Sport and Leisure
We all know that great food and wine, friendly people and almost perfect weather are Calabrian hallmarks. But there are a myriad of activities that Calabria is also famous for. Whether it's sporting activities, watersports, boating, sailing, scuba diving, mountain climbing or birdwatching, Calabria offers it all with lessons by qualified instructors for those who wish.
Plunge in some of the adventures proposed by the charming and changing landscapes of Calabria. There is a variety of opportunities to dedicate your time to the practice of your favorite sport, pass time or hobby.
For the diving fans, there are numerous specialized centres that offer classes and rent of equipment. Visit diving sites one of the 50 sunken ships dating back to the fourth century BC just meters from where you're staying! Or perhaps you prefer to slide by the rivers in a canoe, or to float in paragliding from the cliffs that fall onto the sea, leaving the wind to decide your course.
Those wishing to leave their feet safe on the Earth can try trekking throughout the many footpaths that cross the Calabrian mountains. These trips can also be made by horse, or on mountain bike.
Walking footpaths forgotten through the centuries, it's possible to discover virgin landscapes suspended between the sea and mountains. In winter, the Calabrian mountains offer the possibility to ski, either alpine or Nordic.
There are a host of activities available.
- Bird Watching
- Boat Trips
- Climbing
- Cooking Classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking / Walking
- Horse Riding
- Scuba Diving
- Skiing: Camiglatelo - (Sila Grand)
www.sgcozenza.it
www.silaonline.it
www.portalesila.it
- Snorkelling
- Spa Facilities
- Spiritualism & Astrology
- Squash Calabria
As Centro Squash Rende
Via Vico Cafarone 4
Cozenza 0984 23799 (Courts)
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Touring by Car
- Water Activities
- White Water Rafting (Orsomarsa, Scalea)
www.laoraft.it
Info@laoraft.it
0985 21476
338 2236744
338 999 8561
Hiking Southern Italy's Maratea Coast
One of many trails on this fine coastline begins south of the Marina di Maratea near Castrocucco Beach. Here, the ruins of a Norman castle overlook a small rocky island into which the sea has carved a series of deep grottos. The trail climbs to just above 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level along the Vallone Arenara ("sandy vale"), ending near the hills dotted with olive groves above the hamlet of Massa. From there, you can descend along a narrow auto road to Maratea, or cross to the Percorso Monte Crivo due north.
Another trail, known locally as the Malvello, runs roughly midway between Maratea and themountaintop village of Trecchina. The trail is a little more than 5.5 miles (9 km) long and takes 4-5 hours. The Malvello trail follows a broad coastal plane below Monte Coccovello, a steep, 4,941-foot (1,505 m) rise that affords a view of Lagonegro, the village where, legend has it, the smiling woman who sat for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa lived out her last years. Paths to the mountaintop are unsigned but easy to follow. A marked trail leads to the tiny cliffside village of Cersuta, then continues along a rocky beach that commands a sweeping view of the Gulf of Policastro. A few private campsites have been set up along this beach, and, if you're inclined to rough it, just pitch a tent there and wait for someone to come along to collect the fee.
Until just a few years ago hiking was a necessity in the impoverished mountains of southern Italy. The rural roads joining hilltop villages to the coast-bound highways were often washed away by seasonal torrents and broken by neglect. Private automobiles were rare, at least by comparison to the more prosperous north.
In recent years, prospects in southern Italy have changed little: mom-and-pop olive groves have given way to large corporate farms, and everyone, it seems, has a recent-vintage car in which to tool around on the region's still terrifying but better-maintained mountain roads. Now that the area is more easily accessible, outsiders have begun to discover southern Italy as a vacation spot, and they have been bringing their pastimes, like hiking, with them.
Though still far from crowded, the ancient footpaths of southern Italy's Maratea Coast, in constant use since the Neolithic era, now boast more Vibram-booted walkers than flock-shooing shepherds. Local hiking enthusiasts have made modest improvements on those paths, marking them with unobtrusive signs that point the way to the area's many natural attractions -- limestone caves, stony beaches, gushing cliffside springs, and tall mountains among them.
If, however, you want to treat yourself to a good meal and a luxurious bed after all that walking, take the trail fork that leads from the Rocca di Mezzo to the village of Acquafredda. The village is only about two miles as the crow flies but involves a steep descent of nearly 1,725 feet.
Snorkelling in Calabria
Capo Vaticano is a diver's dream come true. It offers a wide variety of spectacular cliffs, transparent water, abundant fish, and deserted coves reached only from the sea. You can arrange boat trips to the best diving spots.
