The main tourist resource in Calabria is the sea, with a long coast overlooking three seas (Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and Strait) with a particular richness of fish. The low level of industrial development and the absence of large cities in the area, have kept the sea unpolluted for a long time, and Calabria is still considered a natural paradise.

The city with the highest income pro capita is Catanzaro, followed by Cosenza, Crotone appears to be the poorest. In the primary sector, agriculture has developed mainly with the cultivation of olive trees (the region ranks second in Italy for the production of oil, after Puglia), wines and citrus fruits (one of them is the bergamot which is the basis for many perfumes). The main agricultural market is Catanzaro Comalca headquarters of the main agro-food market in Calabria.

Other practical farms mainly for sheep and goats in the hinterland areas and fishing is quite well developed. In the secondary sector food and textile industries are poorly developed, in the areas of Crotone, Vibo Valentia and Reggio di Calabria petrochemical industries, engineering and chemicals have arisen.

The services sector is well developed in Catanzaro, while the shopping centres are in Lamezia Terme and Cosenza. For various areas of the region, the entire economy is based on tourism especially in the summer along the Ionian coast of Catanzaro, in the Tyrrhenian and the entire coastal slope of the province of Vibo Valentia. Winter tourism is moderately developed in Sila.

Calabria was the first Italian region to have hydroelectric power stations. In 1886, Cosenza was the first southern city to receive electricity from its own hydroelectric power station. Between 1886 and 1910, in Calabria there were about 15 hydroelectric plants. The earliest documentary goes back to some Byzantine registers. We remember the use of "Mulino do Furnu” which, at the time of its construction in 1270, was used for "grinding" the silver mineral which was then melted.

In the area of "Holy Water" there is a thermal spa, noted for its curative waters. The plant was built around 1850 and represented one of the most modern thermal baths of the region. In the town of Bivongi, since time immemorial, a miraculous water gushes out with recognized healing properties. In the most elevated plateau of the Sila, important hydroelectric power station are located (like Vaccarizzo and San Giovanni in Fiore), managed by ENEL. Vaccarizzo’s and San Giovanni in Fiore’s plants are constituted of three hydroelectric power stations.

Soverato is considered " the pearl of the Ionian sea" and it is one of the most well known tourist areas of the Coast of Catanzaro and of the entire Calabrian Region. Situated in the southern extremity of the gulf of Squillace, on a hill which slowly descends towards the sea. Soverato is the undisputed "Queen" of this coastal area, which combines the enchantment of beautiful nature with efficient and modern bathing facilities. The town has developed into two separate and distinct centres, Soverato, with its hotels, residences, malls and everything else is a must for a modern and tourist town...and upper Soverato, on a hill a few kilometres from the coast.

Soverato is an important commercial and marine centre, endowed with a fishing port, which is among Calabria's most active. It is famous for the fishing of small tuna. its fishing port is one of the most active in Calabria Jonica. It is characterized by a wide promenade and a beautiful white beach. Because of the abundant presence of “sea horses” in Soverato, the “sea horse” has become the emblem of the town.

Soverato is a very popular summer holiday resort, and it is the renewed national and international tourist destination. Tourism represents the main economic source for Soverato. During the summer period, the population increases remarkably especially in August, in order to visit the famous ‘lungomare of Soverato’.

Group work Catanzariti Roberta Postella Matteo Vacca Federico Catricalà Antonio Critelli Vittoria Bressi Paolo Lentini Domenico Strumbo Maria teacher: Ines Romano