Markets in the area
During the holiday the fun is usually divided into shifts, for example, a half-day sea and beach and half a day looking arround, or somewhere, or go either to the market. That’s also in Calabria. In July and August there are at the most of the villages a number of stalls, selling various items. That's more fun than that something of value is sold. So it really is a typical summer holiday market.
A more extensive and serious market is in main village Isola Capo Rizzuto (5 km), length approx. 400 meters. This is only on the second monday of each month.
The same type of market you will find in the surrounding villages, but that doesn't offer much new if you've already seen one. However, in the center of Crotone (20 km), there is every morning a large and extensive market. Everything is fresh and crisp from the region, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, spices and other specialties. There are of course also stands with clothes, shoes (real leather), kitchen utensils, CDs / DVDs and similar. At the harbor of Crotone there is of course a number of stands with fresh fish. The best one is Tarantino.
However, for the extensive range of fresh fish you should be on the market before 10.00 AM (or even earlier). On sunday or monday, you better don't buy any fish at all (that's not fresh). A visit to the market of Crotone, in the early morning, could also be an opportunity to visit the center, combined with the historical past of Pythagoras, with plenty of shops / boutiques.
Customs
The saying “unknown is unloved” partly also applies to this south of Italy. If you take into account the stories about the Mafia, Gomorra (Naples) and the Ndrangheta (Calabria), you soon get the feeling that maybe you shouldn't go there, right... We do not deny that there is also some crime in this south, where isn't it. But this is often heavily overexposed in the press. Every criminal item in Calabria is directly and wrongly linked to the mafia. The practices that are applied by the Ndrageta happen out of everyone's sight. Ordinary Italians and tourists are not bothered by these people, nor are we, and we have been living here for over 20 years. An example. The bars in this area are often used for a quick cup of coffee. The same goes for the tabacchi, where you can buy a newspaper and/or cigarettes. During that time, the car is left on the street with the windows open, the keys in the ignition and sometimes just with the engine running for a few minutes. And yet a car has rarely, if ever, been stolen here. Anyway, these are our findings and we can cite many more examples, but they can be regarded as subjective.