One of my most favourite parts of Northern Calabria is where the sea meets the mountains. It’s truly spectacular! There’s nothing quite like swimming out to sea and swivelling back around to the shoreline only to feast your eyes on the large spectacular mountainous landscape. It’s beautiful!
If you’re just joining us, Vera Italia is a platform I’ve orchestrated to connect you with local Italians doing extraordinary things, continuing age-old customs and traditions that keep the Italian culture that we all know and love alive.
This voyage begins in Northern Calabria in a town called Scalea and we’re focusing on the surrounding towns within a two-hour radius. Truly a hidden gem to discover in Italy.
Today’s tales take us out to sea with three beautiful people who represent a long family history of fishermen!
Truth be told, I met Daniele twice — the first as the friendly man who was always smiling and whose warm greetings I always appreciate since he had invited my Zia and I to do a boat trip with him one day while we were soaking up the sun at the family lido.
The afternoon was magic, we glided along the crystal-clear water of September as Daniele shared all his fascinating knowledge of the history and legends of the area. I truly admired his passion and enthusiasm as he recited all his knowledge as if it was the very first time he was sharing it.
Daniele’s captivating storytelling wasn’t the only thing that captured me on this tour at sea, but the young captain beside him, steering the boat — Daniele’s son!
It was the Summer of 2023, Gabriele was so young and despite his age, I was inspired by his profound humility and drive to work alongside his Papà with a true desire to support him and ensure a job well done for the family trade…I didn’t know the half of it!
The second time I met Daniele was as ‘Zio Daniele’ — our Vera Italia vision-maker and videographer, Manuel is his nephew. So, Daniele affectionately became known as ‘Zio Daniele’.
Besides his fantastic boat tours, Daniele also carries forth the very admirable family trade of being a fisherman, passed down from his Nonni (grandparents) and continued together with his brother Pierluigi and Gabriele. The trio proudly and lovingly sets out to sea to soak in the breeze and spectacular surroundings to then roll up their sleeves to bring in the nets and see what the day’s catch will bring.
To tell the truth, Daniele is probably one of my biggest inspirations. From day one he has instilled me with such positivity, strength and encouragement that has truly motivated me to keep going.
I’ve been blessed to share quite a few impactful moments with Daniele where I saw what a beautiful and wholehearted individual he is as he shared with me some of the difficult realities many face when they choose to pursue these noble yet humble trades.
I have repeated them so many times because they convey just how important it is that we as travellers and visitors truly invest in the local economies and what a difference we can make!
"You know Chiara,” he said, "if it wasn’t for Vera Italia, I probably would have given up fishing in a year or two, but this gives me a bit more motivation and hope for the future.”
Can you imagine? All those precious memories, stories and know-how passed down from generations, stopped, gone, lost, finished.
About a month later, we embarked on one of the most unique experiences…fishing tourism. It was amazing. Picture yourself, out to sea with professional fishermen who are reeling in the catch of the day and then drifting back into shore to enjoy a lunch prepared with the fresh fish caught before your eyes…it’s pretty spectacular!
As Daniele and I were debriefing after the experience, he said: "If we were to come out here today and live off what we caught, it wouldn’t have made a huge difference in supporting the family, but it’s things like this that really help us to keep going.”
I’m truly grateful to Daniele and he is one of my biggest inspirations and motivations; when the experience bookings aren’t coming through, when I’m giving it my all to sing from the mountain tops with the stories of all of our beautiful Culture Creators but it feels like no one is listening and when I feel a little lost at sea.
It’s moments like these with Daniele, that push you along and remind you — let’s do this!
