CALABRIAN  SECRETS

Day 1: BADOLATO Benvenuti in Calabria. Arrival of the group at Lamezia Terme airport and transfer to the hotel. Welcome drink. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: BADOLATO – SQUILLACE Breakfast buffet at the hotel. In the morning you will enjoy a 3 hrs walking tour of BADOLATO, an old medieval village perched on a hill at 250 mt. above sea level. Visit of the Monastery of “S. Maria degli Angeli”, the Church of Santa Caterina, the Church of the “Immacolata”, and the Bell Tower. Short stop for a tasting of some local food at a “catojo”, a typical local wine cellar. In the afternoon we will continue to the “Archaeological Park of Calabria” surrounded by old olive trees for a short visit to the ruins of Skylletion, one of the most important cities of Magna Grecia. Visit of the old town of SQUILLACE, situated on a hill at 344 meters above sea level, also known for the “craft of pottery and ceramics. After your city tour, you will have the opportunity to taste some local food such as cheese, salumi and wine in the old medieval castle of Squillace.  Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

Day 3: STILO – LOCRI – GERACE Buffet breakfast and departure by bus to STILO, a town of ancient origin. The old center houses the Cattolica, one of the best preserved Byzantine churches, the Baroque Church of St. Francis d ‘Assisi and the Cathedral, which dates back to the thirteenth century. Continue to the old LOCRI, one of the first Greek colonies dating back to 623 BC and transfer to GERACE, a beautiful and intact medieval town, where we visit the majestic Cathedral with three aisles, supported by columns of the temples of Locri Epizephiri. Light lunch and shopping. In the afternoon return to the hotel and time dedicated to relax. After dinner, you will try some local biscuits, typical of this region, and finely accompanied by some sweet “passito”.

Day 4: REGGIO CALABRIA – SCILLA Buffet breakfast and departure to REGGIO CALABRIA to visit the National Museum which houses the Riace Bronzes. Short city tour and walk along one of the most beautiful promenades of Italy. In the early afternoon departure to SCILLA, town of enchanting beauty linked to the mythical legend of the monster Scilla and Cariddi. Free time to visit the castle of the Ruffo or to swim in the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean sea. Return to the hotel at 17.30 approximately. Late in the afternoon, the tour continues to the hill-top town of Badolato for a visit of a local vineyard for some wine-tasting and dinner. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5: PIZZO CALABRO – TROPEA Buffet breakfast and departure for an excursion of PIZZO CALABRO, with a visit of the Aragonese Castle where Joachim Murat was shot. Short stop in the streets to enjoy the famous ice cream “Tartufo di Pizzo”. Continue to TROPEA, an ancient city that sits on a tuff rock famous worldwide for its medieval charm and the panoramic sea view from the balconies. Light lunch. Return to the hotel. After the tour of PIZZO, you’ll go back to the hotel. Transfer to beautiful beach of Badolato for a farewell dinner.

Day 6: SERRA SAN BRUNO Buffet breakfast Trasferimento a Serra San Bruno e, dopo una passeggiata in comodi sentieri nel bosco, si giunge alle carbonaie, luoghi che sembrano usciti dalla storia, con alti omoni con la faccia annerita dal fumo lavorano faticosamente per 24 ore al giorno intrecciando abilmente la legna fino a costruire dei piccoli vulcani neri e fumanti dalle dimensioni incredibili di 15 metri di diametro e 5 metri di altezza che consumandosi daranno origine al carbone. Un lavoro affascinante e faticoso che si tramanda di generazione in generazione, mantenendo attive le ultime carbonaie d’Europa. Trasferimento in agriturismo con il seguente menù (o similare): Nel pomeriggio visita guidata della famosa Certosa, primo Convento Certosino in Italia e il secondo di tutto l’Ordine, che sorge in un pittoresco bosco alla periferia di Serra San Bruno. Visita guidata del Museo della Certosa, che riproduce fedelmente gli ambienti dei certosini ed illustra la loro vita mistica e lavorativa all’interno della Certosa.

Day 7: LE CASTELLA – CAPO COLONNA Buffet breakfast and departure at 08:00 for a hike at LE CASTELLA, remembered for having given hospitality to Hannibal and his camps. Visit the Aragonese Castle, situated on a stretch of land that goes to the Ionian Sea. Continue to CAPO COLONNA, which is the easternmost point of Calabria and preserves the last column of the 48 Doric columns of the Temple of Hera. Return to the hotel at 17.30 approximately. Relaxing time. Farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Buffet breakfast, check out, transfer to Lamezia Terme airport and end of our services.