Calabria Tour
The focus of our tours of Southern Italy is the territory known to the Romans as “Magna Graecia“ – Greater Greece – to describe the areas of Italy colonised by the Greeks. One of the least explored and at the same time one of the most rewarding regions of Italy, Calabria – the ‘toe’ of the Italian peninsula — is a region of often spectacular scenery and unspoilt landscapes justifiably renowned for its fine food and rich culinary traditions. There are also fine towns such as beautiful seaside Tropea, while the lungomare of capital, Reggio Calabria, has been called the most beautiful in Italy.
Calabria has the wildest mountain ranges on the Italian peninsula – indeed some of the wildest and most remote in Europe. Byzantine monks escaping persecution flocked to the mountains of Calabria throughout the medieval period, founding remote hermitages and monasteries such as the dramatically sited Cattolica di Stilo along with several hidden gems in the river valleys of the Pollino National Park.
The Greek temples and theatres of Sicily may be better known, but it is in Calabria that the influence of Greece on Italy really becomes tangible. Where else in Italy are there villages where Greek is still spoken, and where goat and lamb are roasted in a pit – a practice that would have been familiar to the ancient Greeks? Pythagorus lived here, and the sea monster Scylla – who ate most of Odysseus’ crew — had her cave here. The Riace Bronzes are arguably two of the finest Greek bronze statues to survive anywhere, while the ancient Greek settlement of Locri was founded when the Locrians were banished from Greece ‘because of the scandal caused by their noblewomen’s indiscriminate love affairs with slaves’. Locrians insisted on strictly matrilinear succession – and was one of the only known matriarchies in ancient Greece.
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Tour Features
- Fixed departure dates
- Accompanied by a Tour manager throughout your journey
- Tour cost includes all accommodation, internal travel, meals and entrances
- The wonders of the Magna Graecia
- Visit to Paestum
- Visits to Gerace and Locri
- The Bronzes of Riace
- comfortable 3 or 4 star hotels throughout
- Reggio di Calabria – 1 night
- Gerace – 2 nights
- Tropea – 2 nights
- Le Castella – 1 night
- Morano Calabro – 1 night
- Paestum – 1 night
- All meals are included
- The arrival point for this tour is Reggio Calabria
- The departure point is Naples (airport or city)
- Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to the main airport of arrival on the day of arrival/departure of the tour are included
- Easy
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Reggio Calabria
We meet in Reggio Calabria.
Evening meal and overnight in Reggio Calabria.
Day 2
Reggio Calabria and onwards to Gerace
In the morning, we visit the stupendous Riace Bronzes on display in the museum in Reggio Calabria. These are two full-size Greek bronzes of naked bearded warriors found in the sea near Riace in 1972 and dated to around 450-460BC. They are arguably some of the finest Greek statues ever to have been discovered.
After lunch we begin our journey round the Ionian coast towards Gerace. There is time to visit the abandoned village of Pentedatillo on the way.
Evening meal and overnight in Gerace.
Day 3
Gerace & Locri
We have a full morning exploring the wonderful town of Gerace with its noteworthy remains of a Norman castle and fine churches. It was visited by Edward Lear in the nineteenth century and in the town museum we can see reproductions of some of his prints. There is also a chance to learn about the production of Bergamot and to taste some typical local products.
We spend the afternoon exploring Locri – the ancient Epizephyrian Locris (Ἐπιζεφύριοι Λοκροί or The Locrians upon the West Wind) – another of the great cities of the Magna Graecia and which Plato called “The flower of Italy” due to the characteristics of the local peoples.
Evening meal and overnight in Gerace.
Day 4
Stilo & Serra San Bruno
We drive down along the Ionian coast and the town of Stilo – home of one of the most iconic “Greek” churches in the whole of southern Italy. The church is only tiny, but has perfect proportions and a stunning aspect that make it a favourite for photographers.
In the late morning we head across the Serra to Serra San Bruno where we visit the Carthusian abbey, still home to a community of Carthusian monks.
Evening meal and overnight in Tropea.
Day 5
Tropea
Full day in the beautiful seaside town of Tropea – famous in Italy for its sweet, pink onions — where there will be free time to explore or just enjoy the beach.
Evening meal and overnight in Tropea.
Day 6
Scolacium and La Castella
On our journey back to the Ionian coast we visit Scylletium (Scolacium), one of the colonies of Roman farmers who were settled in the south of the peninsula by Gaius Gracchus in 123-121 BC. It was given the title of Colonia Minervia after Minerva, goddess of wisdom. There has been considerable excavation in the area over the last few decades, and was a substantial place throughout the Roman period. It’s most famous son was particular importance was as the home of Cassiodorus, one of the most important scholars and writers of Late Antiquity.
After visiting Scolacium we drive on to Le Castella where there is an opportunity to visit a fine Aragonese castle.
Evening meal and overnight in Capo Rizzuto.
Day 7
The Sila
We depart Capo Rizzuto in the morning and drive east through the towns of Santa Severina, San Giovanni in Fiore and across the wild and dramatic Sila mountains.In the afternoon we drop down from the Sila to visit the riverside town of Cosenza before heading north to the picturesque and charming town of Morano Calabro.
Evening meal and overnight in Morano Calabro.
Day 8
Drive through the Pollino mountains to Paestum
Today we depart Morano Calabro in the morning and spend the morning driving through the Pollino National Park to Paestum.
After lunch we visit the classical site of Paestum which exhibits three of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek temples — utterly unmissable for anyone with even a passing interest in Ancient Greek history or architecture. Originally known to the Greeks as Poseidonia (Ποσειδωνία in Ancient Greek) in honour of the Greek god of the sea, Paestum was founded in the late seventh century BC. We spend the afternoon exploring the archaeological site: the three temples – two dedicated to Hera one to Athena — as well as the Roman Forum, the Bouleuterion (Senate house) and small residential quarter.
Evening meal and overnight in Paestum.
Day 9
Departure
Drive to Naples for onward journeys.
see photo gallery of this tour
