Calabria, located in the toe of Italy’s boot, is often unfairly overlooked in tourist itineraries, but the region boasts fabulous scenery and sincere hospitality. The coastline -- much of it still pristine and undeveloped -- is one of the highlights of Calabria, and an apartment along the shore makes for a fantastic escape. Diamante is one of the most fashionable small resorts lining Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast. Its appeal comes from its large-scale murals by local artists which adorn its alleyways and its almost perfect sandy beaches which flank its palm-tree lined seaside promenade.

Cosenza, located in the north-west, is the largest city in Calabria. An apartment here puts you in easy walking distance to the fine centro storico (old town), which includes a 12th century Norman castle set high on a hilltop. Cosenza is also a good base for exploring the wooded Sila mountain range, divided into three sections (the Sila Greca, Sila Grande, Sila Piccola). Interestingly, the Sila Greca is inhabited by Albanian mountain communities who settled here in the 15th century. The most famous woods in the area are located in the Bosco di Fallistro, just outside the alpine village of Camigliatello, where the trees are over 500 years old, almost two metres across and forty metres high.

A choice place to linger for a while is the Promontory of Tropea, a picturesque section of coast overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast between Pizzo in the north and Nicotera. The area tempts with sandy beaches, interesting rocky coves and crystal clear acquamarine waters. In its centre is Tropea, a lovely seaside resort clustered romantically onto a hillside. Some 70 kilometres to the south is Bagnara, a fishing village famous for its swordfish and fantastic pastries. Also worth a stop is nearby Scilla (the terrifying Scylla of Homer’s Odyssey), Calabria's most picturesque fishing village, which boasts an imposing castle.

At the tip of the Italian peninsula, facing Sicily, is lovely Reggio di Calabria (or Reggio as locals refer to their hometown). The city has been rocked by several earthquakes, though it has preserved some important icons like the Bronzes of Riace in the city’s Museo Nazionale, two larger-than-life Greek statues lost at sea during a shipwreck almost 2,500 years ago. Reggio is also known for its famous tree-lined seafront walk, inspired by the ornamental Liberty Style of the turn of the century. Further south along the coast, you can turn inland to visit Bova, Condofuri, Roccaforte del Greco and Roghudi, an enclave of towns where the local dialect stems directly from ancient Greek. Further north on the Ionian side, excavations at Locri have revealed one of Magna Graecia’s most important city states.