Calabria

Breakfast in Hotel and departure to Tropea and Capo Vaticano.

Tropea and Capo Vaticano  are the two most precious jewels of the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. Tropea is the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea and is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The name of this town was mentioned for the first time by Pliny The Older in the first century A.D. In the centre of this town it is possible to admire the Church St. Mary of the Isle from a terrace on the sheer cliff top. Originally this church was a Basilian system of the 11th century and it still belongs to the Abbey of Montecassino. The cathedral, which was built in Norman times, is among the oldest buildings of the historical centre there is. In the course of the centuries it was rebuilt many times and today for the most part it is in the baroque style. Inside this church there are some artistic works, a picture by Lippo Benivieni, this is the wellknown Our Lady of Romania, who is one of the patron saints of Tropea.  Back to the hotel with a stop in Capo Vaticano. The promontory of Capo Vaticano, which is made of white granite, dominates the coast and beautiful sandy beaches. It offers many views over the Aeolian Islands and the Straits of Messina.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** Tropea/CapoVaticano.

Pizzo Calabro is one of the most beautiful and famous fishing village with an historical centre, which is characterized by narrow streets and small squares. Here you will visit the small church of Piedigrotta which is excaveted in the tufa stone and above the sea. Then you will go to visit the Aragonese Castle, where Joachim Murat was shot. At the end of this trip you will stop off to taste the famous Tartufo ice cream (facultative) , which is well-known in the whole world, and here you will have some time for the shopping.

Dinner and overnight  in Hotel**** Tropea/CapoVaticano.

The beautiful mini cruise takes you to the Aeolian Islands, which are only accessible by sea. Here you will find landscapes of incomparable beauty such as caves, coves, picturesque bays and cliff, that the nature created with strange shapes.

The Aeolian Islands are among the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea. By visiting these islands, you will gain cultural and intellectual enrichment and an unforgettable memory.The mini cruise has the following stops:Stromboli, the mythical fire-breather, consists entirely of a 900 metre high volcano, one of the four active volcanoes in Italy.

On the island there are two villages, the bigger one is San Vincenzo and the smaller one is  Ginostra, which is a fishing village.

Particularly, the island is rich in black sand beaches which are ideal for swimming and relaxing.

Lipari, despite the abundance of fashion boutiques, souvenir shops and cafes,  maintains its ancient charm. The fascinating nestled houses, the massive castle and the cathedral are perched on top of a natural rock, from where it is possible to enjoy  a breathtaking view.

Lipari  is a very pretty and lively town with narrow streets and old houses. In Lipari it is possible to admire beautiful nature, excellent infrastructures and urban life, which is  worshipped by the international jet set.  Vulcano, the island of sulfur,  has some high cliffs and a wild panorama. This is what makes Vulacano a destination to visit. This rather strong smell is due to the numerous fumaroles which offer mud baths with a strong curative power.

Dinner and overnight  in Hotel**** Tropea/CapoVaticano.

Departure for Scilla, the characteristic little town in the enchanting scenery of the Costa Viola. Here you will visit the old fishing village which is known as Chianalea. The second stop is Ruffo Castle and St. Rocco’s church. After you will go to Reggio Calabria, an elegant city in Liberty style, which belongs to the Italian Art Nouveau period.

Here you will also visit the National Archeological Museum which holds the richest collection of Magna Grecia finds and the Bronzes of Riace. Then you will take a walk on the seafront promenade which was defined by Gabriele D’Annunzio as “The most beautiful kilometre in Italy” and then you will visit the Roman Baths, the Greek walls and the cathedral.

Dinner and overnight  in Hotel**** Tropea/CapoVaticano.

After breakfast departure to the Calabrian countryside. Arrival in  Zungri,  a municipality situated about 571 meters from sea level on the north slope of the plateau of Poro. Zungri is one of the most interesting of the agricultural center of this area. Its historical center  is characterized by simple architectures and it represents a social model of peasant life, which is developed in the time, but it still keeps some aspects of poor building. Here  we will visit a small family farm, which produces small quantity of onion, nduja (typical salami from Calabria), wine, cheese and vegetables. Typical products tasting with the possibility to buy them. After visiting the hospitable farm you will see of the Caves of Zungrì and the Church of Our Lady of the snow.

Dinner and overnight  in Hotel**** Tropea/CapoVaticano.

Amantea, a small town situated in a beautiful position between two capes. It has valuable historical and artistic sights that you will not be able to miss on a tour of the Old Town. Worth mentioning is the Gothic monastery of San Bernardino of Siena (15th century). ); the convent of the Friars Minor with the oratory dei Nobili, thanks to its high quality architecture, is considered a national monument of the Italian Republic; the collegiate church of San Biagio, built on a balustrade staircase; The Palace of the Poor Clares, one of the most beautiful restored historical buildings in Calabria, where it is possible to admire, besides the monastery, a splendid gallery of rare paintings, the only one of its kind in southern Italy; and last but not least, the impressive castle ruins of the Byzantine-Norman period, which dominates the city from the top of the hill. Then we will take you to the nearby and enlightening village of Belmonte Calabro, which lies on an unparalleled natural terrace directly above the sea. This village is a small architectural jewel that nestles on the back of a rocky hill that resembles a donkey's hump, even having the shape of a ship pointing in the direction of the sea. The village has a typical medieval structure in which the houses are leaning against each other, which is why, at times, narrow and winding alleys arose. The old town is surrounded by walls which are still largely preserved and are an authentic eloquent testimony to the past centuries. Here, in this old quarter, where some inhabitants still live today, there is still a hint of the simple, orderly, clean and industrious life of the Middle Ages.

Dinner and overnight  in Hotel**** Tropea/CapoVaticano.