An old town by any standard, Vibo Valentia manages to attract hoards of tourists each year with its numerous historical sights but also its distinct Italian feel. A big harbor and nuemrous rail lines connect it with the rest of the country.
General Info
In the Calabria region of southern
Italy, you’ll find a city called Vibo Valentia, just by the shores of the
Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s not only a magnet for Yacht Charter holidaymakers, but it’s also an important agricultural, commercial center, as well as being the capital of the province. The harbor has played a key role ever since the settlement was first established by the ancient Greeks.
Other known Yacht Charter resorts from the region include
Tropea, Ricadi and Pizzo but Vibo Valentia remains the best place to start exploring the central Calabria region in Italy. The city itself bears numerous landmarks from various times and cultures, a feast not just for the Yacht Charter tourists but also for any visiting traveler.
Travel & Arrival
The closest major airport is the Lamezia Terme which roughly a 35km further north up the coast via the Strada Statale 18. Several options are available to Yacht Charter groups for travel into town. You can take a cab, rent a car or take the train, since Vibo Valentia is an important crossroads, which links several rail lines. There are several other trains linking with Pizzo and Tropea.
By car, the town is accessible by the SS18 Napoli-
Reggio Calabria or by the A3 Highway with an exit at the
Salerno-Reggio Calabria of Serre exit. Both are highways and are connected with major towns both on the east and west coast, offering the Yacht Charter enthusiast a variety of options.
Avant & Apres Sail
There’s a lot of history compacted in the town of Vibo Valentia, starting with the Greeks, the Romans and the Normans and ending with the beautiful neoclassic buildings that make up the center of the town today. Yacht Charter guests will be spoiled for options, but here is a list of the most important edifices worth visiting while here: the Norman-Swabian Castle, the Walls of Hipponion, the Roman Terme and Domus, the numerous churches around town, the Archeological Museum, the Sacred Art Museum and the Museum of Emigration.
An experience in itself is eating out in this region of Italy, which is home to the famous Calabrese cuisine, always praised for its healthy diet but also for its delicious recipes. Yacht Charter crews will notice that it relies heavily of fresh vegetables and breads and pastas. Also, a distinctive trait is the goat’s cheese combined with a wide assortment of local wines. When it comes to meats, seafood reigns supreme, followed closely by lamb, poultry, pork and beef.
The town center is the main area to have fun after dark, and that’s where you’ll find the Yacht Charter parties stirring up some trouble. Bars, restaurants, clubs, are all to be found here. You can find both traditional establishment where you can enjoy the local music, or the more modern clubs with loud music and lots of young people.
Events & Actions
Probably the most important event around the Calabria region has to be the Olive Oil Festival, or the Galatro, in May, when the locals offer guests numerous tastings of the wondrous liquid gold, accompanied by jazz concerts and wine tastings to help the olive oil go down easier. But if your Yacht Charter group is really interested in getting the Italian feel, just drop in any market day and you’ll find the fresh fruit and vegetable stalls, the potters and basket weavers, the hustle and bustle of the locals as they make their way among the vendors.