THE EMERALD ROUTE
Luxury E-Bike Grand Tour through Basilicata & Calabria — 10 Nights

The journey begins where the dramatic cliffs of Basilicata meet the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. After a private transfer from Lamezia Terme or Naples Airport, guests settle into the legendary Santavenere before a sunset welcome cocktail and a private briefing, including the personalized biomechanical fitting of each premium E-MTB — maximum comfort and perfect performance from the very first ride.

At sunset: an exclusive aperitivo aboard a traditional Sorrentine gozzo, cruising beneath the spectacular cliffs of Acquafredda.
Accommodation: Santavenere Hotel (5★), Maratea — dinner at the hotel.
Arrival transfer: private, from Lamezia Terme or Naples Airport.

The second day leads into the most authentic and untamed heart of Southern Italy. Beginning in Mormanno, the route descends through the spectacular karst plateau of Campotenese, with the medieval village of Morano Calabro appearing ahead like a living nativity scene, before rolling gently into Castrovillari.

Cycling route: Mormanno – Campotenese – Morano Calabro – Castrovillari | 29.5 km (+243 m)
Support van: Maratea → Mormanno (≈ 57 km); no evening transfer — today’s ride finishes directly at the hotel.
For experienced riders: the complete ascent from Laino Borgo to Mormanno — 13.7 km (+561 m) — with the support van waiting at the summit.
Accommodation: La Locanda di Alia, Castrovillari — charming boutique hotel.
Gastronomy: author’s dinner at La Locanda di Alia, where chef Gaetano Alia has been creating exceptional cuisine since 1978 · private wine tasting at Tenute Ferrocinto.

A day of living traditions: the route crosses the Arbëreshë villages of Saracena, Firmo and Lungro, where the language and rites of the Albanian communities settled here in the 15th century are still proudly preserved.

Cycling route: Castrovillari – Saracena – Lungro | 30.3 km (+626 m)
Support van: departure by bike from the hotel; at stage end, Lungro → Altomonte for lunch, then on to Castello di Serragiumenta (≈ 30 km in total).
Exclusive experience: private tasting of the renowned Moscato Passito di Saracena at Cantine Viola — a Slow Food Presidium crafted from cooked must and hand-pressed dried grapes.
Sacred heritage: the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Lungro, spiritual capital of the Italo-Albanian community, crowned by its magnificent mosaic Pantocrator.
Accommodation: Castello di Serragiumenta, Altomonte — an exclusive 17th-century estate amid olive groves and vineyards.
Gastronomy: gourmet lunch by the Barbieri family in Altomonte with a tasting of rare Pollino olive oils · dinner at the castle with produce harvested directly from the estate.

The longest stage of the journey unwinds from the slopes of the Pollino to Bisignano, home of Italy’s oldest dynasty of master luthiers.

Cycling route: San Donato di Ninea – Bisignano | 58.2 km (+520 m) — the longest stage.
Support van: Serragiumenta → San Donato di Ninea (≈ 26 km); at ride’s end, Bisignano → Serragiumenta (≈ 37 km).
Exclusive experience: private visit with master craftswoman Rosalba De Bonis in the historic family workshop — violins and traditional chitarre battenti handcrafted since the 18th century.
Wellness: back at the castle, a personalized deep-tissue sports massage with a dedicated therapist, scheduled after the longest cycling stage to promote optimal recovery.
Accommodation: Castello di Serragiumenta — second overnight stay.
Gastronomy: estate dinner showcasing the castle’s own wines and olive oils, served in the elegant historic halls.

The breathtaking Sila plateau at nearly 1,400 meters: pristine forests, crystal-clear lakes, and a silence that remains one of nature’s greatest luxuries. Cycling here takes place between 1,140 and 1,400 meters above sea level, on the official Calabria Parks Cycle Route.

Cycling route: Lake Cecita – Camigliatello Silano – Lorica | 41.5 km (+499 m)
Support van: Serragiumenta → Lake Cecita (≈ 95 km); at ride’s end, Lorica → San Giovanni in Fiore (≈ 17 km).
Private lunch: an exclusive gourmet chic-nic on the shores of Lake Cecita, curated by chef Emanuele Lecce of La Tavernetta.
Afternoon: the Fallistro Reserve and the legendary Giants of the Sila — centuries-old Calabrian pines up to 45 meters tall, protected by FAI.
Accommodation: Biafora Resort & SPA, San Giovanni in Fiore.
Dinner: at Hyle, the Michelin-starred restaurant of chef Antonio Biafora — the Sila returns to the table in a refined culinary interpretation.

