My travel Italy

The Riviera Dei Cedri is set in the north-west corner of Calabria, the main towns being Scalea, Diamante and Praia a Mare.  Although long established with Italian holiday makers this area has now started to see visitors from other countries who have become bored of the more traditional destinations.  With travel companies now offering holidays in Calabria, this area is set to become popular as a destination.

Diamante:
Historically a fishing village Diamante is truly the gem of this coast.  Situated on a cliff above the sea it has always been protected both from floods and pirates (in past times these were the two biggest worries for the locals!).

Scalea
Scalea simply means ‘The Steps’. The old town is situated on a hill and preserves the remains of an ancient tower, wall and historical buildings.

Praia a Mare
History is certainly the hallmark of Calabria and Praia a mare is no exception. The cave at vinlolo mountain hosts a statue of the Madonna (Madonna della grotta) that has stood there since the 14th century.

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Pretty. That is Amantea wrapped up in one word. This coastal town ranks high up on the list of picturesque and uniquely charming towns belonging to the coast of Calabria, Italy. Amantea is actually part of the province of Cosenza. However, it rates a special mention because of its beauty. This quaint fishing village stands on a hill over the Adriatic coast on the river Catocastro. It was just recently developed into a summer resort.

Amantea is a dazzling combination of coastline, rocky crags, stone walls, and hilly countryside. Its historical monuments and natural charms invite you to explore and discover. It holds you in thrall, not just with its prettiness but also with its historical significance.

Amantea is near, Campora, Corica, Belmonte, Paola

Its name gives a strong indication of its distinctive history as one of the most important of all Arabic strongholds in Italy. In fact, Amantea comes from the Arabic “Al Mantiah”, which means, well, stronghold.

But Amantea’s history stretches way back before the Arabs. Proof of this is the fact that the area in and around the Savuto River yielded numerous Bronze and Iron age artifacts. It has, however, changed hands for quite a number of times. First to the Brutti, then to the Greeks, then the Romans, the Longobordians and Byzantinges, the Arabs, down to its present day culture and civilization.

Amantea was home to the legendary Brutti, who were natives of Calabria and were renowned warriors. They kept the Greek occupation at bay but were unable to withstand the Romans. Hence, there are no Greek structures in the town, unlike the rest of Calabria, which are redolent with evidences of the Greek’s presence.

Vast tracts of land near Amantea were used to provide Rome with some necessary crops. This was when Amantea became one of the important Roman ports of call – this arose from the need to transport produce from Amantea to Rome.

This town also served as the border between two new nations: Longobardian and Byzantine. Here, the Byzantines built the first stronghold (a castle) to protect this important border. However, in 839, it eventually fell into Arab hands, who then created a state surrounding the city.

Fast forward to modern day Amantea, which still holds vestiges of its historical heritage. Modern Amantea basically has two main sections. The first is the historical center, the Old Town, which is set high above the hill. Here you may find remnants of its illustrious past, you can delve into narrow streets to find the historical treasure awaiting you at its unexpected corners. Be sure to visit the Church of San Bernardino, with its monastery. This church boasts of an ornate Gothic portal with alcoves filled with ceramic ornaments. Also, do drop by the ruins of the Byzantine castle.

The second is the “new” and modern city. This is where you can shop, eat and just plain amble about. Amantea’s main boulevard is lined with quaint old stores and modern shops, restaurants and piazzas. Don’t worry, the people are warm and friendly. That is part of Amantea’s charm.

