Calabria

Calabria is a beautiful region in Southern Italy. It sits on a peninsula surrounded by the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest—which links it to Sicily—and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. As of 2025, about 1.8 million people live there across an area of 15,222 km².

The region has a rich history, going back to the time of the Ancient Greeks. They began settling in Calabria around the 8th century BCE, creating coastal cities and naming the land “Italia,” a name that later spread to the whole country. During this time, Calabria was the center of Magna Graecia and was home to important people such as Pythagoras, Herodotus, and Milo.

Over time, Calabria has been shaped by many cultures. In Roman times, it was called Regio III Lucania et Bruttii. Later, it was part of the Byzantine Empire for five centuries. During this period, many churches, hermitages, and monasteries were built. The Byzantines also brought the art of silk making to Calabria, helping it become an important center in Europe.

Today, Calabria is famous for its beautiful coastlines, clear blue waters, and many historical sites including old villages, castles, and archaeological parks. The region is also home to three national parks: the Pollino National Park, the largest in Italy, the Sila National Park, and the Aspromonte National Park.

Etymology

The name "Calabria" started over 2,000 years ago. It was first used for a place called Salento in an area now known as Apulia. A Roman leader named Augustus later included Salento in a region he called Regio II Apulia et Calabria. The land we now call Calabria was called Bruttium at that time.

The ancient Greeks called the people in this area Italoi, after a legendary king named Italus. Over time, the name Italoi was used for all of southern Italy and even farther north.

Geography

Calabria is a region in southern Italy. It looks like the toe of the Italian Peninsula. The area is about 248 kilometres (154 mi) long and up to 110 kilometres (68 mi) wide. Much of Calabria is covered in mountains and hills. About 42% of the land is mountainous, while 49% is hilly. Only 9% of the land is flat.

Calabria is bordered by the Ionian Sea to the east and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. It is separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina, which is very narrow—only 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) across at its smallest point.

The region has three main mountain ranges: Pollino, La Sila, and Aspromonte. The Pollino Mountains in the north help separate Calabria from the rest of Italy. La Sila is a large, high plateau covered in forests. Aspromonte is at the southern tip of Italy.

Climate

The weather in Calabria is shaped by its seas and mountains. Coastal areas have a warm Mediterranean climate, with cooler winters around 8 °C (46 °F) and hot summers around 30 °C (86 °F). In the mountains, winter often brings snow. The west side of Calabria gets more rain, especially in winter and autumn, while the east side stays drier and warmer. The mountains also help control the region’s temperature and weather patterns.

Geology

Calabria is part of the "Calabrian Arc," a curved land area that stretches from southern Basilicata to the northeast of Sicily, including the Peloritano Mountains. The rocks here are very old, from the Paleozoic time and younger, covered by layers of Neogene sediments.

The land in Calabria moves because of forces deep in the Earth. It is part of a system where parts of Africa are moving under parts of Europe. This activity can cause earthquakes as the land adjusts after past movements. Scientists study these processes to learn more about the region.

History

Calabria has a long history, with signs of human life dating back to around 700,000 BCE. Ancient peoples like the Greeks settled here, founding many towns along the coast. Over time, different groups, including the Romans, ruled the area.

During the Roman era, Calabria became part of a larger region called Lucania et Bruttii. Later, the Byzantine Empire controlled the area, and many monasteries were built. In the Middle Ages, the region faced invasions and changes in rule, including periods under the Normans and the Spanish.

In more recent times, Calabria has seen periods of economic difficulty and social change. The region has also been affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes. Despite challenges, Calabria has remained an important part of Italy, with its own unique culture and history.

Economy

The economy of Calabria has many parts. Services make up about 29%, finance and real estate about 21%, and trade, tourism, and transportation about 19%. Farming is also very important.

Calabria is good at farming. It has many organic farms and grows special foods like red onions from Tropea, olive oil, and citrus fruits such as clementines. The region also grows figs, porcini mushrooms, peaches, and licorice.

In manufacturing, food and textile factories are strong. There are also factories for chemicals and engineering.

Tourism is growing in Calabria. People visit for its beautiful coastline with clear water and sandy beaches, as well as its mountains. Popular places to visit include Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, Tropea, and many other towns with historic sites and natural beauty.

