Originally Posted By: pizzaboy
Originally Posted By: spartan
I've been told the scenery in Calabria is similar to Greece, but I want to see it for myself.

You really should. I'm an American. My father's parents were born in Lauropoli, Cosenza (also referred to as Cassano allo Ionio, Cosenza), and my Mom's parents were from Stigliano, in Matera, Basilicata. I've been to both towns on multiple occasions, but identify more with my Calabrese side because I was blessed to spend a full 18 months there back in the '80s, before I got married.

Calabria's coastal areas are very similar to the Greek Islands. Do you speak the Greek-Bovesian dialect familiar to some Calabrians?


I speak modern Greek. From what I know the dialect of Greek some people still speak in Calabria has a lot of similarities with ancient and Byzantine Greek. I can read ancient and Byzantine Greek (our Church still uses Byzantine Greek) but don't understand it 100% and can't speak it. Ancient and Byzantine Greek are extremely difficult.

Just south of Sparta is the Mani Region, the Maniots settled in Calabria and Corsica during the middle ages. They're known as the most martial of all Greeks and are famous for being soldiers, pirates, and for their blood feuds. I'm obviously biased, but it's my favourite part of Greece and recommend it for people to visit. The people, landscape, architecture is pretty unique.