Calabria is a land of impressive beauty nestled in between the Tirrenian and the Ionian seas in the very heart of the Mediterrean. Calabria is mainly made up of rugged land which is characterised by rough mountains which run from Pollino through Sila and Aspromonte. Most of Calabria’s perimeter is made of both beautiful coasts with sandy beaches facing the sunrise, and rocky cliffs looking towards the sunset.
The names used to identify the different areas recall natural fragrances: the Jasmine coast, the Bergamot coast, the Cedar coast. The period of bloom in Calabria is an experience that wakes up all senses through its enlightening intensity and authenticity, making up a composite perfume palette. This is the reason for which I chose to take the trip almost during spring. If it is not the perfume that will provoke the senses, it will be the magnificence of the trees growing in the woods since centuries.
Wind, land and water play together as they decorate the Calabrian landscapes with dramatic creeks, the Fiumare, sometimes transhumance paths otherwise riverbeds which in their dryness seem to be thinly sharp cuts made into the earth that lead to the sea.
The history of this area is layered by different periods, from the golden age of the Magna Grecia to the Byzantine period, then the Normans and the Swabians, the Angevins and Aragonese, and the Bourbons up until, finally, the unification of modern-day Italy and the present.
Nature and history melt in the impressive set of linguistic landscapes that Calabria can offer with its variations of Greek, Albanian and Provençal languages still used today, even though endangered by the decreasing demography.
Today people from Calabria (including me :-)) are recognized as masters of resilience, champions of authentic humanity and their community is considered a model of hospitality, always with some degree of rebellion.
North, South, East and West are always relative to where you are and how you look at the world around you.
Among the many rewarded musicians in Calabria, Fabio Macagnino and Francesco Loccisano are together putting in music a sweet upbeat melody that I would like to share. Thank you F2!
Bellissimo inizio - sarà un viaggio carico di colori del passato, profumi del presente e sapori del futuro...