Reggio Calabria

The Project: in 2004 a new protocol was signed by Legambiente Turismo, Legambiente Calabria, Federalberghi Calabria with the direct contribution and support of the Province of Reggio Calabria. The intent is to start a local project for improving the environmental quality of accommodation in the area. A first group of accommodation businesses applying for Legambiente Turismo's ecolabel includes seaside hotels in Villa San Giovanni and holiday farms in Aspromonte.

The Place: this land, which is comprised between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas and a high range of mountains, gives tourists various interesting choices about spending an intense holiday in the area. Here the Aspromonte Mountains push their spurs towards the shore: woods and ravines follow one another until the ridge top where a giant bronze Statue of Christ towers above the landscape. On the Tyrrhenian coast, high mountains almost squeeze the shore until it narrows and disappears into the sea, while Ionian deeply jagged cliffs and headlands plunging into wonderful sea waters, which make a really unforgettable feature of the Calabrian landscape. In addition, the historical heritage of this ancient land parades many fascinating treasures, such as Riace's bronze warriors in the Museo Nazionale in Reggio, the innumerable remains of Magna Grecia and precious monuments of the Byzantine era.

Starting the scheme: the first group of applicants attended a general training course on the tourist ecolabelling scheme by Legambiente Turismo. Some sections of the guidelines were later developed, with special references to increased awareness and promotion of local specific features (rich local heritage, gastronomy, promotion of typical produce and eco friendly management. To this purpose, each business was given an exhaustive checklist to fill and to send back in the next few months.

References:

• Provincia di Reggio Calabria
• Federalberghi Calabria
• Legambiente Calabria
• Legambiente Turismo
  Piazza XX Settembre 7, 40121 Bologna
  Tel. 051-241324, Fax 051-4210514
  E-mail: info@legambienteturismo.it