Scalea is a town of two parts; one is on the low plains of the river Lao, the other is as it ascends up the hill to the small community of the Centro Historica (historical centre), the old town. A very popular holiday destination for the Italians, especially the Neapolitans the town is slowly being discovered by more foreign tourists. However as the Italian holiday season is mainly August this means that Scalea and its residents live ‘that’ almost uninterrupted way of life for most the year. Yet this holiday idyll either in its own confines or on its doorstep has it all.

Until around fifty years ago the plains of Lao (piano Lao) was in part agricultural land, in part wild. Olive groves, vineyards and planted crops sat both sides of the estuary of the river Lao as the plain four kilometres deep, backed into the mountains of the Pollino national park and stretched the thirteen kilometres along the coast from Scalea to Cirella.

Today ‘progress’ has seen the plain turned into (by Southern Italian standards) a modern town of holiday apartment, bars and shops. But with the dominance of Centro Historica on its north side, the sea front Norman Talao Tower and the odd scattering of older villas mixed in with the new, Scalea still holds its natural and unique presence. It’s still quite easy to find a small orange grove in the side garden of a shop as you walk along its retail streets of Italian designers, pavement cafes, bars and ice-cream parlours.

However, Centro Historica the original town has remained virtually unchanged in over five centuries. The town as it has done since the first brick was laid still looks out over the Piano Lao, and although the base of the view has changed over the years, it still holds a spectacular beauty. Built on a hill for the purpose of defence and to catch the few summer breezes, its houses only accessible by foot it seems very apt that the towns name was possibly derived from the Italian word for steps (scale).

Crowned by the ruins of the Norman castle and flanked by an abandoned Franciscan monastery and Grand Palace, (whose last occupant met an untimely end), the medieval town winds up the hill through a maze of walk-ways and passages that offer shade and tranquillity.

Although mainly residential it is still possible to stumble across the odd taverna or restaurant offering refreshment and local cuisine as you explore its warren of streets. Centro Historica is a place of history, rustic beauty, charm and atmosphere.