Locri

Calabria is Italy's toe, and Locri is located on the bottom of the foot, on the celestial blue Ionian Sea. The wide sandy beaches were once a backdrop for a thriving Greek colony that was a cultural hub for Calabria in its day. Nossis, a woman poet of Magna Grecia lived and wrote here 300 BC, and was considered among the Muses. There is a sculptural monument to her today. Timaeus of Locri was a Pythagorean philosopher, and Philistion was a physician and writer who many believe contributed to the Hippocratic collection. The city of Locri Epizefiri in the 7th century BC was a rather illustrious place. The Romans arrived, then the Saracens and malaria, forcing the inhabitants to gradually abandon the city and move inland to Gerace for protection.

It remained largely uninhabited until the 19th century when the railroad came through, bringing with it a new type of traveler who wanted to spend time in the sun. Locri was repopulated and redeveloped. Today's Locri is a hip and popular place with palm-lined promenades and plenty of tourist services, restaurants and beach spots that turn into discos at night. The wide beaches leave plenty of room for everyone.

That it's a beach resort doesn't mean it is without its cultural appeal, too. There is the archeological area of Locri Epizefiri to explore, and the artifacts from the site are housed in the Archeological Museum in the Palazzo Scaglione. Look at the houses and buildings to see traces of the past, as many structures were built utilizing stones scavenged from the ancient site. The church of Santa Maria del Mastro is the town's cathedral, built in the last century in Lombard Baroque style

Of course, there are plenty of things for outdoors lovers. Besides the obvious water sports, the town rests below the Aspromonte National Park, so you can enjoy hikes in the woods, mountain biking, rafting and more just a short distance away. Locri is about 100 kilometers from Reggio Calabria and from Catanzaro.