Fly and Drive in Calabria: a trip to Magna Graecia

Welcome to Southern Italy!
Leaving is an exciting time for many travellers. It marks the beginning of an adventure. Today you will start to be part of a community, which will give you a rewarding travel experience. You will have the opportunity to transform a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you to Naples. After collecting the rental car, you will reach your hotel in the Naples region for an overnight stay.

Paestum and the charm of the Tyrrhenian Coast
Breakfast at the hotel. Dedicate the morning to visiting Paestum, one of the most important archaeological sites in Magna Graecia, known as Poseidonia, in honor of the God Poseidon, among historical places, uncontaminated nature and the inevitable buffalo mozzarella. Discover the magnificent archaeological area of Paestum with the extraordinarily preserved temple of Hera, that of Neptune and that of Ceres and its Archaeological Museum (entrance not included). After free lunch, departure from Paestum to head south, entering Calabria. The destination is the Vibo Valentia Region. The journey will take you through gradually changing landscapes, from Campania Cilento to the first sinuous curves of the Calabrian coast. In the evening hotel accommodation and overnight stay.

The Jewels of the Coast of the Gods
Breakfast at the hotel. The third day is entirely dedicated to the discovery of two pearls of the Calabrian Tyrrhenian coast. Start your day by exploring Tropea, the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea”. Perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, Tropea enchants with its narrow streets, noble palaces and panoramic squares. A visit to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola, symbol of the city, which stands on a rock in front of the town centre, is unmissable. Free lunch. In the afternoon, drive for a short detour to Pizzo Calabro, a delightful coastal town known for its charming Murat Castle, where Gioacchino Murat was shot. But Pizzo is most famous for Pizzo’s «Truffle», an artisanal hazelnut ice cream with a heart of melted bitter chocolate, all covered in chocolate powder, a real treat for the palate! Stroll through its picturesque historic center and enjoy the view of the Gulf of Sant’Eufemia. Return to hotel in Vibo Valentia area and overnight stay.

Between History and Legend
Breakfast at the hotel. The fourth day will take you to explore the southern tip of Calabria. The first stop is Scylla, a legendary seaside village, linked to the myth of Scylla and Charybdis. Admire the Chianalea neighborhood, known as the “Venice of the South”, with its fishermen’s houses built directly on the water. Visit the Ruffo Castle, which dominates the town and offers spectacular views of the Strait of Messina. Then continue towards Palmi, a town that boasts a suggestive seafront and a characteristic historic centre. Don’t miss the Tauriani Archaeological Park and the House of Culture, which houses several interesting collections. Free lunch. The day ends in Reggio Calabria, one of the most beautiful cities in Calabria, nestled on the Strait of Messina and the tip of Italy’s boot. Visit the Falcomatà seafront, one of the most beautiful seaside walks in Italy, the Aragonese Castle and the National Archaeological Museum that houses the Bronzes, found in the seabed of Riace (hence the Riace Bronzes). In the evening I arrive at the hotel and stay overnight.

The Treasures of Locride
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will move to the Ionian coast, known as the Jasmine Riviera. The first stop is Bova Marina, an important center for Greek culture, where a dialect of ancient Greek origin is still spoken today. Here you can visit the archaeological site of Archeoderi, with the remains of a late Roman synagogue, and immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere. Free lunch. Next, head to Casignana to visit the remains of the Roman Villa of Casignana, one of the most important Roman archaeological complexes in Calabria. Admire its splendid floor mosaics, testimony to the luxury of ancient Rome in this region (entrance not included). Optional tasting of typical products of the area. Arrival and hotel accommodation in the Siderno region.

Historic Villages and Byzantine Charm
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is dedicated to discovering some of the most fascinating and history-rich villages in Ionian Calabria. Start with Gerace, one of the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, with its imposing Norman Cathedral, its Byzantine churches and its medieval alleys that wind through historic buildings. Gerace will take you back in time, offering you evocative views and an atmosphere of times gone by. Free lunch. Continue towards Stilo, another Calabrian jewel, famous for the Cattolica di Stilo, a small Byzantine church from the 10th century, a magnificent example of oriental architecture in Calabria. Finally, reach Monasterace, a place full of charm where Byzantine castles, Orthodox monasteries, Greek ruins and medieval traditions tell the story of a glorious past that has imprinted its memory in the rock and sand, where you can visit the Archaeological Park of ancient Kaulon, one of the most important cities of Magna Graecia. Hotel accommodation in the Catanzaro Region.

Between History and Sea on the Ionian Coast
Breakfast at the hotel. The seventh day takes you to discover the Ionian coast of Crotone, rich in history and natural beauty. The first stop is Le Castella, with its suggestive Aragonese fortress (entrance not included) which stands on an islet connected to the mainland by a thin isthmus. An enchanting place, which seems suspended between sky and sea, ideal for taking breathtaking photographs and immersing yourself in a fairy-tale atmosphere. Continue towards the promontory of Capo Colonna where the remains of one of the most important places of worship in Magna Graecia are found: in front of a crystalline sea, only one of the 48 Doric columns that surrounded the famous temple of Hera stands like a lighthouse. Lunch along the way. The day ends in Crotone, ancient Kroton, one of the most powerful cities of Magna Graecia. Visit the historic center, the Duomo and the National Archaeological Museum (entrance not included), which houses in particular the «Hera treasure» found in the sanctuary of Capo Colonna. Overnight stay along the route between Crotone and Rossano.

Magna Graecia and Return to the North
Breakfast at the hotel. The last day of this journey takes you to the heart of ancient Magna Graecia. The first stop is Sibari, the most splendid of the Greek colonies, famous for the luxury and debauchery of its inhabitants. Visit the Sibari Archaeological Park which collects traces of the three cities of Sibarys, Thurii and Copia which dominated the Sibari Plain in ancient times and the National Archaeological Museum, which displays a rich collection of archaeological finds ranging from the Bronze Age to the late Roman age (entrance not included). Lunch during the excursion. From Sibari, continue north, crossing the border with Basilicata, to reach Metaponto, an ancient city founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC where, among other things, Pythagoras taught. Here you can admire the Palatine Tables, the remains of the Doric temple dedicated to Hera, which stand majestically in the surrounding countryside, one of the most iconic symbols of Magna Graecia in Basilicata and represents a perfect conclusion to your journey through the history and culture of this fascinating region. Overnight stay in the Salerno region.

Goodbye to Southern Italy
After breakfast, route to the airport for delivery of the car and boarding formalities. On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. Today a chapter closes and a new one opens, you are part of our Community, you will bring with you the promise of new, even more extraordinary future adventures. Happy homecoming.