The flavors and fragrances of Calabria

Departure 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 turn a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you to NAPLES. After your welcome at the airport, we will head to the hotel to present the rich and exciting program of the week. Typical dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will visit Paola, a town overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and surrounded by wonderful mountain landscapes, among the most famous of the Riviera dei Cedri that gave birth to San Francesco di Paola, patron saint of Calabria. We will visit the birthplace of the saint and continue to Tropea, the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, it is a charming seaside resort capable of surprising and enchanting, built on the terraced edge of a promontory that reflects itself in the crystal clear sea of the Costa degli Dei. The historic centre is splendid, with its 18th century urban structures, picturesque alleys, baroque palaces, large courtyards and majestic portals. Our tour will end with the tasting of typical products mainly based on red onion, specialties of this region. Lunch, dinner and overnight in the area of Vibo Valentia.

After breakfast, we will leave for Scilla, one of the most beautiful and famous villages on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, perched on a picturesque and panoramic rocky promontory overlooking the sea dominated by the imposing Ruffo castle (outside). We will visit the small seaside village of Chianalea, characterized by the houses leaning one against the other, close to the sea. We will continue to Reggio Calabria one of the most beautiful cities in Calabria, lying on the strait of Messina and tip of the boot of Italy. Visit of the Falcomatà promenade, 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 (from which the Bronzes of Riace). In the late afternoon we will discover one of the treasures of Calabria: bergamot! This citrus has a spherical shape similar to orange but yellow as lemon and is not eaten (although edible!) but is used to extract from its skin an essential oil very fragrant and appreciated by perfumers around the world. Tasting of local products. Dinner and overnight in the area of Reggio Calabria.

Breakfast and departure along the Ionian coast to Bianco. This morning we will discover one of the most famous wines of Calabria, the wine «Greco» White. The origins of Greco di Bianco date back to the Greek colonization of the Calabrian Ionian coast… The Greek is a passito wine, with straw yellow color with amber reflections. Visit of a cellar and tasting… From there, we will continue to Ciminà, a small medieval village whose name comes from the Greek kyminà, where cumin is abundant and since ancient times, it produces «caciocavallo», semi-hard cheese. We will visit a dairy and have lunch with typical products. After lunch, we will continue to Gerace, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, perched on a cliff with an incredible view of the Ionian Sea and the territory of Locride, where you can breathe a medieval air. Transfer by small train from the coach parking lot to the cathedral of Gerace A/R included. Accommodation in hotel in the area of Siderno; dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Mammola, a small medieval village famous for centuries for the preparation of “stocco”, a kind of dried cod. is a dish whose origins are lost in the night of time; considered a poor dish, it was prepared and consumed by farmers and labourers to face the hard work in the fields. We will stop at a restaurant for a typical cod lunch. In the afternoon we will visit Siderno Superiore, a small medieval village where time seems to have stopped, developed on a hill about three kilometers from Siderno Marina, a famous seaside resort on the coast of Gelsomini. We will reach Piazza San Nicola, around which there are many noble palaces of the 16th and 17th centuries and we will visit the parish church of San Nicola, with three naves, rich in sculptures and paintings of the 18th century. Tasting of typical products. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Serra San Bruno, a small mountain village in the heart of the Serre Park, surrounded by dense beech, fir and oak woods famous for the Certosa, the first monastery of the order of the Carthusians. The Charterhouse is a place of silence and prayer, where monks live in seclusion and follow an austere and rigorous rule. It is not possible to visit the interior of the monastery, but you can access the museum of the monastery (entrance included), which tells the history and life of the monks through photos and objects. Lunch at a farm. In the afternoon we will reach Pizzo Calabro, an ancient fishing village perched on a promontory of tuff along the Costa degli Dei. Walk in the old town…. Tasting of the famous homemade ice cream from Pizzo: «il Tartufo», hazelnut ice cream with a heart of melted bitter chocolate, all covered in chocolate powder! Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight. Accommodation in the hotel in the area of Cosenza; dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will leave for Paestum to discover one of the most important archaeological sites of Magna Grecia, known as Poseidonia, in honor of the god Poseidon, among historical places, uncontaminated nature and the inevitable buffalo mozzarella. All the best to admire and enjoy. Before arriving in Paestum, stop at a buffalo farm where you can taste the famous mozzarella of buffalo milk. Lunch. In the afternoon, with our guide, we will discover the magnificent archaeological area of Paestum with the temple of Hera, the one of Neptune extraordinarily preserved and that of Ceres and its Archaeological Museum (entrance included). Continuation to the area of Naples. Accommodation in hotel; dinner and overnight.

On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. We will accompany you to the airport to help you with the boarding logistics. Today we close a chapter and open a new one, we will say goodbye, but you are part of our community, you will carry with you the promise of new future adventures even more extraordinary. While you wait for your flight, reflect on the extraordinary experiences you have experienced during your journey: from delicious dishes to natural wonders discovered along the way. You will prepare to face the daily routine with new energy. Good return home.