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| Regione Calabria | |
|---|---|
| Name | Calabria |
| Native name | Calabria |
| Capital | Catanzaro |
| Area km2 | 15081 |
| Population | 1920000 |
| Region code | IT-78 |
| Country | Italy |
| Established | 1970 |
Regione Calabria is the southernmost region of continental Italy occupying the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. It borders the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea and shares maritime proximity with Sicily, while its administrative capital is Catanzaro and its largest city is Reggio Calabria. Calabria's landscape combines the Apennine Mountains, coastal plains, and archaeological sites linked to Magna Graecia and the Kingdom of Naples.
Calabria's topography ranges from the Pollino National Park highlands in the Apennines to coastal features along the Gulf of Squillace, the Gulf of Corigliano, and the Strait of Messina; nearby islands include Stromboli and Aeolian Islands. Major rivers include the Crati (river), the Savuto (river), and the Tacina (river), while geological formations reflect seismic events such as the 1908 Messina earthquake and volcanic influence from Etna. Municipalities of note on the Tyrrhenian side include Vibo Valentia and Pizzo (Calabria), and on the Ionian side include Crotone and Locri (Calabria), all set within a Mediterranean biome that supports Calabrian black pig husbandry and Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park-adjacent biodiversity research.
Calabria's human history stretches from Paleolithic settlements through extensive colonization by Greek city-states like Rhegion and Crotone during Magna Graecia; those poleis produced figures such as Archimedes-era contacts and metic exchanges with the Roman Republic. Later periods saw integration into the Byzantine Empire, influence from the Norman conquest of southern Italy, and incorporation into the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies before unification under the Kingdom of Italy. The region experienced feudal restructurings, rural uprisings tied to the Brigandage in Southern Italy, and 20th-century events including World War II operations and postwar migration to Argentina, Germany, and United States destinations.
Calabria functions within the constitutional framework of Italian Republic regional statutes established after the Italian Constitution enabled ordinary regions; the regional council sits in Catanzaro with political parties such as Forza Italia, the Democratic Party (Italy), and the Five Star Movement active in regional electoral contests. Regional administration interacts with national ministries like the Ministry of the Interior (Italy) and has used funds from the European Union cohesion policy and the European Regional Development Fund to support development projects in municipalities including Reggio di Calabria and Cosenza. Anti-mafia initiatives engage institutions such as the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia and judicial bodies linked to the Italian judiciary addressing organized crime groups like 'Ndrangheta.
Calabria's economy historically centered on agriculture — olives, bergamot, citrus fruits such as bergamot orange, and viticulture in areas like Cirò — alongside fishing in ports like Gioia Tauro and small-scale forestry in the Sila plateau. Industrial nodes include the Gioia Tauro seaport logistics hub and energy facilities near Crotone and Vibo Valentia, while tourism focuses on seaside resorts such as Tropea and cultural routes highlighting Paestum-era artifacts housed in regional museums like the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria. Persistent challenges include unemployment and capital flight, prompting investment initiatives under the Programma Operativo Nazionale and projects co-financed by the European Investment Bank.
Calabria's population comprises communities concentrated in urban centers such as Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, and Catanzaro with rural dispersion across towns like Scilla (Calabria) and Gerace. The region exhibits demographic trends of population ageing, low birth rates, and emigration patterns to Milan, Turin, and international destinations including Venezuela and Australia. Linguistic heritage includes varieties of Calabrian Greek in pockets like Bova and distinct Calabrian dialects of Italian influenced by historical contacts with Greek language and Occitan-era migrants.
Calabrian culture reflects a synthesis of Greek mythology remnants, Byzantine Rite liturgical traditions in towns like Rossano, and folk customs such as the tarantella. Culinary specialties include nduja, pasta preparations, and bergamot-flavored products, while artisan crafts persist in ceramics from Squillace and weaving in Rende. Festivals such as the Feast of the Madonna of Polsi and historical commemorations for figures like Francesco Florimo and artistic legacies preserved in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia shape regional identity alongside contemporary cultural institutions like the University of Calabria.
Transport corridors include the A2 motorway (Italy) linking Calabria with the Autostrada A3 network, the Tyrrhenian and Ionian railway lines connecting stations such as Reggio Calabria Centrale and Cosenza railway station, and regional airports including Lamezia Terme International Airport, Reggio Calabria Airport (Tito Minniti), and Crotone-Sant'Anna Airport. Port infrastructure at Gioia Tauro supports container transshipment, while local mobility projects have received funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds and coordination with agencies like Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and Anas (company) to improve roads, bridges, and rail links affected historically by seismic risk and terrain challenges.