BEYOND THE TOURIST TRAIL

When we think of southern Italy and Calabria in particular, most of us probably first picture beautiful landscapes, postcard-perfect views and stunning cliffs, which you have already had the chance to see on my profile. However, while staying in that region, we wanted not only to visit the most famous attractions but also to discover the true face of Calabria—the side that rarely appears in travel guides, yet has the power to capture your heart.

One such place was the town of VIBO VALENTIA. It was located not far from where we were staying, making it a perfect choice for a day trip. We did not find crowds of tourists there. Instead we found an atmosphere that felt unmistakably Italian. Everyday conversations taking place on the streets, people returning home with their shopping, cafés and old buildings with characteristic balconies that seem to belong to another era.

We were even a little lucky and happened to visit on market day. To our surprise, the prices were incredibly low. The only thing we could regret was that we could buy at most one or two items, as we had flown there with hand luggage only.