The regiment is named for the region of Calabria and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm.

In 1975 the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the 59th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Calabria".

In 1895–96, the regiment provided 13 officers and 233 enlisted for units deployed to Italian Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

In 1911, the regiment provided 16 officers and 1,007 enlisted for units deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War.

At the time the 59th Infantry Regiment consisted of three battalions, each of which fielded four fusilier companies and one machine gun section.

On 8 July 1915, the 59th Infantry Regiment began operations to take the summit of Col di Lana.

On 28 July 1915, both regiments resumed the attack to take the summit of the Col di Lana.

For the rest of the year the two regiments continued the attacks against the Austro-Hungarian positions on Col di Lana.

On 7 November 1915, the 60th Infantry Regiment's III Battalion finally reached the Col di Lana summit, but an Austro-Hungarian counterattack the following night drove the Italians back.

[2][5][6] During the night of 18 April 1916, the Italians detonated five tonnes of blasting gelatin in a mine driven under the summit of Col di Lana.

After a pause, the 59th Infantry Regiment's III Battalion attempted again to storm the summit of Monte Sief on 26 May 1916.

On the latter date, the 59th Infantry Regiment's 6th Company managed to break into the Austro-Hungarian trenches on the Piccolo Colbricon, but was again forced to retreat after the enemy counterattacked.

On 2 December 1917, the brigade, which had suffered 1,665 casualties in two weeks of combat, was replaced in the first line by French troops.

[2][5] For the conquest of Col di Lana, their conduct and sacrifice on Cima Stradon and Piccolo Colbricon, and their bravery and sacrifice on Monte Tomba and Monfenera, the 59th Infantry Regiment and 60th Infantry Regiment were both awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.

[2][8][10][11][12] In 1935-36 the 59th Infantry Regiment "Calabria" provided seven officers and 225 troops to units deployed to East Africa for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

The division, which also included the 40th Artillery Regiment "Calabria", was tasked with the defense of the Northern half of Sardinia.

[2][8][10][11][12] At the outbreak of World War II, the 59th Infantry Regiment "Calabria" consisted of a command, a command company, three fusilier battalions, a support weapons battery equipped with 65/17 infantry support guns, and a mortar company equipped with 81mm Mod.

The "Calabria" division and its regiments remained in Sardinia on coastal defense duty until the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943.

On 12–14 September 1943, the 59th Infantry Regiment "Calabria" skirmished with German forces at Bassacutena and Campovaglio, while the 60th Infantry Regiment "Calabria" engaged German forces at Littichedda, and Santa Teresa Gallura, in an attempt to speed up their withdrawal from the island.

For the rest of the war the regiment was tasked with the defence of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces airfields on Sardinia; as well as public security and demining.

[2] With the end of the Cold War the Italian Army began to draw down its forces and the 59th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Calabria" was reduced to a reserve unit in 1989.