www.comuneamantea.it/

www.amantea.net/ 

www.amanteaonline.it/

On travel between the Calabrian mountains, in a great land of wonderfull beauty, in a region bounded with two seas of around eight hundred kilometers coast limit, where for tis particular configuration, measureless views are present and where “the nature has plot in a magnificient way the lines that talent and human work must follow, or art efforts can improved”.
Calabrian land must not only be limited to approach, even if essential, cliffs and beaches but also must look fro the centuries-old roots, the unpulluted and superb environment, traditions and ethnics that has been survived along the time because of generosity of the nature. Closed in the north with the Pollino and Orsomarso imponent reliefs, Calabria has a predominantly territory mountainous, large green reserves, and lakes with strong splendor inside Sila, demoted summit to peak into the sea on the Range Coast, very high silver firs and rushing streams on the Serre, the last window on the Meditterranean between the Aspromonte summits.
Eternal clashes, legendary stories of shepherds and brigands about unaccessible pathes, a continuous alternate between harmonious reliefs and vertical summits, unlike places “with fancy and queerness”, that fascinate and disconcern, as vegetation and fauna, unexpected and unforeseen, make you think “to be in Scotland” two steps distant from the Mediterranean maquis. A world to explore, where nature is confused with ancient civilization shapes, rediscovering protected centres, churches, monasteries, castles, ancient palaces, traditions, art and folklore, languages and dialect always different; and then lots of amusement occasions for lovers of adventure, of ski, of nature, of hiking, of extreme sport.
The synthesis of a trip that different authors had told with precision and knowledge: as a trip fellow of the XIX century aristocrat, Norman Douglas, author of Old Calabria, maybe the best book written about the region, which narrates the atmosphere of the beginning of 19th century where valleys and Calabrian mountains are described with love and wonder.
Calabria boasts almost 800 km of coast washed by the waters of the Tyrrhenian, of the Straits of Messina and then, on the opposite side, by the Ionian Sea. Castles and watch towers are also characteristic sights along the Tyrrhenian coast, starting from the one built by Charles V at Amantea, a fortress town that was later embellished by the Franciscans who left several traces of their presence, the most outstandig of which is the churhc of San Bernardino da Siena (1436). On the Ionic strip there were three city states and three ancient civilization: Sibari, Crotone and Locri. They shared the same roots in Magna Graecia, being founded by Greek colonists between the 7th and the 6th century B.C., and for a long time they were in conflict with one anotehr: Kroton won the day over Sybaris, buth the succumbed, in the battle of the fair, to Locri Epizephiri. But in the intervals between the battles, wiht the inevitable intervention of various divinities, there were long periods of plendour in the arts and in philosophy. Pythagoras founded his school at Crotone, while at Locri Zaleucus dictated his laws, creating the first written code of laws in the Western World. The most prestigious gymnasiums of the Olympic athletes of the time were at Sibari and it was here that Strabo dictated the example that historians were to follow: “seventy days were enough to destroy the rich and famous town. In 572 B.C. the people of Croton defeated those of Sibari”. In the early 1980s a famous archaeological find became the symbol of Calabria: the Riace Bronzes. They are the two stupendous Greek statues dredged from the sea and exhibited, from the early 1980s, in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, one of the most important archaeological museums of all the Italian Peninsula. One of the two bronze statues is attributed to Fidia, the master Greek sculptor of the Vth century and famous for the reliefs of the Parthenon. Since their exposure at the Museo Nazionale hundreds of thousands of visitors arrived in Calabria to discover the marvellous archaeological and historical patrimony of this region.

	www.ferroviedellacalabria.it
	www.iasautolinee.it
	www.saj.it
	www.iasautolinee.it
	www.foderaro.it
	www.comerci.it
	www.ferroviedellacalabria.it

Calabria is still an undisovered region and therefore real estate prices are significantly lower than in other regions of Italy. With hundreds of miles of sandy beach and rolling hillside, Calabria can be the perfect location for a holiday home or medium-term investment. Local Government autorithy www.regione.calabria.it . 

Calabria is located in the south of Italy, washed by the Tyrrhenian and the lonian Sea [view map]. The region possesses over 800 kms of sandy beaches and is characterised by a variety of panoramas, ranging from rocky coves to vast beaches. Calabria is an essentially mountainous region, with a high central Apennine ridge. The inland is dotted with picturesque villages hugging the hills that slope down to the water.

Searching for property in Italy has just got a little more exciting! … Property in Calabria is one of the hottest areas for investment and holiday homes … and guess what! You have found an excellent source here for the Calabria property region.

Despite an enormous tourism potential, Calabria is untouched and the lifestyle traditional. Located mostly in the plain and on the lower slopes of mountains, the local population is traditionally agricultural with products including wood, oil, orange, citrons, sugar beet, tobacco and flowers. Tourism is beginning to develop mostly around Sila but Calabria does remain one of the poorest regions in Italy.

Climate
Calabria averages between 22-25 °C (71-77 °F ) in the summer months and drops to 9-10 °C (48-50 °F ) in winter.

Calabria is your Anti Aging therapy !

Getting There
UK flights to Reggio Calabria Airport (south tip of Calabria) www.sogas.it and Lamezia (West Central) www.sacal.it can be found from Gatwick, Heathrow, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Aberdeen and Edinburgh

According to the latest statistics issued by the OECD, Italy’s economy is the sixth largest in the world and GDP per capita is $27,700. Italy’s strength is primarily derived from family-owned small- to medium-sized companies whose presence seems most effective on the local and regional level. Major international Italian companies use the stock markets and a program has been implemented to privatize state assets. However, the majority of Italian companies are not driven by share price. 

The outlook is enthusiastically European and the strongest commercial links are with Germany. The economy is basically divided into a highly developed industrial north, where private companies dominate, and a less developed agricultural south. The entrenched public sector, the largest in the EU, accounts for around 40% of the economy.

In early July 2004, Standard & Poor’s downgraded Italy’s long-term credit rating from AA to AA-. This was in response to financial figures indicating that Italy’s public debt was certain to breach the Euro-area stability pact limit. The debts are expected to exceed yearly output resulting in a forecast annual deficit equivalent to 3% of GDP.

