ruin recommended for tourists to visit. The simplest way to plan your holiday is to settle in to a nice accommodation by the sea and plan excursions from there. Get up early and set off for a half-day trip including a nice brunch or lunch. Once you’re back around three, you can relax for a couple of hours on the beach. The highlight of the day is a late dinner in a ristorante on a piazza, in a secluded courtyard, or simply on the beach promenade.

The Sila National Park is also called the Piccola Svizzera (Little Switzerland). The high-altitude landscape is characterised by wild conifer forests above, dense beech forests further down, and idyllic mountain lakes. The area is also home to wolves and snakes. Thanks to the altitude, the temperatures are ideal for hiking even in summer. For newcomers to the area, we recommend a stop at the visitor centre in Lago di Cecita. Due to the lack of a developed bus network, hiking tours are limited to circular routes, for example around Lago Ariamacina, or up the almost 2,000-metre-high Monte Botte Donato, where you can also go skiing. From the top you can even see Mount Etna. Tip: Be sure to bring snacks with you as there are no restaurants. This contrast between coastal and mountain areas is what makes Calabria so fascinating.

The most beautiful part of this tour is the drive along the Cilento coast from Agropoli to Maratea. Parts of this coastal road is carved into the vertical cliff face. Of course, there are faster ways to get around further inland, but these two hours are pure pleasure. The drive is similar to Chapman’s Peak Drive on the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, only much longer. A really creepy stretch is the drive through a former single-track railway tunnel near Pisciotta. You’ll also pass by several beautiful bays with fine sandy beaches that are perfect for a short break.