Calabria is at the toe of Italy's boot, located at the extreme south of Italian Peninsula. Caressed by the azure Ionian, crystal Tyrrhenian Seas and blessed by its warm climate, the beautiful colors of the sea, rocky coasts that alternate with sandy beaches offer a nature that is wild and mysterious. Calabria is also the Cradle of Magna Graecia and a land of ancient settlements, splendid churches, austere monasteries, majestic castles, palaces and dotted with towns where age-old traditions still thirve to this day.
Featuring Cosenza (2 nights), Catanzaro (2 nights), Tropea (2 nights), Reggio Calabria (2 nights), with visits to Civita, Ponte del Diavolo, Parco del Pollino, Scolacium, San Floro, Pizzo Calabro, Aeolian Islands, Gerace, Casignana, Monte Sant'Elena, and Scilla
Included Features
- Eight nights’ accommodation in centrally located hotels
- Private car/van transfer Lamezia Airport/Cosenza hotel and departure transfer Reggio Calabria hotel/Lamezia Airport
- Daily buffet breakfast, hotel service charges, taxes
- Two hour afternoon walking tour of Cosenza with English speaking guide/lecturer
- Private car / van excursion from Cosenza to the Pollino Natural Park, Civita and the famous Devils Bridge including a traditional lunch in a local Agritursimo Farm
- Private car/van transfer Cosenza, Scolacium, San Floro, Catanzaro
- 2 hour private walking tour of Scolacium including entrance fee to the Archeological Park
- Visit the Silk Museum of San Floro with live demonstration and entrance fee
- Two hour private guided walking tour of Catanzaro
- Private car/van transfer Catanzaro to Tropea with a stop in Pizzo Calabro
- Two hour private guided walking tour of Pizzo Calabro with castle visit
- Gelato demonstration and tasting in Pizzo Calabro at a local artisan
- Scenic boat excursion to the Aeolian Islands
- Private car/van transfer Tropea to Reggio Calabria with stops in Gerace and Casignana
- Two hour private guided visits to Gerace and Casignana, including entrance fee to the Roman Villa
- Two hour private guided walking tour of Reggio Calabria including entrance fee to the National Museum of Magna Grecia to admire the famous twin statues “ Bronzi di Riace”
- Two hour private walking tour of Palmi, Monte Sant’Elia and Scilla
- Seafood lunch at a typical trattoria in Scilla
Itinerary
DAY 1 – LAMEZIA TERME/ COSENZA
Private car/van arrival transfer with English speaking driver from Lamezia Terme International Airport to Cosenza. Check in and room assignment. Time to relax and adjust to the time difference before departing on a private two hour walking tour of Cosenza with local English speaking guide. Discover the Old City with its best known highlights such as the Norman Castle, the main Cathedral and Palazzo Arnone.
Day 2 – COSENZA / POLLINO NATIONAL PARK / CIVITA / COSENZA
Breakfast/ Country Lunch
Buffet breakfast at hotel and depart for a private full day excursion to the Pollino National Park. Our first stop will be in the medieval village of Civita, a 15th century village set in the dramatic Raganello Gorge with its spectacular Devil’s Bridge. The village preserves its Albanian heritage through language, an Albanian Byzantine Church and folkloristic “talking houses”. Following the visit, enjoy a country lunch in an Agriturismo Farm with local specialties paired with wines and dessert. After lunch, visit the local Museum of the Byzantine Icons including entrance fee. Late afternoon return to Cosenza.
Day 3 – COSENZA / SCOLACIUM / SAN FLORO / CATANZARO
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car/van transfer to Catanzaro. Along the way. stop in Scolacium, a unique site where thousands of years of history unfolds amidst a lovely olive grove along the Ionian Sea. Enjoy a private two hour walking tour of the Archeological Park, including entrance fee. Stop for lunch on your own arrangement in one of the many family run trattorias along this amazing coastline. Proceed to San Floro, a hill top village overlooking the Corace Valley offering spectacular views. Visit to the famous Silk Museum followed by a live demonstration of silk making. Afternoon arrival in Catanzaro, the “City of the Two Seas”. Overnight.
Day 4 – CATANZARO
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and soon after depart for a private guided walking tour of the Region’s Capital. In ancient times, it is believed that Catanzaro was a Greek settlement and has had influences from the Byzantine Empire. Due to its strategic location, the city has been an important defensive stronghold and was always easy to defend. During the Middle Ages, Catanzaro was involved in various wars and feuds between the Kings of Sicily and Norman invaders such as the War of the Vespers. Admire the old town with its famous Corso Mazzini that opens up to many narrow alleys and piazzas: Visit the Duomo, Piazza Dogana, Piazza Cavour with its famous fountain; Palazzo Fazzari, and Basilica dell’Immacolata. Balance of the day is at leisure for further self-exploration, or perhaps to enjoy a swim at one of the many world class beaches.
