Calabria consists of 5 provinces; Cosenza, Catanzaro, Crotone, Vibo Valentia and Reggio Calabria. Prior to 1991 there were only 3 provinces. In 1991 Catanzaro Province was split into 3 provinces and Vibo Valentia and Crotone Provinces were born. Calabria is home to several different terrains and landscapes. The east and west is bordered by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. To the north Calabria is separated from Basilicata with a natural border of the Sila mountain range. In between are rugged mountains and fertile valleys and villages that offer a different culture and language (dialect) than the rest of Italy. There is a national park located in the Sila Mountains in Cosenza Province. There are numerous mountains scattered throughout the region namely the Sila, Pollino and Aspromonte and of course, beautiful seaside villages. This region has been influenced by the Greeks, the Romans, Albanians, Austrians, Germans, Spanish, the Byzantines, the Normans and The Ottoman Empire. Buildings and ruins throughout the region still show signs of these influences. The Calabrian region has always been more isolated from the rest of the regions of Italy, however today it is not isolated. In the past it was separated by dialects, traditions and it's rugged terrain. It was very different than the rest of Italy. Much of the culture and traditions in Calabria are unique to the region. Today, Calabria is very modern, however shadows of the past can been seen everywhere in it's older buildings, churches, traditions and churches. It is connected to the other regions of Italy through the autostrada (highways), trains and an airport in Lamazia Terme. The individual province pages on this site will offer more information on each province and a few towns will be highlighted there also.
