Information AboutCalabria |
.]] .]] .]] .]] Calabria ( in Southern Italy located at the "toe" of the Italian peninsula south of Naples . It is bounded to the north by the region of Basilicata , to the south-west by the Region of Sicily , to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea , and to the east by the Ionian Sea . The region covers 15,080 Km&2 and has a population of 2 million. The regional capital is Catanzaro . GEOGRAPHY Calabria is a narrow peninsula extending into the heart of the Mediterranean for three hundred kilometres. It is located at the tip of the "boot" between the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea and Gulf Of Taranto to the east. It is separated from Sicily by the Strait Of Messina , where the narrowest point between Capo Peloro in Sicily and Punta Pezzo in Calabria is only 3.2 km. Although the sea seems ever present in Calabria, it is mainly a mountainous region. Three mountain ranges are present: Pollino, the Sila, and Aspromonte. All three mountain ranges are unique with their own flora and fauna. The Pollino Mountains in the north of the region are rugged and form a natural barrier separating Calabria from the rest of Italy. Parts of the area are heavily wooded, while others are vast, wind-swept plateaus with little vegetation. These mountains are home to a rare Bosnian Pine variety, and are included in the Pollino National Park . The Sila is a vast plateau, about 1,200 metres above sea level, which stretches for nearly 2,000 square kilometres along the central part of Calabria. The highest point is Botte Donato , which reaches 1,928 metres. The area boasts numerous lakes and dense coniferous forests. The Aspromonte massif forms the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula bordered by the sea on three sides. This unique mountainous structure reaches its highest point at Montalto , at 1,995 metres, and is full of wide, man-made terraces that slope down towards the sea. In general, most of the lower terrain in Calabria has been agricultural for centuries, and exhibits indigenous scrubland as well as introduced plants such as the Prickly Pear Cactus (it: ''Fico d'India''). The lowest slopes are rich in vineyards and citrus fruit orchards. Moving upwards, olives and chestnut trees appear while in the higher regions there are often dense forests of oak, pine, beech and fir trees. Calabria is a land of contrasts, in many respects, with below zero temperatures in the mountains in winter and temperatures sometimes over 40°C in the summer along low valley areas. The climate is typically Mediterranean ( Köppen Climate Classification CSa), except at the highest elevations (DSa, DSb) and the more arid eastern stretches along the Ionian Sea. Calabria is divided into five provinces: HISTORY Calabria was first settled by Italic Oscan -speaking tribes. Two of these tribes included the Oenotri (roughly translated into the "vine-cultivators") and the Itali. Greek contact with the latter resulted in the entire peninsula (modern Italy) taking the name of the tribe. Greek s settled heavily along the coast at an early date and several of their settlements, including the first Italian city called ''Rhegion'' ( Reggio Calabria ), and the next ones Sybaris , ''Kroton'' ( Crotone ), and Locri , were numbered among the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the 6th and 5th Centuries BC . Conquered by the Romans in the 3rd Century BC , the region never regained its former prosperity. The Greeks were conquered by the 3rd century BC by roving Oscan tribes from the north, including a branch of the Samnites called the Lucanians and an offshoot of the Lucanians called the Bruttii . The Bruttii established the main cities of Calabria, including the modern capital, Cosenza (then called Consentia). After the fall of the Roman Empire the inhabitants were in large part driven inland by the spread of malaria and, from the early Middle Ages until the XVII century, by pirate raids. Calabria was devastated during the dynasties of both Spain and Austria ; the Franco-Spanish Bourbon dynasty, Napoleon 's brother Joseph Bonaparte , and then French Marshal Joachim Murat , who was executed in the small town of Pizzo . Throughout all this Calabria remained a very rural and isolated region. It experienced a series of peasant revolts as part of the European Revolutions Of 1848 . This set the stage for the eventual unification with the rest of Italy in 1861 , when the Kingdom Of Naples was brought into the union by Giuseppe Garibaldi . The Aspromonte was the scene of a