The Italy No One Knows
Scent of South – Calabria & Sicily
FIRST CLASS or BOUTIQUE HOTELS:
3 nights Tropea Hotel Rocca della Sena (4*) or similar
3 nights Riace Hotel Federica (3*sup) or similar
4 nights Taormina Hotel Capo Taormina (4*sup) or similar
The quote does include:
First-class or boutique hotels for 9 nights
» Hotel and service charges
» Hotel porterage service
» 4 Lunches
» 4 Dinners
» 2 cooking classes with professional Chefs
» extra virgin olive oil testing
» 2 Wine Tasting
» Bergamot tasting
» Honey tasting
» Touring by luxury minivan, minibus or motorcoach as per program
» Private arrival transfer from Lamezia Terme airport to Hotel in Tropea
» Private departure transfer from Hotel in Taormina to the Catania Airport
» Parkingfees, Motorwaytools, Citypermitsfees, Fuel
» Ferry boat strait of Messina
» Entrance fees
» Professional Tour Director/Assistant during your stay
» Sightseeing as indicated
Scent of South – Calabria & Sicily
Day 1 > Tropea – CALABRIA [B, D]
Upon arrival in Lamezia Terme airport, meet your tour leader and transfer to Tropea. Orientation tour of the city, know as “la perla del Tirreno” (the pearl of the Tyrrhenian sea ) with its picturesque streets and spectacular view of the Tyrrhenian coastline. Welcome Dinner at the Hotel.
Day 2 > Tropea (Calabria) [B]
Tropea, a unique medieval little village know as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian coast, one of the most picturesque & historical centers in the region. Enjoy the Guided tour of the city. Taste of the famous red sweet onion, “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea” and other local products as ‘Nduja, a spice salami know as Calabrian Viagra.
Relax at the beautiful seashore if you wish and enjoy a boat tour along the “coast of Gods” at the sunset.
Day 3 > Tropea, Pizzo Calabro (Calabria) [B]
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon visit the village of Pizzo Calabro for a vista of its Castle, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s Brother- in-low, the prince J. Murat spend the last days of his life in prison. Stop at the Belvedere and tried a unique gelato, the famous Tartufo di Pizzo (truffle). Enjoy free time for shopping of locals products.
Return to the Hotel and time at leisure.
Day 4 > Stilo, Serra San Bruno, Riace (Calabria) [B, L, D]
Departure transfer to the Ionian coast. Excursion to the Serre Calabre Mountains. Arrival in Serra San Bruno and visit of the Italian oldest Monastery La Certosa di San Bruno and the picturesque church of Santa Maria del Bosco, where the monk was buried. Lunch at local trattoria included. Continue to visit Stilo, a medieval village at the bottom of Mount Consolino, today one of the hundred most beautiful villages in Italy. Here is situated the oldest Byzantine church of Italy, La Cattolica. Arrival on the Ionian coast and check-in at the Hotel. A Welcome cocktail will be served followed by dinner.
Day 5 > Cirò wine tasting, Le Castella (Calabria) [B, D]
Journey along the Ionian coast, enjoy the scenic drive and landscape through the regions of Southern Italy. Experience a visit at one of Cirò’s winery, including wine tasting and light lunch. On route stop to admire the famous Castle on the water of Le Castella. In the afternoon return to Riace. Tonight you will enjoy a folkloristic Calabrian night, with traditional dance and music.
Day 6 > Gerace (Calabria) [B, D]
Today’s excursion starts with visit and tasting of a Extra-virgin Olive oil directly from the mill followed by a guided tour of the medieval hill town of Gerace, which is known as one of the most picturesque & historical centers in the region. Here you will visit a famous Norman Cathedral considered to be the largest in Southern Italy, dated 11th Century A.D. Continue to a Bergamot estate and have a taste of local specialities. Return to the hotel. Time at leisure. Late afternoon if you wish you will enjoy a Cooking class followed by dinner.
**Cooking class, hands-on lesson where you will learn how to make some of the italian and Calabrian dish. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 7 > Scilla – Reggio Calabria – Taormina (Sicily) [B, D]
This morning our journey continues to explore the very southern point of the Italian peninsula, the fisherman village of Scilla. Stop in Reggio Calabria and visit of its Museum, where are displayed the famous Greek statues “Bronzi di Riace”. Continue by ferryboat crossing the straits of Messina to reach Taormina. Late afternoon check in to your hotel. Dinner at a local traditional restaurant.
