{"id":186325,"date":"2025-08-11T19:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/heres-why-you-should-go-to-calabria-instead-of-rome-or-milan-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T19:00:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:00:50","slug":"heres-why-you-should-go-to-calabria-instead-of-rome-or-milan-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/heres-why-you-should-go-to-calabria-instead-of-rome-or-milan-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s why you should go to Calabria instead of Rome or Milan – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Does your day start like this? You mobile-order an iced caramel macchiato, scroll your social feeds and maybe type an AI prompt to help you research a project for work.<\/p>\n

Italians living on the Calabria peninsula, the “toe” of the country’s “boot,” greet the day a bit differently. They tend a flock of sheep, make cheese, inspect the olive and bergamot citrus groves or fish for swordfish, bluefin tuna and sardines.<\/p>\n

This region of Italy, still mostly undiscovered by Americans, is gifted with more than 500 miles of prime coastline \u2014 the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, the Ionian Sea to the south and Sicily just a quick ferry ride to the west.<\/p>\n

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Soverato beach. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

And the history! People have lived here since the Stone Age.<\/p>\n

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Sant’Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ancient Greeks conquered the region as part of Magna Graecia (Great Greece). The Romans came next, followed by the Byzantines, Normans, Sicilians, Aragonese, Spanish, French and others before the unification of Italy in 1861.<\/p>\n

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\"12th-century<\/div>
A 12th-century altar in Sant’Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite a series of devastating earthquakes \u2014 including five in 1783, one in 1905 and another in 1908 \u2014 there are still hilltop villages with intact centuries-old buildings and sites, such as the 10th-century Norman castle of Rocca Imperiale and the former Greco-Roman city of Skylletion-Scolacium, now an archaeological park along the Gulf of Squillace.<\/p>\n

Several national parks and plenty of outdoor adventures await, too. If you love hiking, climbing, biking or boating, you’ll find it here.<\/p>\n

But I’ve saved the best part for last: the people. I may be biased \u2014 because, after all, I am a granddaughter of Calabria \u2014 but the people you’ll meet in this region are some of the sweetest, most helpful yet tough individuals you’ll find on the planet. Southern Italy has always been hard-scrabble, and Calabrians have made the most of their resources with ingenuity, common sense and a strong reliance on community.<\/p>\n

Though off Italy’s more-trodden paths, I guarantee Calabria will bewitch you. That’s why it’s on TPG’s list of where to go in 2025<\/a>. As the Catholic Church continues to celebrate its 2025 Jubilee with record crowds heading to Rome \u2014 and also swelling the country’s other “greatest hits” cities of Florence, Venice and Milan \u2014 instead consider a visit to this place that may change the metrics by which you’ll judge all your future Italian getaways.<\/p>\n

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Related: Rome Jubilee 2025: How to avoid the crowds<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I just returned from Calabria to see the villages where my grandfather grew up. Here’s my advice for planning your own visit to the region.<\/p>\n

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\"Palazzo<\/div>
Palazzo Barberi in Montauro, Calabria. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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When to go<\/h2>\n

Shoulder seasons \u2014 April to May and September to October \u2014 are ideal for exploring. The weather is mild, and there are usually fewer crowds. July and August can be quite hot, and the major tourist areas, such as Tropea, can be very busy. Calabria is a popular summer vacation spot among Italians, so you’ll be in good company.<\/p>\n

Related: Shoulder season goes mainstream<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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How to get to Calabria<\/h2>\n

There are three airports in Calabria: Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF), Reggio Calabria Airport (REG) and Crotone-Sant’Anna Airport (CRV). There are no nonstop flights from the United States; however, you can connect to these airports through other European cities like Rome, Milan, Venice, London, Zurich, Vienna, Madrid and Frankfurt. Check FlightConnections.com to find all the options.<\/p>\n

If your vacation starts in Sicily, you can also embark on a ferry from Messina to Villa San Giovanni in Calabria. The trip only takes 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

Related: The best ways to travel to Italy with points and miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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How to get around<\/h2>\n

The lesser-known nature of Calabria is both a pro and a con. It can be tougher to get around than in a city like Rome. Major tourist areas, such as Tropea, have Uber and other ride-hailing platforms available, but for more rural villages and destinations, you’ll either need to rent a car or hire a private driver (of which there are many). If you don’t want to rent a car, there is train service between some popular tourist destinations.<\/p>\n

If you’re used to driving curvy switch-back roads and can maneuver in towns with incredibly narrow passageways, driving likely won’t be an issue.<\/p>\n

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Even Italians sometimes have trouble navigating tiny village streets. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I always hire a driver or a driver-guide who can also pass along context I wouldn’t otherwise uncover. I also like getting insider recommendations for markets, restaurants and things to do.<\/p>\n

Danilo Verta, owner of Vita Calabra Tours<\/a>, is my go-to bilingual guide. He offers private and small group tours across Calabria. He recently accompanied my husband and me on a customized tour of Montauro, Sant’Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio, Gasperina and Soverato. He arranged for a university history professor, who grew up in Montauro, to join us. We learned so much from him about the place where my ancestors lived. It was a remarkable experience, and we plan to return with more of the family.<\/p>\n

Vita Calabra Tours offers personalized ancestral tours, introductory itineraries to Calabria and more adventurous expeditions that include cycling and\/or white-water rafting. He also has a gift for pairing his guests with the right lodgings, activities and dining experiences. Add him to your contacts database; he’s a keeper.<\/p>\n

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Where to stay<\/h2>\n
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Piccolo Grand Hotel in Pizzo is fabulous. Book through the Chase Travel portal. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are very few traditional points hotels in Calabria that are part of brands like Marriott, Hyatt or IHG. One luxury option is Praia Art Resort in Praialonga near Isola di Capo Rizzuto. It’s part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, so you can use your Hilton Honors points there (usually around 95,000 points per night). Or, there are three Best Westerns: Villa Fabiano Palace Hotel in Rende, Hotel Perla del Porto in Cantanzaro on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Squillace and Hotel Class near the airport in Lamezia Terme. The points cost per night ranges from 20,000 to 24,000 Best Western points, but check the cash rates since the nightly rates can be under 90 euros per night.<\/p>\n

But don’t despair. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, plenty of hotels, inns and B&Bs are bookable via cash or points through the Chase Travel portal. Some accommodations are even a fantastic deal using Chase’s new Points Boost<\/a> option.<\/p>\n

Related: Why Chase’s Points Boost is an outstanding new way to book hotels on points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Calabria itineraries for first-timers<\/h2>\n
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\"Nicotera's<\/div>
Nicotera’s coastline. ANDREA ROTONDO\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you know nothing about Calabria, here are two itineraries ideal for first-time visitors. I’ll also name three of my favorite places to visit and explain them in more detail after these itineraries.<\/p>\n

Visit Calabria’s 3 national parks<\/h3>\n

This path takes you to three of the region’s most spectacular national parks and allows time to visit special villages, such as Scalea, Diamante, Santa Severina and the city of Reggio Calabria.<\/p>\n

Days 1\u20133<\/strong><\/p>\n