Lamezia Terme
Lamezia Terme is a municipality in Calabria, located in the province of Catanzaro. It lies at the center of the Tyrrhenian coast and the Calabrian Apennines. Among the main watercourses in the area is the Amato River, which formed the Plain of Santa Eufemia and its tributaries. The city, located on the plain, sits roughly at the western end of the Isthmus of Marcellinara, the narrowest strip of land in Italy.
A well-known seaside and thermal resort, Lamezia Terme has developed alongside agriculture with thriving industry, tourism, and an expanding service sector. Today, it is one of the main economic centers of the Calabria region and a site of notable tourist interest. It also benefits from the presence of an international airport near Sant’Eufemia di Lamezia, one of the busiest in Southern Italy. Additionally, Lamezia Terme hosts one of the most important railway stations on the Southern Tyrrhenian Railway Line.
In terms of local culinary tradition, fish plays a central role—often steamed or grilled and served with delicious sweet-and-sour vegetable-based sauces. A local specialty is "surici" (filefish), particularly prized. The area is also renowned for its artisan-produced cured meats and cheeses, as well as for the chestnuts and marrons, which are used in a variety of exquisite desserts. The local wine Lamezia Rosso is of excellent quality. Typical products also include preserved vegetables in oil or vinegar, and stuffed dried figs known as “cruccetti.” Among the local traditional sweets, you'll find Cuzzupa Pasquale, Pignolata, and sweet Grispelle.
