Best Places to Visit, Food & Authentic Experiences

By Alessia Bevacqua | Founder, Made in Calabria Experience

Tropea and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola — original tour photograph.

A Calabria I Know Personally

I was born and raised in Calabria, where food, family and hospitality were never separate parts of life. I spent my first 36 years in Italy, most of them here, managing my own restaurants, organizing culinary events and working alongside chefs and local producers. Those years gave me more than professional experience: they gave me relationships, memories and a deep knowledge of my region.

Today I share that knowledge through Made in Calabria Experience. On my personally hosted small-group journeys, I travel alongside my guests, speaking English, Italian and the local Calabrian dialect, introducing them to people I know and helping with the details along the way. Some of the most meaningful places we visit are absent from conventional guidebooks; a few family businesses do not even have websites.

This is my guide to the Calabria I love: a region to discover through its landscapes, but even more through its people.

Why Visit Calabria?

At the southern tip of Italy, between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas, Calabria combines spectacular coastlines with mountain forests, ancient villages and remarkable food traditions. You can spend a morning by the water and an afternoon in a quiet hilltop town.

Yet I would never recommend visiting only for the views. Calabria rewards curiosity: a conversation with a cheesemaker, an unhurried lunch or an invitation into a restaurant kitchen may become the memory you take home.

My Favorite Places: Beyond the Postcards

Tropea and Its Countryside

Tropea deserves its reputation for dramatic cliffs, historic buildings and clear water. But I want visitors to explore beyond the beach: the farmers growing Tropea red onions, the cheesemakers of Monte Poro and the producers of ’nduja around Spilinga. The human stories behind these foods are as interesting as the scenery.

Guests enjoying a sunset in Tropea — the human side of the destination.

Pizzo and Scilla

I have a particular affection for Pizzo. To me, its piazzas and everyday rhythms still feel intimate, even as more visitors discover the coast. Taste its famous tartufo gelato, then spend time simply watching life in the square. In Scilla, walk through Chianalea, where fishing traditions and houses beside the sea create a distinctive atmosphere.

Badolato and Pentedattilo

Badolato, above the Ionian coast, is deeply personal to me. After years of depopulation, the village became known for welcoming Kurdish refugees and later attracted artists and new residents from abroad. Its story of hospitality and renewal matters as much as its stone lanes and views. Pentedattilo, by contrast, feels almost otherworldly: an old village beneath a dramatic rock formation, quiet and unforgettable.

The Sila, Albi and Magisano

The forests and lakes of the Sila reveal a completely different Calabria. Albi and Magisano are tied to my childhood and family history. When I bring guests into this part of the region, I am sharing places that shaped me, not simply stops on a route.

Rural Calabria: animals and olive trees in the countryside.

Food Is About Relationships

One of my favorite moments is when a chef welcomes us into the kitchen to show off fresh prawns or ricotta delivered that morning. There is pride in the ingredients, but also trust between the restaurant and the producer. That relationship is what I want my guests to understand.

I sometimes organize private lunches or dinners at my family home with chef friends, including Federica Di Lieto, who participated in MasterChef Italia. We use local products and, when available, olive oil, mushrooms and olives from our own family production. The meals are not staged performances. They are occasions to share stories and enjoy each other’s company.

Hands-on pasta making with Chef Federica Di Lieto.

Local cheese and accompaniments at a Calabrian table.

Hospitality You Can Feel

In Calabria, hospitality means more than good service. I have seen hosts send guests home with a bottle of olive oil or a small gift simply because a connection formed during our visit. Those gestures are not promised or expected. They are what happens when people genuinely welcome one another.

Sometimes our groups gather at my family home. Sharing a meal there is one of the most personal ways I can introduce visitors to the Calabria of my childhood.

Made in Calabria Experience guests visiting my family home.

A shared moment during an authentic rural experience.

When to Go, How Long to Stay and How to Arrive

My favorite months are May, June, September and October. May is especially lovely for exploring villages and the countryside, with spring greenery and generally mild temperatures. June brings long days before the busiest summer weeks; September often offers warm sea temperatures and a gentler pace; October is wonderful for seasonal food, village visits and the countryside.

I recommend at least ten days for a first visit. Calabria is varied, and traveling between coastal towns and mountain villages takes time. Leave space for a long lunch or an unexpected conversation rather than racing from place to place.

From the United States, one option I often suggest is flying to Rome and connecting to Lamezia Terme; Milan may also work depending on your route. Trains from Rome or Naples serve destinations including Lamezia Terme and Reggio Calabria, with onward connections elsewhere. Choose your arrival point according to the area you want to explore, and confirm current schedules before booking.

Events to Experience in 2027: Calabria Food Fest

Calabria’s calendar includes village festivals, music and food celebrations. One event especially close to my heart is Calabria Food Fest, the small-group journey I created to celebrate the chefs, producers, art, music and traditions of my homeland.

Our next edition takes place June 16–24, 2027. The experience celebrates culinary talent including Chef Silvia Barban, who has also appeared on Top Chef. I will personally accompany the group and share the relationships and places that make this experience special. Spaces are limited to preserve the intimate atmosphere.

Chef Silvia Barban showcasing a fresh catch during Calabria Food Fest.

Explore the Calabria Food Fest 2027 Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calabria worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you enjoy coastlines, small villages, regional food and experiences beyond Italy’s best-known destinations.

Do I need a car?

A car is useful for rural areas and smaller villages. Trains connect many larger towns, but some inland places are harder to reach without private transport.

What food should I try?

Look for ’nduja, Tropea red onions, Pecorino del Monte Poro, handmade pasta, local olive oil and seasonal specialties. Ask what is fresh and locally produced.

A Place to Experience, Not Just See

When I think of Calabria, I think of the chef proudly sharing fresh ingredients, the friends welcoming us around a table, and the villages holding my childhood memories. It is not simply a destination I promote. It is part of who I am.

Whether you travel independently or join one of my journeys, I hope you make time for the people behind the places. The Calabria I love most is a place to experience, to feel and to remember.

With love from Calabria,
Alessia Bevacqua
Founder, Made in Calabria Experience