Calabria, the rugged toe of Italy’s boot, is little known even to a majority of Italians. Savvy Roman and Milanese vacationers have long been aware, however, that Calabria contains many of the most beautiful beaches in Italy, along with some of the most spectacular ancient Greek ruins in the Mediterranean, plus dozens of charming villages perched on seaside cliffs and inland mountaintops.

It’s possible to have a supremely rewarding vacation focusing only on Calabria’s historic treasures and exquisite coastline. But it’s also easy to combine the region with Basilicata to the north or Sicily to the southwest. The itinerary below follows in the footsteps of my recent trip to Calabria, an under-the-radar region that I recommend exploring before it gains well-deserved popularity.