Day 5 – CATANZARO / PIZZO CALABRO / TROPEA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Depart by private car/van to Tropea. Stop in Pizzo Calabro, a quaint fishing village situated on a steep cliff overlooking the Gulf of Santa Eufemia. Enjoy a two hour private walking tour including a visit to the evocative cave church of Piedigrotta and 15th century Aragonese Murat Castle. Following the visit, take part in a gelato making demonstration and tasting at a local artisan shop. We continue to Tropea, considered one of the most beautiful towns along the Coast of the Gods. Local myth claims that it was founded by Hercules, who reached these shores from Spain. In reality, the town bears Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Suevian, Angevin and Aragonese traces. Check in and room assignment at your centrally located hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for further self-exploration. Perhaps meander the historical center with its sweeping panoramic sea views, experience the crystalline waters and white sand beaches, or pamper yourself at the hotel’s pool and spa.
Day 6 – TROPEA / AEOLIAN ISLANDS / TROPEA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and enjoy a full day boat excursion to the Aeolian Islands. Visit three of the most beautiful Aeolian Islands: Your first destination is Vulcano, the southernmost island whose sulphur baths are renowned for their medicinal properties. Spend some free time on the island before continuing to Lipari, the largest Island of this archipelago where you can admire colorful fishing boats in the harbor and the views of the city. The castle towers high above the town, and the streets are decorated with flowers. Further inland you will find caper bushes, pumice stone mines, and fantastic viewpoints. You have the option of taking a bus tour or exploring the island on your own. Afterwards head to the volcanic island of Stromboli that boasts one of the highest volcanoes in Europe. Watch the fantastic eruptions with plumes of smoke and let yourself be drawn under the spell of this natural spectacle. Visit the village of San Vincenzo, which attracted Ingrid Bergman, Rossellini and countless celebrities. Stroll through the small boutiques and souvenir shops, enjoy an “aperitivo”, or bathe in the crystal-clear waters. Late afternoon return to Tropea. Excursion is subject to favorable weather and sea conditions permitting.
Day 7 – TROPEA / GERACE / CASIGNANA / REGGIO CALABRIA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car/van transfer to Reggio Calabria. Stop in Gerace, one of the most beautiful villages of Italy for a guided walking tour of this Norman town. After free time for lunch on your own arrangement, proceed to Casignana to visit the remains of an opulent Roman Villa, complete with thermal baths and exquisite mosaic floors: enjoy a private guided walking tour including entrance fee. Arrive in Reggio Calabria in the early afternoon. Reggio is the place where, some 3,500 years ago, the name "Italy" was first used. It had been inhabited by several Ausonian-Italic people before the Greeks settled here in around 743 BC. Rhégion was a Polis of Magna Græcia and an important maritime, commercial and cultural center. Check in and room assignment at your centrally located hotel.
Day 8 – REGGIO CALABRIA / PALMI / MONTE SANT'ELIA / SCILLA / REGGIO CALABRIA
Breakfast/ Seafood Lunch
Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by a full day private excursion of discovery. Our first stop is in Palmi for a guided visit to the House of Culture with its Ethnographic Museum that showcases objects related to Calabrian traditions, religion, folklore and superstition. We will then proceed to Monte Sant’Elia to admire the Straits of Messina’s amazing panorama from a vantage point to view three active volcanoes, Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano. Continue to Scilla and stop at a panoramic restaurant overlooking Ruffo Castle and the legendary promontory of Homer’s Odyssey for a delightful seafood lunch. Afterwards, stroll through the picturesque fisherman’s quarter, Chianalea. Return to Reggio. Enjoy an afternoon private guided walking tour including the Museum of Magna Grecia to admire the famous twin bronze Statues of Riace, full size Greek warriors cast about 450 BC and discovered off the shores of Riace. Following the visit, free time on your own. Overnight.
DAY 9 – REGGIO CALABRIA/LAMEZIA TERME -DEPARTURE
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check out. Private car / van transfer to Lamezia International Airport for your return flight to the States, or extend your stay.
Accommodation, Departure Dates and Prices
FIRST CLASS PACKAGE
Hotel Villa Fabiano **** in Cosenza
Hotel Guglielmo **** in Catanzaro
Hotel Tropis****in Tropea
Grand Hotel Excelsior **** in Reggio Calabria
Or similar
PRICING PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
VALID FOR TRAVEL APRIL 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2021 & SEPTEMBER 04, 2021 - NOVEMBER 2, 2021
PARTY SIZE FIRST CLASS PACKAGE
2 Participants $4,049.00
3 Participants $3249.00
4 Participants $2,849.00
6 Participants $2,449.00
8 Participants $2.199.00
Single Supplement $2,399.00 per person
VALID FOR TRAVEL JULY 1, 2021 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
PARTY SIZE FIRST CLASS PACKAGE
2 Participants $4,149.00
3 Participants $3,349.00
4 Participants $2,949.00
6 Participants $2,559.00
8 Participants $2.299.00
Single Supplement $2,469.00 per person
Extra nights at any of the included hotels are available upon request at a supplementary cost based on travel dates. Vacation may be personalized to suit. Larger parties welcome. Please contact us for a price quote and details.