Calabria Culture and relax

Altomonte

In the afternoon meeting of participants in the place agreed and departure for Altomonte. Counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy”, is home to the Association “City of Bread” and renowned in Roman times for its fine wine: the balbino. The tour in the medieval village will begin by visiting the Church of San Francesco di Paola, then we will reach the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, expression of Angevin art in Calabria. It will continue, admiring the Civic Museum, once the convent of the Dominican Fathers, which was built around the middle of 400. Inside the museum are preserved important works, such as that of the famous Sienese painter and miniaturist Simone Martini, also known as Simone Senese. Where possible, visit the traditional liquor factory of Altomonte. Transfer to Hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Rossano Calabro

Breakfast and check out. Departure for Rossano, the Byzantine. Visit to the Museum of Licorice, unique in its kind, with tasting. Continuation to the center and visit the Cathedral inserted in an urban system of the Middle Ages, rebuilt in 1330 at the behest of Robert of Anjou, which displays the image of the Madonna Acheropita or not painted by human hand, the basilica of Panaghia within which is a Byzantine fresco depicting St. John Chrysostom, the church of St. Mark the Evangelist, which structurally recalls the Catholic Stilo. Visit of the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art where there is the ancient evangelarium “Codex”.  The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is one of the oldest existing evangeliaries in the world, made extremely valuable and unique thanks to its beautiful miniatures, a masterpiece of Byzantine art. Today the Codex has been recognized as a World Heritage Site and included in the UNESCO lists. Lunch break and end of services. Transfer to Hotel in Le Castella, check-in dinner and overnight.

Santa Severina and Capo Colonna

Breakfast and departure for Santa Severina, also counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy, stands on a cliff that governs a valley halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Sila mountains in a position of supreme controller of the river Neto. Here we will make a guided tour of the Castle, the Diocesan Museum, a walk will lead us from the square, the Cathedral to end with a visit to the Baptistery. Transfer to a winery for a guided tour and wine tasting, lunch at the winery. At the end, departure for the archaeological park of Capo Colonna which extends for about 50 hectares, occupying the easternmost tip of the promontory of Capo Colonna. In the archaeological area are the remains of the Heraion Lakinion, extra-urban sanctuary of the Greek colony of Crotone, still active in Roman times, a place of worship much revered, also known to have been frequented by Pythagoras. Return, dinner and overnight.

Le Castella

Free day entirely devoted to the sea and relaxation. You will have the opportunity to explore the small village of Le Castella, relax in the sun and swim in the golden waters of the marine reserve of Isola Capo Rizzuto. Finally, a tour of the craft stores and enjoy a good ice cream with a view of the Castle. Free lunch. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

San Giovanni in Fiore: FAI, Abbey and artisan shop

In the morning, breakfast and check-out, departure for San Giovanni in Fiore for an all-natural visit that will lead us to discover the biogenetic reserve of the Giants of Sila (FAI property) within the Sila National Park in the Calabrian Apennines. Unique in its kind, this majestic secular forest in the center of Calabria survives intact since the seventeenth century in the shadow of its imposing “patriarchs”, which give rise to a magnificent spectacle of nature. Transfer to Camigliatello Silano, lunch and continuation to the historical center of San Giovanni in Fiore. The town is linked to the figure of Abbot Joachim of Fiore, monk exegete of the twelfth century who founded the monastery of San Giovanni in Fiore and the Florense Congregation. The town took its name from the patron saint of the monastery. We will visit the Florense Abbey, dating back to the thirteenth century, around which rose the first settlement and discover together the craft stores. Transfer to hotel in Pizzo or surroundings, check-in, dinner and overnight.

Tropea by boat and Pizzo

Breakfast and departure for Tropea. Appointment at the port for a magnificent boat trip lasting 3 hours that will lead us to the discovery of Riaci Bay, Grotticelle Bay (Capo Vaticano) and S. Maria dell’Isola, we do not miss a small drink on board. Return to Tropea for about 12.30 pm. Free lunch and transfer to Pizzo Calabro for a free afternoon. We recommend a visit to the Church of Piedigrotta, a small masterpiece of sacred art, unique in its kind, inside which you can admire statues carved into the rock representing scenes from the Holy Scriptures by local artists Angelo and Alfonso Barone. Walk, then, in the historic center, and visit the Castle of the sixteenth century: it is here that was consumed the shooting of the King of Naples Joachim Murat. You can not leave Pizzo without first having tasted its typical ice cream “il Tartufo”. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Reggio Calabria and Scilla

Breakfast and departure for Reggio Calabria. Meeting with our guide who will lead us to discover the finds contained within the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia, one of the most prestigious in Italy, with its many historical and archaeological finds and the famous Bronze Statues of Riace, the head of the philosopher. The visit will continue with a walk along Corso Garibaldi with its ancient buildings and the traditional theater “F.Cilea” to finish at the beautiful Cathedral, among the largest in Calabria.  Transfer to Scilla for lunch in a restaurant and free time for an independent visit of the fishing village and Chianalea. Scilla is also called Little Venice for the position of its houses almost immersed in the waters of the sea. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Greetings

Breakfast and Check-out