Day 8 > Taormina – Mountain Etna (Sicily) [B, L]
Explore in the morning the slopes of Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in the European continent. Enjoy the best views as you drive through the fertile slopes and villages that sit on ancient volcanic eruptions. Interesting honey- tasting session in Zafferana. Wine Tasting and light lunch at local Winery of Nero Mascalese wine. Late afternoon walking tour of Taormina. Visit the Greek/ Roman theater. Balance of the day at leisure.
Day 9 > Taormina – Agrigento (Sicily) [B]
Departure to Agrigento. Guided visit to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO Site. Sicily is considered the most concentrated area of Greek temples outside Greece. Return to Taormina. Arrive late afternoon at your hotel in time for an enjoyable and relaxing dinner.
Day 10 > Taormina – cooking class – God Father’s Tour (Sicily) [B, L]
Free day in Taormina. Optional God Father’s Tour. Take a short trip to the the villages of Forza d’Agro’ and Savoca, where F. F. Coppola filmed his Oscar award winner. Rest of the day at leisure for shopping and free activities.
**Cooking class Program:
Meet our Chef and follow him to the local market. During the welcome meeting you will receive a book with the description of the recipes, customized apron and hat. Starts a 3 hours cooking course, followed by lunch.
Day 11 > Taormina
Morning transfer to Catania Airport for your return flight home.
Tropea
Medieval village guided tour
Taste of the famous red sweet onion, “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea”
‘Nduja, a spice salami IGP
Boat Tour along the Coast of Gods
Pizzo Calabro
Murat Castle (Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother-in-law)
Piedigrotta church
Gelato Tartufo (Truffle ice-cream)
Riace
Authentic & untouched Mediaval village
Set of Il Volo film by Wim Wenders
Ancient “lavatoio” and medieval gates
Cooking class
Folkloristic music group
Ciro’ – Calabria
Cirò winery including wine tasting
The Soverato Bay
Aragonese Castle of Le Castella
Gerace
Visit of a Olive oil mill and tasting
Medieval hill town of Gerace
Norman Cathedral (11th Century A.D)
Picturesque shops
Scilla – Reggio Calabria
The fisherman village of Scilla
Crossing by ferry boat the straits of Messina
Reggio Calabria visit the Museum
the famous Greek statues “Bronzi di Riace”
Taormina – Sicily
The Greek/Roman theater
God Father’s Tour to Savoca and Forza d’Agro’
Cooking Class
Etna
Excursion on top of the Etna Volcano
Honey-tasting session in Zafferana Etnea
Wine Tasting and light lunch at local Winery of Nero Mascalese wine
Agrigento
The magnificent Valley of the Temples, 5th century B.C, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Italy No One Knows:
A trip to southern Italy is a journey to untouched places where you can be inspired by the tradition and costumes of centuries ago.
The first impact all visitors have, once they arrive, is watching the endless natural landscape, the coexistence of the mountains and the sea in a peaceful view. The genuine local food and the warm hospitality of the locals will make you feel the real Italian life style.
Traveling to southern Italy you need to leave behind all that you have seen and learnt in the rest of Italy. As you travel towards South, tourists are not consumers anymore, are special guests.
During your stay you may experience a lunch at local farmhouse or at local host family, you could stand for hours watching centuries-old olive trees next to a glass of wine, deep a piece of warm bread into extra virgin olive oil or simply relaxing on a fabulous beach touched by an emerald water.
“Il mezzogiorno” has so much to offer, that having the caring eyes and the knowledge of a local expert, will allow you to experience an Italy you have dreamt about and you might consider it a trip of a lifetime.
WHY A TRIP TO CALABRIA?
From an insider ( Tour Director – Marco Campagna)
“Calabria is the most southern region of the italian peninsula, right in front of the island of Sicily, better known as the toe of the italian boot… and in particularly… it is my birth place, the land I always keep in my thoughts and in my heart while traveling all over the World! “
A trip to Calabria is a journey to untouched places where you can be inspired by the tradition and customs of centuries ago. The natural landscape is the first impressive emotional reaction of all visitors. The genuine local food and the warm hospitality of the locals will make you feel the real Italian life style.
Traveling to Calabria, you need to leave behind, all that you saw in the rest of Italy. As you travel in the Calabria region, tourists are not consumers, they are not clients. They are special guests. The Region has so much to offer, that having the caring eyes and the knowledge of a local expert, will allow you to see an Italy you’ve dreamed about and will leave you wishing for more.
Be prepared to experience something you didn’t see in other parts of Italy or something you never expected to find in Italy. Calabria is the heart and soul of being Italian.
If you travel in Italy from May to September, don’t miss a chance to spend 5 days to enjoy this great and unique part of Italy.
Vi aspetto…
Feel free to contact me ( marco@italytravelspecialist.it ) for further information and for any request if you want to combine your trip to Italy with a geneology vacation in Calabria.
