Shopping in Calabria

When you come to Calabria, come with a half empty suitcase. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to fill it during your stay. But what should you buy? The list is long but for those who wish to engage in the fine art of shopping and can get beyond the dazzling array of choice on offer, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Bisignano Pottery is a handmade glazed terracotta that has been produced locally since 1500. It is recognisable by its distinctive blue decoration set against a white background and if you can manage to transport it home, it makes a great souvenir of your trip. If you are not afraid to make a bulky purchase, you could also buy a set of ‘seggiari’, or wooden chairs that have been produced here for hundreds of years by master craftsmen.

The most prestigious local product however remains the handmade violin. You do not need to be able to play this elegant instrument to appreciate the skill that goes into the ancient craft. And to go with your violin, how about a ‘Pipe di Ciocco’, made from the Erica Arborea plant and sought by pipe collectors all over the world.

So what next? Well, if your new set of chairs, your pottery, your new pipe and a handmade violin have not emptied your pockets, or filled your luggage, then it is time to go food shopping. Amarelli liquorice, candy-coated chocolate, stuffed Colavolpe figs, sausages, sopressata (a type of salami) liqueurs, spirits, and local wines such as Ciro should all be on your list to take home from your trip to Calabria.

And what you can’t carry, you can always eat!