More than 15 years ago, when I emigrated from Italy, every time someone asked me where I was from, it would take about 10 minutes for people to picture the seemingly forgotten stretch of land at the very bottom of the country. Things have definitely shifted in the last couple of years, mostly thanks to the growing popularity of Tropea and regular visits from my fellow countryman, Stanley Tucci.
Although people now know where Calabria is, I’m yet to notice a true shift in tourism in the region. Most foreign visitors flock to Tropea’s belvedere for a picture and then move on, missing everything the region has to offer: exceptional food and an astonishing variety of landscapes that set Calabria apart from other Italian destinations.