A gentle descent from the Sila Piccola toward the Tyrrhenian coast, with gradients never exceeding 5.7% — a stage designed for pure landscape pleasure, ending where the two seas of Calabria reveal themselves at once.

Cycling route: Villaggio Mancuso – Taverna – Tiriolo | 55.6 km (+722 m / −1,383 m)
Support van: San Giovanni in Fiore → Villaggio Mancuso (≈ 50 km); at ride’s end, Tiriolo → Tropea (≈ 77 km) with a stop in Pizzo.
Culture: Taverna, birthplace of the Baroque master Mattia Preti — masterpieces by the “Calabrian Knight” in the Church of San Domenico.
Panorama: Tiriolo, the “Village of Two Seas”: from its viewpoint at 851 meters, the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian at a single glance — and the Aeolian Islands on the clearest days.
Gastronomy: in Pizzo, a private tasting of the authentic hand-crafted Tartufo di Pizzo IGP · dinner at De’ Minimi, Villa Paola’s refined restaurant.
Accommodation: Villa Paola, Tropea — a beautifully restored 16th-century monastery overlooking the sea.

A leisurely day dedicated to the beauty of the Coast of the Gods, at your own pace.

Recommended experience (subject to operational confirmation): a private cruise to the Aeolian Islands — elegant Panarea in the morning, then Stromboli, where at sunset the legendary Sciara del Fuoco sends glowing lava toward the sea as the sun sets behind Salina.
Alternative: a sunset aperitivo cruise along the Coast of the Gods, with time for a swim in the crystal-clear waters of Grotticelle. The Aeolian cruise is subject to weather and sea conditions.
Support van: no stage transfer; private transfers to and from the marina.
Accommodation: Villa Paola (5★), Tropea — second night.

The Queen Stage: ancient forests, panoramic mountain roads, and an evening in one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval villages — Gerace, the Stone City, perched on its sandstone crag above the Ionian Sea.

Cycling route: Serra San Bruno – Mongiana – Fabrizia – Canolo Nuovo | 56.0 km (+785 m)
Support van: Tropea → Serra San Bruno (≈ 61 km); at ride’s end, Canolo Nuovo → Gerace (≈ 21 km).
A place of silence: the Museum of the Certosa and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Bosco, where Saint Bruno withdrew in 1091 beside the tranquil granite pond that still holds his kneeling statue.
Industrial heritage: the Royal Bourbon Ironworks of Mongiana, once the beating heart of iron production in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Accommodation: Barone Macrì, Gerace — historic hospitality in the heart of the Stone City, with an evening walk through the medieval borgo.
Dinner: at the Barone Macrì estate, featuring the house’s own produce and wines.
Premium service: comprehensive destination briefing with continuous Shadow Technical Assistance.

The stage begins on the Carmelia plateau, beside the small chapel of the Madonna della Salute at 1,320 meters. The first kilometres unwind through a silent, enveloping pine forest to Pietra Salva, one of the cyclopean boulders of the Aspromonte Geosite. From Gambarie, at 1,300 meters, one of Southern Italy’s most spectacular panoramas — the Strait of Messina, the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna together on the horizon — opens the longest descent of the journey: over 1,400 continuous meters down to the sea.

Cycling route: Piani di Carmelia – Pietra Salva – Gambarie – Reggio Calabria | 54.9 km (+520 m / −1,824 m)
Support van: Gerace → Piani di Carmelia (≈ 51 km); at ride’s end, Reggio Calabria → Altafiumara Resort (≈ 18 km).
Gourmet stop: lunch at Qafiz, the Michelin-starred restaurant of chef Nino Rossi in Santa Cristina d’Aspromonte, perfectly located along today’s route.
Accommodation: Altafiumara Resort & Spa (5★), within a magnificent ten-hectare seaside park overlooking the Strait of Messina.

A day dedicated to culture, local traditions, and the perfect conclusion to an extraordinary journey between Calabria’s two seas.

Culture & myth: exclusive guided visit to the Riace Bronzes at the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, with reserved admission exclusively for the group.
Exclusive experience: the world of bergamot, whose finest expression belongs to this unique stretch of Calabrian coastline — about 90% of the world’s production: a traditional citrus estate, the essential-oil laboratory, and a master perfumer.
Farewell celebration: a gala dinner and farewell toast.
Support van: private transfers to and from Reggio Calabria (≈ 20 km each way).
Accommodation: Altafiumara Resort & Spa (5★).

The final morning of the Grand Tour unfolds slowly beneath the Mediterranean light of the Strait: a last gourmet breakfast overlooking the sea before bidding farewell to Calabria.

Support van: private transfer to the airport.