Image by Antudo via FlickrBy Phil Hanlon
At the toe of Italy's boot, right in the south of the country, can be found the wild and unspoilt region of Calabria. Most well-known for its seaside resorts - no part of the area is more than 50 km from the sea - Calabria's towns are modern creations that have been built for the tourists. However, if you wander off the tourist trail, there are many historic villages high in the mountains and the region is famous for its Greek and Roman heritage, with ruins in the countryside and artefacts in the museums.
History
Some of the best Greek and Roman ruins can be found in the towns of Cosanza and Reggio Calabria, such as baths, theatres and even bridges. Further afield, recent digs have uncovered evidence of ancient villages at Sibari, Crotone, Catanzaro, Locri, Vibo Valentia, and there is undoubtedly more to discover in this historic region of Italy. Many of the artefacts that have been found at these digs are now on display in one of Calabria's many archaeological museums, including the National Museum in Reggio Calabria. Contained here is one of the most important collections in all of Italy, including Byzantine art, relics of Bronze and Iron Age tombs and the world-famous Bronzes of Riace, two large bronze statues of warriors dating from the fifth century BC.
