SOUTH TOUR

SOUTH TOUR

7 DAYS (6 NIGHTS)

Reggio Calabria - Riace Bronzes - Scilla - Chianalea - Strait of Messina - Taormina - Tropea - Pizzo - Stilo - Gerace - Bova - Pentidattilo

Departures every day

1st DAY: Arrival

Meeting in Reggio Calabria or Lamezia Terme (airport/city/station) or at any Italian and international airport. Transfer by private car/minibus to the hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight stay.

Day 2: Riace Bronzes, Reggio Calabria – Scilla and Chianalea

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning: Visit to the National Museum with access to the Riace Bronzes room. Tour of the city of Reggio Calabria. Seafront with Greek walls and Roman baths, Cathedral, Castle, Corso Garibaldi. Free lunch. Afternoon: Transfer to Scilla for a free visit of the town and Chianalea, a characteristic fishing village known as the Venice of the South. Return to the hotel. Free dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 3: Strait of Messina - Taormina - Isola Bella - Giardini Naxos
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Taormina, crossing the Strait of Messina. Arrival in Taormina and free time to visit the city (Ancient Theatre, Palazzo Corvaia, Corso Umberto, etc.). Free time for optional lunch. Afternoon continuation of the visit and return journey with stops at Giardini Naxos and Isola Bella (a small island opposite Taormina famous throughout the world). Return to the hotel in the evening. Dinner at leisure. Overnight stay.

4th DAY: Tropea – Pizzo
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Tropea and free time to visit the Norman Cathedral, the Baroque Church of Sant'Alfonso dei Liguori, and stroll through the historic centre to discover the "glorious civilisations" that made this town famous in the past. Free lunch. In the afternoon, transfer for a free visit to Pizzo. Walk through the historic centre and opportunity to visit the 16th-century castle, known for a sad event that took place here: the execution of the King of Naples, Joachim Murat. Finally, relax and enjoy some truffle ice cream in one of the many bars located in the town's 'salotto' (living room), where the ice cream makers of Pizzo are true masters. At the end of the visit, return to the hotel in Reggio Calabria. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Day 5: Stilo – Gerace

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Stilo. The village is very charming, preserving Byzantine and Norman styles. It is famous for the beauty of its architecture and its imposing walls. Visit to the "Cattolica", a small Byzantine church dating back to the 9th-10th century, which has preserved its ancient structure intact and is a candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free time for lunch. We then continue on to visit Gerace (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy). We enter the historic centre through the 'Porta del Sole' and take a walk that will allow visitors to immerse themselves in a remarkable medieval atmosphere as they discover churches and palaces of rare beauty. At the end of the walk, as if by magic, the 11th-century cathedral will appear, the largest church in Calabria, which houses the treasure of the ancient bishops. At the end of the visit, return to the hotel in Reggio Calabria. Dinner at leisure. Overnight stay.
 

6th DAY: Bova - Pentidattilo
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Bova Superiore, the Greek-speaking centre of the Grecanica area. Free time to visit and admire the façades of the churches of San Leo, San Rocco and Spirito Santo. From the fortress overlooking the village, at an altitude of 920 metres, you can enjoy a unique view. The village is home to the Museum of the Grecanica Language. Free lunch. Departure for a free visit to Pentidattilo, a mysterious and fascinating village, abandoned until recently, the ancient village, considered over time to be the most evocative ghost town in Calabria. A beautiful village with incredible legends. The village takes its name from the shape of the cliff of Monte Calvario: a giant hand with five fingers. Part of this evocative setting is the Sant'Elia Valley, surrounded by expanses of broom, olive trees, mulberry and prickly pear trees, almond trees and mimosas: a spectacular sight in spring. At the end of the visit, return to the hotel in Reggio Calabria. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

7th DAY: Departure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer for the return to the place of departure.