Sagra delle Fragole (Strawberry Festival)

The Strawberry Festival of Acconia in Curinga is an unmissable event for lovers of fresh fruit and authentic Calabrian flavors. This territory, located in the province of Catanzaro, has become one of Italy's leading strawberry production centers over the years, with over 20,000 tonnes cultivated annually thanks to ideal soil and climate conditions and cutting-edge farming techniques. During the festival day, visitors can indulge in strawberries in all their forms: from fragrant fruit salads to creamy gelato, from refreshing smoothies to elaborate sweet creations, right through to fresh juices and prized artisanal jams. But the Festival is far more than a gastronomic occasion: Acconia preserves an extraordinarily valuable historical heritage. The Roman Thermal Baths, dating back to the 4th-5th century AD, represent an open-air museum with unique characteristics throughout Calabria. These remains, miraculously preserved despite the centuries and natural disasters, once belonged to a magnificent monumental villa and still maintain their almost intact wall structure up to roof height. The grandeur of this thermal complex suggests the existence nearby of an important Roman city, likely traversed by the famous Via Popilia that connected Rome to Reggio Calabria. Visiting this festival means combining culinary pleasure with the discovery of a territory rich in history and agrifood excellence, in an experience that tells the story of authentic Calabria, where agricultural tradition meets millennia-old cultural heritage.