Away from the hustle and bustle in Calabria

Overtourism is now an acute problem in parts of Italy. But the places worst hit (Venice; the villages of the Cinque Terre) are easy to avoid, and in some parts of Italy you will hardly see any other foreign tourists, said Mark Jones in The Guardian.

Calabria, for example, the toe of the Italian boot, is actually relatively untouristed, so you can be sure of a warm welcome. Yet it offers stunning mountain scenery, beautiful beaches and a number of ancient hill towns that are just as enchanting as those further north. Take Santa Severina, for example, with its Norman fortress, Byzantine church and stunning views. If it were in Tuscany or Puglia, the main square would be “packed” – but when I visited in early summer it was delightfully quiet, as was Le Puzelle, a nearby restaurant serving “very Calabrian” food (“uncomplicated, cheap and delicious”).