Boat Trips
Maratea, in Basilicata. The coastline around this picturesque fishing village is densely wooded, and studded with deserted coves accessible only by sea. Boat trips can be easily arranged in town.
Lucania on Horseback
The ancient name for this area was Metapontion, given by the Greek populations who once lived in these areas. Between the 8th and 7th centuries B.C., almost all the coastline of the region was colonized by Greek immigrants. This colonization left important proof of their presences in the region.
The mouth of the Basento river is a beautiful place because it is a protected area (240 acres) full of natural elements and archaeological findings, a fine place for horseback riding.
Lucania by Car
The territory of Vulture is very well known for its wine. A famous one is the "Aglianico". This region contains history, tradition, colours and taste. It is fascinating for its vulcanic rocks and underground rivers that spurt out from the ground as geysers in the areas of Rapolla and Atella. The beautiful city of Melfi is part of this spectacular region. Venosa, on the Appian way, is a very important place for archaeological findings. This area holds the remains of the Lucani, Romans, Paleochristians and Normans, which are so monumental that they speak for themselves.
Cycling
Riding your bike along the "Sassi" trail in Matera, is a beautiful way to discover new things and to enjoy incredible views. Naturally it takes a little training before taking off on the up-hills and down-hills of this marvellous town in Lucania.
Near the river Gravina, the trail starts to descend until reaching Caveoso's Stone, from where then you go up to the church of San Pietro Barisano.After the church, you enter the centre of the town where the most important monuments are located one after the other: the town's cathedral, San Giovanni Battista church, the Palace of Justice and the church of San Domenico. The trail ends at the Castle of Tramontano, on top of a hill, where you can rest, and from where you can take pictures and enjoy the outstanding landscape
Trekking in Basilicata
The forest, within the regional park of Lucania and also within the small Dolomites of Lucania, includes a total of 4000 acres. This immense forest is made up of the union of Gallipoli's forest (1/4) and Cognato's forest (3/4). Various trails in this green paradise take you from the river Basento (200m in elevation) to the summit of mount Impiso (1300m)
Trekking in The Apennines- this mountain range runs from the Maritime Alps next to the Mediterranean Sea for 630 miles all the way down the Italian 'boot' to the Ionian Sea.
Tours in this are are about vistas of walled vineyards, ancient villages with chapels, old monasteries and a continual supply of good wine.
Golf
Golf is not a very popular sport, yet, in Italy, even though the Italian Golf Federation Federazione Italiana Golf (web site in Italian) was founded in 1927, while the first golf club was founded in 1903. Currently the Italian Golf Federation is joined by more then 225 clubs and90,000 golfers.
Calabria
Golf Club San Michele, Loc. Bosco 8/9
I-87022 Cetraro
Tel: +39 982 91 012
Campania
Circolo Golf Napoli, Via Campiglione 11
I-80078 Arco Felice (NA)
Tel: +39 81 421 479
Volturno Golf, Via Domitiana, Km 35, 300
I-81030 Castel Volturno (CE)
Tel: +39 81 509 5150
Puglia
Acava Golf Club, Km 5 lit. Otranto S. Cataldo, M. S. Pietro
I-73029 Fraz. di Vernole - Acaya (LE)
Tel: +39 832 861 378
Barialto Golf Club, SS. 100, Km 18
I-70010 Casamassima (BA)
Tel: +39 80 697 7105
Golf Club Riva dei Tessali
I-74011 Castellaneta (TA)
Tel: +39 99 843 9251
San Domenico Golf, Via Bovio, 3
I-72010 Savelletri di Fasano (Brindisi)
Tel: +39 80 482 7769
Bird Spotting
Hot Spot: The Straits of Messina Southern Italy
Calabria is home to many of the rarest animals, birds and reptiles in the world.
The Mediterranean Sea is a formidable barrier for broad-winged birds, which depend on thermals and updrafts for soaring. Consequently, most of raptors and storks are obliged to make use of land bridges, such as the main "bottleneck areas" of Gibraltar and Bosphorus.
Species with a low wing loading are involved, such as Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels and Hobbies; the majority of these birds breed in central and northern Europe. Recently. Ornithologists counted 3100 migrating raptors in this area during the months of April and May.
The birdlife in Calabria also includes the black woodpecker, Bonelli's eagle, goshawk, peregrine falcon, the eagle owl, sandpipers, redshank, the collared pratincole and other waders as well as duck.
In spring a relatively strong migration of raptors is also noticed in the central Mediterranean, when fairly substantial numbers leave the African continent in the vicinity of Cap Bon in Tunisia and enter Europe via the Aeolian Islands and the Straits of Messina to Calabria, Italy.
