APARTMENT .cod CAX215

Situated to Calopezzati in the Gulf of Taranto, between Rossano and Crotone, the house is perched on a height of almost 300 meters.
More than a comfortable cottage (100m² living space), La Casa In Collina, without any immediate neighbourhood and protected against any pollution with a private olive grove, is a real small paradise, an haven of peace which overlooks the sea far away from just five kilometres. From the side where it overhangs the olive grove, the wide terrace which arounds the house, offers a superb view on the sea and Taranto bay but also on the surrounding countryside pleasantly hilly, where, here and there, on the slopes ravines, graze goats and sheep with, in the distance, paths which cross and tracks which vanish in the hills.

House Presentation

The house was especially planned to take advantage as much as possible of the nature around. The living room and the study open directly onto the terrace where, around the large garden table, which is placed under the thick foliage of an imposing old olive tree; it’s possible to have a meal in the shade while delighting of the panorama. The evening, thanks to numerous exterior lamps, you will be able to have a lunch outside taking advantage of the peaceful and cool of the night. Other nice feature, the baker’s oven, also for the same reasons, built on the terrace. It may be used to make pizza but also to grill fishes and meats. According to the season, you will savour the fruits of the property: oranges, lemons, pears, sharon fruits, prickly pears, peaches, apricots, almonds, grapes of the climbing vine. Of course, you will be able to taste olive oil only product from the olive trees of the property.
On the same level, all the floors paved to get coolness, the house can accommodate a maximum of 6 people, including young children. Living room, dining room and kitchen are the one and the same spacious room adorns with a fire place. The kitchen integrated into this large open space, is functional and well equipped. There is a real relationship between the study and the landscape thanks to its picture window. This room, with air conditioning, is equipped with a very comfortable pull-out bed (1,40m) for two people. Two beautiful bedrooms with air conditioning too, allow the bedding of 4 people. The one is with a queen size bed, the other with two single beds. Both have a large wardrobe with a hanging cloths section .The two bathrooms have shower and wc and windows give light.
Besides usual domestic appliances ( fridge with freezer compartment; oven- microwave oven- coffee-maker- toaster- washing machine- iron- hair-dryer), television , hi-fi stereo system are at the tenant’s disposal.

Surroundings

The beach of Calopezzati , small town on the area of which is dependent the property, is below, at only some minutes from the house. It’s nearly deserted all the year, except in July in which it’s a little bit busier and in August, if there is quite crowed, it’s far from being as on the French Riviera at the same time. Here, it’s still possible to stretch out comfortably in the sun or to swim in complete freedom.
Anyway, as regards beach, if they are sandy or with pebbles, laid out or not, free or not, if you go to the south or towards the north, your only problem is the great choice .The water is clear and warm. But if the curiosity leads you to Cariati, a famous climatique seaside about 15 kms more to the south, don’t miss to take advantage of this trip to go and savour an ice cream at Fortino’s gelateria. It’s in the centre of the old city “centro storico”, piazza Marconi number 1. Luidgi’s ice creams awarded a national price for their high quality. A real marvel!

Conveniences

In the upper part of Calopezzati, you will find, on top of a police station and a post office, one grocery to buy the essentials and one bakery. Two restaurants in the centre of the town, “La Tavernetta” and “Al Catoyo” prepare Calabrian specialities. It’s a good quality-price ratio and both get a terrace from where you have a vast and fantastic view. To Calopezzati mare (down below), along the road SS 106, a well supplied mini market allows to get full fresh supplies. On the opposite side, very close to the station, a “salumeria”- that means a delicatessen shop- sells high quality regional products. Always along the road, but on the right at the edge of the town in the direction of Crotone, “Il Tortolone” serves a very good Emiliana food.
To get full shopping, there is the “SMA”, a supermarket at the beginning of Mirto Crosia City which is 5 kms away from Calopezzati in direction of Rossano. All shops, including drugstores, are in the two parallel main streets of this city. There is also a medical center. Via Nazional, at number 523, you have to know “La Casa Del Pescator”. In this small restaurant, which isn’t much to look at, fish is delicious because always very fresh, and for a good reason: the proprietors are twin brothers, who fish early in the morning and after, for lunch or dinner, cook their catch for you, according your taste prepared or grilled. On the top of that, it’s not expensive. Via L. Lama, at number 10, an internet point which also runs as a bar and fast food restaurant. The boss, Robert David, is a crack in computers.

Interesting sights and tourist activities

Inevitably, after Mirto you will push on to Rossano, county city of Consenza province and also one of arts centres of Calabria. Rossano, also known as the “Byzantine”, is a 300 hundred meters above sea level. You will take delight to walk along its streets and alleys, its narrow passages which take you to Piazza Steri and after to Torre dell’Orologio. From there, you will continue your city visit at the Cattedrale Nuova where you will be able to admire the Madonna “archiropita”, splendid and touching Byzantine Madonna about whose, according the legend, the dreamy and a little bit sad face was painted by angels. Very close, in the diocesan museum of Sacred Arts, you will discover with wonder the Codex Purpureus, extraordinary and very precious work of the Medieval palaeography. But, it is only when you will see, surrounded with palm trees, St Mark’s church, from 11th century, that Byzantine’s Calabria will be revealed on you. Inside, nothing ostentatious, some rough stone pillars and small concave domes; a model of harmonious and touching simplicity. There, the Orthodox rite was practised until 1949.
At Trapesimi-Rossano, at the edge of Rossano in the direction of Reggio, calla Da Amica (Amica street), you can have a meal at the agriturismo “La Piana degli Ulivi”, in a very beautiful hundred years old olive trees setting. They serve, among other flavourful dishes, a good pizza. Not very far from there, in the middle of the country, and in the lovely agriturismo “Il Giardino Di Iti,”calla Da Iti, la “baronessa” will welcome you in her property and will serve you numerous and succulent Calabrian specialities. In the modern Rossano, very close from the station and placed beside the level crossing, tasty regional dishes are at the menu of the trattoria “Al Caseco”. At number 215 of the via del Lido, the large street which, on the other side of station, leads to the see, another sympatical trattoria, “ La Campanna”, offers the same kind of food. At the bottom of the same avenue, in a perpendicular street, “Il Nido” prepares more sophisticated takings. Prices are higher.
Around Rossano, Corigliano town sets high up and its ducal castle - Sibari and the remains of the ancient Sybaris, one of the most important city of Magna Grecia - Campana and its Greco-Roman origins and its giants big stones called “Incavallicata”- Santa Severina, important Calabrian historical centre for Greek and Norman art, are some cities that you haven’t to miss neither than the cultural and also naturalistic trips inside the country parks of the Sila . Longobucco, where prehistoric and Byzantine archaeological sites are remarkable, is a small mountain city which shows a sober and severe beauty as Caloveto, Lorica or Bocchigliero cities, all safety places built at the late Byzantine time by the inhabitants of the cost. But, besides History, the Sila is also a mountain whose the average altitude is contained between 1200 and 1300 meters, which reaches 1928 meters at the Mont Botte Donato. It’s also a vast and deep forest with a lot of species and rare herbaceous plants, a nature reserve where abounds mineral and animal game. There are many lacks as Lago Cecita and Lago Arvo, the two biggest, many rivers where we can fish for trout, many walks or pony trek ride ways and many places for mushrooms fanatics. And on the top of that, there is a ski resort at Camigliatello.
Of course, a stay for one or even two weeks requires to make choices, especially if relax and rest would be yours. But, whatever you choice, be sure that if you spend holidays in Calabria, you will do the good one. In no way, you will have to regret what you could have been able to do and you haven’t done, because sure you will come again.