Scalea

[jpfable]

Hi Folks,
We just got back after spending a few days in Scalea and seemed to hit the place at Festival time. The town was amazingly busy and a hive of activity with bands, illuminations and processions and we have never seen so many people in the town, all out until the early hours.
We arrived at 1:00am on Sunday morning and couldn't drive down the road at more than a snails pace near the Hotel Talao for people, it really was busy but incredibly festive. Cannons waking us up in the Mornings and then saluting the end of some very large firework displays in the evening. A great place to be. We have a place near the top of Centro Storico and the processions started there and filed past our place which gave us probably the best seats in the house.
Really enjoyed ourselves, the sea was fantastic and we can’t wait to go back.
Did anybody else enjoy the festivities?
All the best. JP, Ellaine & Morgan.

[patmc]

Dear JPFable,

It’s been like that for more than a few days. There is a whole change is beginning to take place in Scalea.

They have closed off the Via Bianchi from the P.zza Caloprese to the Via Matteotti intersection and made a lovely pedestrian walk way and shopping area out of it.

There is an Adventure Shop at the end which can arrange exciting adventure trips for you, including a boat trip to Stromboli. [Now if they would just add an archaeological coach trip it would be perfect!].

The Spinnelli Palace is all covered over and is clearly being refurbished; there is a new open air stage erected by the side of the Spinnelli Palace (Via Vittorio Emanuele) with stage lights which dramatically light up the palace at night and reveal what a majestic building it once was - events take place there every week-end ‘til about midnight, which what you probably encountered as you arrived in at 1am and unexpectedly found yourself in the middle of a traffic jam!!

The events are posted and updated on the Scalea Village web-site, which you can link to from the Useful Links on this web-site. Spent a lovely evening there having a superb meal at La Rondinella (The Swallow) just opposite the stage: no menu just delicious typical local food served as Antipasti (starters) followed by Primi (a pasta dish) followed by Secondi (main meat meal) with Contorni (side order) etc. (Euro 20/25 per head with wine). Then afterwards watched a performance by the local schools - ok West End it was not, but it was lovely and all the mums and dads were there to watch their children.

There is now a local bus service and the Tourist Office in Via Kennedy has much more information this year than last.

My sister and her husband, who spent a week in Scalea with me, sent me a page from the Irish Times which highlights Calabria and calls it the newsiest emerging market but one which has the enormous advantage of being located in a well established location with “the charm and romance of all things Italian”. The Irish builders are already moving over there and , according to the article, “The coastal towns which have a shabby charm about them, are beginning to be smartened up as the EU and Italian Government plough Euro 1.2 billion into the area”.

So, as you say: A great place to be … and getting even better!

PatMc

[paulcam11]

Yes we too were in Scalea for the festival, we own a place just above the second piazza in centro storico, on the sunday night there was a firework display that someone did almost right outside our doorway, we were on the roof terrace and it felt like you could touch the fireworks from where we were, so much so that in the morning there was a couple of firework cartridges on the terrace. how our 6 month baby slept through it is beyond me.
WE couldnt believe the difference in the town , there is definitely big changes afoot with the all the renovations being carried out on the streets..

Cant wait to go back in september.....