famous battle of the Risorgimento (unification of Italy), in which Garibaldi was wounded. The 'Ndrangheta organized crime families of Calabria began to appear in 1860; they now rival in power the better known Cosa Nostra of nearby Sicily , though they operate completely independently from the Sicilians and are especially active in the Cocaine trade. Until recently, the Mezzogiorno (southern Italy) was among the poorest regions of Europe and impoverished Calabria was a main source for the Italian Diaspora of the early 20th Century. Many Calabrians moved to the industrial centres of Northern Italy , the rest of Europe, Australia and the Americas (especially Argentina , Brazil , Canada , and the United States ). Today, there is increased affluence and a much improved economy based on modern agriculture, tourism, and a growing commercial base. Even though the per capita income is still well below that of Northern Italy and Central Italy , it has improved to the point where it is approaching the European Union median. Eurostat 2006 DEMOGRAPHICS Towns of Calabria with a population of 50,000 or more: The following table indicates the population by province: Resident population as of 1 January 2005 , source Istat LANGUAGE See Also: Calabrian languages Although the official national language of Calabria has been Standard Italian since unification (1861), as a consequence of its deep and colourful history, Calabrian dialects have developed that have been spoken in the region for centuries. The various Dialects are divided into two different language groups. In the northern one-third of the region, the Calabrian dialects are considered a dialect of the Neapolitan Language called Northern Calabrian. In the southern two-thirds of the region, the Calabrian dialects are considered part of the Sicilian Language and are grouped as '''Southern Calabro'''. Other historical languages have left an imprint on the region. In isolated pockets, as well as some quarters of Reggio Calabria (historical stronghold of the Greek language in Italy), a hybrid language that dates back to the 9th century, called Griko , is spoken. A variety of Franco-Provençal can also be found in certain communities and French has had an influence on many Calabrian words and phrases. In several villages, the Arbëresh dialect of the Albanian Language has been spoken since a wave of refugees settled there in the 15th century. In addition, since Calabria (as well as other parts of Southern Italy and Sicily ) were once ruled by the Spanish, some Calabrian dialects clearly exhibit Spanish influences. FAMOUS CALABRIANS TRANSPORTATION Airports
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TOURISM SITES at the National Museum of Magna Grecia.]] .]] .]] The main tourist draws in Calabria are the coastline and the mountains. The coastline alternates between rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, and is sparsely interrupted by development when compared to other European seaside destinations. The sea around Calabria is clear, and there is a good level of tourist accommodation. The poet Gabriele D'Annunzio called the coast facing Sicily near Reggio Calabria "...the most beautiful kilometer in Italy" (''il più bel chilometro d'Italia''). The primary mountain tourist draws are Aspromonte and La Sila , with its national park and lakes. Some other prominent destinations include:
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CALABRIAN CUISINE Essentially a typical southern Italian, Mediterranean Cuisine with a balance between meat-based dishes (pork, lamb, goat), vegetables (especially Eggplant ), and fish. In contrast to most other Italian regions, Calabrians have traditionally placed an emphasis on the preservation of their food, in part because of the climate and potential crop failures. As a result, there is a tradition of packing vegetables and meats in Olive Oil , making sausages and cold cuts ( Sopressata , ' Nduja ), and, along the coast, curing fish- especially Swordfish , sardines (''sardelle rosamarina'') and cod ( Baccalà ). Local desserts are typically fried, honey-sweetened pastries (''Cudduraci'', ''scalille'' or ''scalidde'') or baked Biscotti -type treats (such as '''nzudda''). Some local specialties include Caciocavallo Cheese, Red onion (see Cipolla Rossa Of Tropea ), ''Frìttuli'' or ''Curcùci'' (fried pork), Liquorice (''liquirizia''), ''Lagane e Cicciari (ceci)'' (a pasta dish with Chickpeas ), Pecorino Crotonese (Cheese of Sheep), and Pignolata . MAIN FOOTBALL TEAMS
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