Italy has an open attitude toward foreign investment, and there are a number of development agencies on both the national and regional level as well as numerous trade associations that provide help in approaching potential Italian partners. However, bureaucracy at all levels–local, regional, and national–is notorious for delays and inefficiencies. And, as the U.S. Country Commercial Guide for Italy states, “Bureaucratic requirements can be burdensome.”

Admittedly, the national government does have a policy aimed at reducing bureaucracy. The plan is to devolve many statutory responsibilities for business to local and regional levels, but the intransigent public sector is resistant to change. This is making the policy quite difficult to implement.
Taxes remain high–the ordinary corporate tax rate is currently 33%. The Italian government plans to reduce this further, but foreign investment flows into Italy are weak

The 2004 U.S. Country Commercial Guide estimated a surplus net flow of $14.3 billion in 2003. That would be equal to about 1.2% of GDP, well below France (3.4%), Spain (3.2%), and Germany (1.9%). The guide concluded that although the situation is improving, “analysts and surveys routinely cite excessive bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure and a rigid labor market as disincentives for foreign investment in Italy.”

Italy’s labor laws are slanted in favor of the employee. Local employment tribunals tend to side with employees in dismissal, premature retirement or redundancy cases. Labor costs are relatively high at an estimated $14.94 per hour, and the penalties for worker dismissal are seen as a disincentive to permanent job creation. Not surprisingly, entrepreneurs often prefer to invest in technology before manpower. Nevertheless, some investors are taking advantage of the availability of the pools of well trained but immobile skilled labor, particularly around university towns in southern Italy. Here, financially attractive government assistance is available

Rome—it’s known as the Eternal City, and for good reason. Throughout the ages, Rome has been a place of beauty, magic and culture. Modern Rome is a bustling city filled with excitement and energy, as you’ll see from the first day you visit.

Two of the most spectacular ancient sights in Rome are the Coliseum and the Forum. A trip to Rome just isn’t complete without touring these amazing wonders! Although the Coliseum is a shell of it’s ancient glory, you’ll find that to this day there are theater and musical performances held there.

Another breathtaking wonder is Capitoline Hill and its piazza del Campiodoglio. On both sides of the piazza are the buildings that make up the amazing Capitoline Museums, an ideal place to see amazing Italian art and artifacts. Another ancient wonder you’ll want to visit is the Pantheon, constructed as an homage to the twelve ancient Roman gods and goddesses.

Another place you’ll want to visit is the gorgeous Villa Borghese. This is a beautiful, shady park that includes a lake for boating and the Galleria Borghese. Oh, and don’t forget to tour the Vatican, full of gardens and chapels dating back to 90 AD.

When you’re ready to experience modern Rome, you’ll find a multitude of amazing restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy any type of cuisine you desire. And don’t forget about the fantastic shopping! You’ll discover fresh fruits and vegetables, fine jewelry, designer apparel, home decor—anything you desire can be purchased in Rome. While in the Eternal City, you’ll also find no shortage of hot night spots where you can listen to live music, dance the night away, or relax with a quiet drink.

Be sure to plan your itinerary ahead of time. With so much to see and do in Rome, it can be hard to fit it all into one trip. That’s why so many vacationers keep coming back to this magnificent Italian city!

The city of Florence and its inhabitants, the Florentines, are famous all over the world. The architecture of the buildings in the city conveys a foreboding impression, with its palaces looking more like fortresses built in the harsh Medici style. Having said this, one must remember these buildings were, in the first place, erected to keep out enemies and their foreign army’s intent on destroying the city. With all this, these bleak and austere structures house untold treasures within them; and it is these treasures that draw the thousands of visitors who throng the narrow streets of the city. The inhabitants of the town complain about the crowd, but gladly rake in the money it spends. The city officials have wisely kept the inner Renaissance core somewhat free of modern architecture and polluting industry. Florence has industry, but it has been consigned to the suburbs.

The history of Florence still affects the lives of its inhabitants even today. After all, it was the birthplace of the Renaissance, that incredible transformation of the arts that took place between the 14th and the 16th centuries which completely changed the both, the Tuscan town, and the whole world outside it. Under the generous eye of the Medicis, Florence flowered into an unsurpassed depository of art and architectural treasures by geniuses such as Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Cellini, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Giotto, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Since the 19th century, it has been visited by millions wanting to see Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venu s, Brunelleschi’s dome on the Duomo, and Giotto’s campanile.

Florence is relatively clean and safe, as Italian cities go. You can normally walk the narrow cobblestone streets at night safely, although caution is always advised. May and September are the ideal times to visit. The worst times are the week before and including Easter, and from June until the first week of September. Florence is literally infested during these times, and the streets were never intended for such a large gathering of humanity. Temperatures in July and August hover in the 70s and 80s, dropping to a low of 45°F in December and January.