On his return from Spain, the mythical hero Hercules stopped off in Calabria on the stretch of Tyrrhenian coast now referred to as the Costa degli Dei (the Coast of Gods). The story goes that Hercules even founded a city here: Tropea. With this tale in mind, we set off on a journey along the Calabrian coast, a land of myths and legends.

Whilst not all will believe in this somewhat fanciful version of the origins of Tropea, they will have no doubts about the incredible natural beauty of the...

Air laced with the scent of the mountain greets visitors to Morano Calabro, a stunningly picturesque town, the narrow lanes and passageways of which wind their way up the hillside and culminate in the impressive Norman castle overlooking the Pollino massif. Standing out above the tightly packed stone houses, it is easy to spot the blue and yellow majolica faced dome and bell tower of the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. Equally worthy of visit, is the town's late Gothic Church of San...

Our journey starts in Cirò Marina, sea edge town which, in addition to being a renowned summer tourist destination, turns out to be a veritable treasure chest simply brimming with art and history. This is where, between a swim in the crystal clear sea and an hour or two lazing on the sandy beaches, visitors can take a tour of the Punta Alice archaeological site and admire the temple of Apollo Aleo. A great number of artefacts left here by the ancient Greeks and discovered in the course...

None other than Ulysses, Homer's legendary hero, accompanies us along the first stage of this exhilarating itinerary. Opposite the splendid coast of Praia a Mare we stop to admire the island of Dino, which the epic tells, served as landing stage for the great protagonist of the Odysseus. Built so as to protect the Island of Dino and the Gulf of Policastro, there is the Norman fortress dating back to the 12th century. The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta is linked to another legend, which...

We make our first stop on this journey through Calabria at Pentadattilo. The Greek name Penta+daktilos means "five fingers", and was no doubt inspired by the five spurs of rock, now only partially visible, which rise up above the town. The inhabitants abandoned the old town in the seventies, in favour of the more accessible valley below and the remaining "ghost town" has since become a veritable tourist attraction, where to admire the Church of Sts. Pietro and Paolo, the...