Inspired by Tucci: Your Insider Guide to Calabria

The city of Tropea in Vibo Valentia, Calabria

In the far south of Italy, where the toe of the boot meets two seas, Calabria remains a secret whispered by the wind. Here, ancient traditions live on not in museums but in morning rituals and family kitchens. This is a region that doesn’t clamor for attention, it earns it slowly, one soulful meal or sweeping vista at a time.

For many, the first real glimpse of Calabria came through the lens of Stanley Tucci in his Emmy-winning series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. The show follows the acclaimed actor as he journeys across Italy, uncovering the stories, traditions, and flavors that define each region. In Calabria, Tucci's ancestral home, the series shifts tone, becoming more personal, more rooted, and more revealing. His visit offered millions a rare window into one of Italy’s least explored territories.

Tucci's journey brought global attention to Calabria's raw charm. For travelers seeking genuine connection through food, history, and culture, this is the Italy they’ve been looking for.

Where Tucci Went in Calabria

When Stanley Tucci traveled to Calabria, he wasn’t just chasing flavors; he was exploring the roots of his family history. Calabria holds something rare: authenticity. With rugged landscapes, fiercely proud communities, and recipes passed down through generations, it invites you to go deeper than the average tourist path.

Stanley Tucci and his family are walking through the streets of Marzi in Calabria, his hometown – CNN

Tucci began his journey in Marzi, a small mountain village where his grandparents were born. It's not on many travel guides, but that’s exactly the point. In Marzi, stories come before attractions. Walking its narrow alleys is like reading a family diary (especially Tucci's, as most of the streets mention his last name!). Visitors will find panoramic views, quiet rhythms, and deep generational ties that define much of Calabria. But his journey was only the prologue. The real Calabria unfolds when the cameras are gone, when you linger in a sun-bleached piazza or sit down for a meal that feels like an inheritance.

Tucci may have visited Marzi, Scilla, Reggio Calabria, and Cittanova... but you, the conscious traveler, can go further. With Rural Escapes, the road doesn't end where the episode cuts to black. It begins there.

Reggio Calabria – Ancient Statues & City Vibes

The Riace Bronzes, two life-sized Greek statues recovered from the sea, are the crown jewels of the National Archaeological Museum in Reggio Calabria. Beyond the museum, Reggio’s promenade, known as "the most beautiful kilometer in Italy," offers views of Sicily and the Strait of Messina. It’s a place where ancient history meets modern life.

The Bronzi di Riace, discovered off the coast of Riace in 1972, are two remarkably well-preserved Greek bronze statues dating back to the 5th century BCE, believed to have been lost at sea while being transported, and now housed in Reggio Calabria's National Archaeological Museum as symbols of Calabria's ancient ties to Magna Graecia – Photo by Simone Antonazzo / ENIT SpA

Coastal Calabria: Where Myth Meets Morning Catch

Along the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts, Calabria reveals a different rhythm. In Scilla, the narrow lanes of Chianalea spill into the sea, and fishing boats bob like punctuation marks. Swordfish still reigns supreme, and traditional fishing methods continue not as a spectacle, but survival.

A view of Scilla, on the Calabrian coastline – ID 122928631 © Freesurf69 |

Drive south and you’ll find Capo Vaticano, where the water is impossibly clear, and time moves like the tide. To the east, near the town of Stilo, Byzantine churches rise from the silence, their mosaics telling stories older than modern borders.

The Mountain Towns in Calabria

Inland Calabria is a land of forests, shepherd trails, and towns clinging to hillsides. In places like Morano Calabro or Gerace, stone houses seem to grow from the cliffs, and church bells mark time more than traffic lights ever could. Here, hospitality is not a service; it’s a code.

Not far from the Sila mountains lies Cosenza, a historic city where medieval lanes wind around vibrant piazzas, and the past whispers from the stones of its Norman castle. Here, the old and the new live side by side: artisan bakeries sit across from contemporary galleries, and local trattorias still serve the dishes that once fed generations. It's also home to Tenuta Contessa, a rural escape that embodies the soul of the Calabrian countryside.

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Try the typical flavors of the cucina calabra (Calabrian cuisine), from 'Nduja, the region’s infamous spicy spread, to the sweet Tropea onions or rustic cheeses like caciocavallo and pecorino. Every bite is a true, authentic experience. Or better yet, indulge in an exclusive gourmet dining experience by Chef Pietro Parisi, right in a Rural Escape stay.

Handmade ravioli prepared by Chef Pietro Parisi

How to Plan Your Calabria Trip

When to visit Calabria

Spring (April-June) and fall (September-October) offer the best weather and fewer tourists. Summer is vibrant but hot, especially inland.

How to get around Calabria

Where to stay in Calabria

Beyond the Frame: Calabria Is More Than a Scene

Stanley Tucci lit the match with his journey through Calabria in "Tucci in Italy." Now it’s time to carry the flame.

Let Calabria surprise you, not with spectacle, but with sincerity. Discover agriturismi that offer more than accommodation; they offer belonging. Taste meals that don’t just fill you up, but connect you. Calabria’s remoteness is its richness. The lack of mass tourism has preserved its soul, and that’s exactly what Rural Escapes wants you to discover.

With Rural Escapes, you won’t just travel to Calabria. You’ll feel it.

Plan your escape. Discover soulful Calabria. Book your journey at www.ruralescapes.it