Infrastructure and transport

The region has three main roads. Two run along the coast, and the third motorway links important towns. There are fast trains along the coast and many ferries between Calabria and Sicily.

The biggest ports are in Gioia Tauro and Reggio Calabria. Gioia Tauro is one of the largest ports in Europe. There are also three main airports in Calabria.

Calabria has the two highest bridges in Italy. There are also plans for a new bridge to connect Calabria to Sicily, and building will start soon.

Demographics

Calabria has several towns with more than 20,000 people. The largest is Reggio Calabria, with over 168,000 people. Other big towns are Catanzaro with about 83,000 people, and Corigliano-Rossano with about 74,000. There are more towns in Calabria with populations above 20,000, each with its own special character and history.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Calabria

Sister jurisdictions

• Burwood, Australia
• West Virginia, United States

Administrative divisions

Calabria is divided into five provinces.

Language

Main article: Languages of Calabria

The main language in Calabria is Standard Italian, the official language since before 1861. Calabria also has many dialects spoken for centuries. These dialects come from Latin and split into two groups. In northern Calabria, dialects are related to the Neapolitan language and are called Northern Calabrian. In central and southern Calabria, dialects are related to the Sicilian language and are called Central and Southern Calabrian. Some areas, like Guardia Piemontese and parts of Reggio Calabria, speak a type of Occitan language called Gardiol. Because Calabria was once ruled by the French and Spanish, some dialects show influences from these languages. In nine towns of Bovesìa in Reggio Calabria, people also speak Grecanico, a version of ancient Greek from when the area was ruled by the Byzantines and was part of Magna Graecia.

Most people in Calabria are Roman Catholic. Historically, they were Greek Orthodox. Calabria is known as "The Land of Saints" because many saints were born there. The most famous saint and patron saint of Calabria is St. Francis of Paola. Another important patron saint is Saint Bruno of Cologne, who founded the Carthusian Order and built the charterhouse of Serra San Bruno in 1095.

There has been a long history of Jews in Calabria, with a presence dating back many years. Though the Jewish community is now very small, it has had influence on Jewish life and culture. Calabrian Jews are considered distinct from Sicilian Jews. Today, there is a small group of Italian Anusim who have returned to the Jewish faith.

Calabrians played a role in the Renaissance humanism period, especially in the study of Ancient Greek. Calabrian humanists and refugees from Constantinople were key in this rediscovery. Two monks from the monastery of Seminara, Barlaam, bishop of Gerace, and his disciple Leonzio Pilato, were important. Pilato, born near Reggio Calabria, was a teacher of Ancient Greek and helped Giovanni Boccaccio translate Homer’s works.

Cuisine

See also: Calabrian wine and U cumbitu

Calabria's food mixes meat, vegetables, and fish, like other parts of southern Italy. You can find pork, lamb, and goat, with many vegetables such as eggplant. Fish is popular, especially along the coast where it is often cured. Pasta is also a big part of meals.

Local dishes include special cheeses, fried pork, and sweet treats like honey-sweetened pastries. Calabria is known for its wines, with some vineyards very old. The region makes famous wines such as Cirò and Donnici from local grapes like Gaglioppo and Greco.

Sport

The most popular sport in Calabria is football. During the 2023–24 season, two teams from Calabria played: Cosenza Calcio and Catanzaro. Other important teams are Crotone and Vibonese.

Viola Reggio Calabria is a professional basketball team based in Reggio Calabria, Calabria.

Universities

Calabria has three public universities. They are the University of Calabria in Cosenza, the Magna Graecia University in Catanzaro, and the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria. There is also a private university called the University for Foreigners "Dante Alighieri" in Reggio Calabria.

Health

Calabria has four big public hospitals and thirty smaller ones, plus many private hospitals. Since 2009, a special manager has run these hospitals because of money problems. The goal is to return to normal management at the regional level.

The four main public hospitals are:

• Azienda Ospedaliera "Pugliese-Ciaccio", Catanzaro
• Azienda Ospedaliera "Mater Domini", Catanzaro
• Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Cosenza
• Ospedali Riuniti di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Calabria

Calabria, a beautiful region in Southern Italy, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals come from this area. You can find more details about them in a separate list.