Pristine white beaches overlooking a crystal clear blue sea, a place where nature reigns supreme but with some ease, without forgetting the local gastronomy. But Calabria is not only this, the authenticity of the traditions, the spontaneity of the people, green hills and rocky mountains a step away from the sea will make you fall in love with this land. This itinerary will take you to discover the 2 towns considered The Pearl of the Ionian Sea and The Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea, because you will have the opportunity to cross Calabria from the Ionian to the Tyrrhenian Sea and discover the two coasts thanks to the Path that connects them the “Kalabria Coast to Coast.” You will travel on foot, by boat, by car. You will get to know the villages, hills, mountains, sea, nature, culture, traditions and the most important essence of the destinations Le Persone.
Starting from € 1800
FROM THE COAST OF ARANCHES TO THE COAST OF GODS – In the Footsteps of the Byzantines – Authenticity and Calabrian Charm
Arrival in Lamezia, transfer to Copanello di Stalettì and check-in at the hotel. We will begin our Tour with a guided tour of the “Scolacium Archaeological Park” in Roccelletta di Borgia, The Park tells the story of Skylletion, a city of Magna Graecia, which became a prosperous Roman colony, with its impressive remains, is the protagonist of the tour route and represents a unicum in the Calabrian archaeological scene. Lunch in a local restaurant. We will continue the visit with the Borgo di Squillace, its historic center, the Norman Castle, the Cathedral, and treat ourselves to a unique experience of Calabrian handicrafts with the famous Squillace ceramics. Transfer to Copanello accommodation, typical dinner and overnight stay.
Awakening immersed in nature, among the ancient olive trees and overlooking the sea, breakfast at the farmhouse, Yoga meditation path and transfer to the port of Catanzaro for an educational outing in a Sailing Boat, where federal instructors will let you experience the Calabrian Ionian coast from the sea joining the first rudiments as an expert sailor. Lunch on the boat. On the way back we will head to Soverato, a beautiful seaside town called the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea” where we will take a stroll along its splendid waterfront, we will then transfer to “Il Borgo Del Convento” near Petrizzi, a former Monastery founded in 1492 by Francesco Marino da Zumpano, nestled between the hills and the sea in the province of Catanzaro. The structure, included among the Monuments listed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, is the only monastery founded by Francesco Marino da Zumpano perfectly preserved over time. It will be right here that we will spend 2 nights back in time. Upon arrival check in to the beautiful rooms reserved and visit the “Convent of Santa Maria della Pietà” with art historian. Dinner and overnight stay.
Breakfast and transfer to Badolato, named among “the most beautiful villages in Italy,” for a guided tour of its medieval Borgo, a small crib of Ionian Calabria, with its “Catoji” and visit to the Franciscan convent church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Aperitif with typical Calabrian products and local wine at a typical restaurant. In the afternoon, we head to the beautiful beach of Badolato Marina where we will have an exciting experience with expert diving instructors (for trips from May to October) who will give us the opportunity to experience the splendid seabed of this land thanks to the “Baptism of the Sea,” (an experience of approach to scuba diving also for non-experts) (for trips from May to October) . Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Upon our awakening, after a hearty breakfast we will set off for a Trekking experience on the “Kalabria Coast to Coast” Trail, a 55-km nature trail to be savored at a leisurely pace among expanses of centuries-old olive trees, rows of vines, fields of wheat and prickly pear, centuries-old chestnut and beech forests, picturesque granite stones shaped by time and the magnificent naturalistic oasis of Lake Angitola. From the white Ionian beaches of the Costa degli Aranci, departing from Soverato and crossing the mountainous territory of the Calabrian Preserre in their shortest stretch, passing through the picturesque villages of Petrizzi, San Vito sullo Ionio and Monterosso Calabro, we will arrive in picturesque Pizzo, perched on a tuffaceous spur that rises steeply above the golden Tyrrhenian beaches of the Costa degli Dei. We will start from a viewpoint near the “Stele di Sant’Antonio” and after 3 km we will arrive in the picturesque village of Petrizzi, visit the village and stop for lunch (packed) at a viewpoint. We will then continue along the path until we arrive at the Agriturismo “Le Due Torri” where an authentic handicraft experience will be waiting for us, the “working of baskets with broom.” Typical dinner and overnight stay in reserved rooms.
Breakfast at the farmhouse, departure for the Cammino from Maple Lake, after 12 km we will reach Monterosso, where a splendid lunch will be waiting for us in the Home Restaurant “My Flower”. After a short rest, visit the Borgo and the Museum of Peasant Civilization. Free dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast we leave for the last stretch of the walk, destination Pizzo Calabro. Departure from Monterosso and arrival at the facility, accommodation in the reserved bungalows and after a short restorative break transfer to Sant’ Elia to visit the “Platano Millenario”, the widest and oldest Platano in Italy, its trunk is completely hollow and has an opening more than 3 meters wide. We will also visit the remains of the Roman Baths of Curinga, unique, in all of Calabria, for the fact that they preserve the structure up to almost the height of the roof, the Roman Baths represent important remains from the Roman era, more precisely from the Diocletian period. We will then head to the seaside village of Pizzo, perched on a tuff promontory along the Costa degli Dei, it will amaze you with the beauty of its landscapes and the intimacy of its narrow alleys. Time at leisure for lunch (free), after which we will meet in the Piazza for a tour of the village and the “Murat Castle. To make sure we don’t miss anything we will witness the making of the famous “Tartufo di Pizzo,” this is a hazelnut ice cream that is molded in the palm of the hand, in the shape of a hemisphere with a heart of melted dark chocolate and covered with a sprinkling of bitter cocoa powder and sugar, it was invented in the 1950s and is now a “Pizzo” tradition. We will taste the same at one of the historic ice cream parlors in the square. Last stop of the day, the characteristic church of Madonna di Piedigrotta, carved into the “tuff”. Transfer to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Waking up on Lake Angitola, surrounded by greenery just 4 km from the sea, breakfast and departure for Tropea, the last stop on this wonderful trip to Calabria. Tropea referred to as “The Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea” stands on a terrace about 70 meters above sea level and is Calabria’s best-known tourist resort, with its walls, towers, gates, sandy beach and a wonderful historic center of medieval layout. The old part of the town is set on a terrace overlooking the sea, where in front stands the spectacular islet that houses the Church of S.Maria dell’Isola. In the background we can see the Aeolian Islands with Stromboli and Vulcano, and Sicily with Mount Etna and the expanse of the Tyrrhenian Sea in front. We will visit the beautiful village and devote the rest of the day to the sea, on the white sandy beaches (for travel from May to October). Free lunch on the excursion. Transfer to hotel, typical dinner and overnight stay.
Breakfast and transfer to Lamezia Terme for return.
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