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.