You’ll be met at the Naples airport for your private transfer to Altomonte. In the afternoon, on to Paola, where you’ll be accompanied on a panoramic tour of the famous Sanctuary of San Francesco of Paola, whose origins date back to 1435. Arrival in your hotel in Cosenza in the evening, time to get settled in and then ready for dinner.
Day 2
Scilla, Reggio Calabria, Villa San Giovanni
After breakfast, you’ll be accompanied on a panoramic visit of Scilla, ancient fishing village dominated by the Castello dei Ruffo. Lunch on your own. Afternoon departure for Reggio Calabria, where you’ll meet your guide and visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Magna Grecia (National
Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria), of remarkable interest thanks to not only the prehistoric as well as the archaeological collections, but especially to the famous Riace bronzes, two statues of Greek warriors dating back to the 5th century BC. Back to your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 3
Gerace, Stilo, Briatico
After breakfast, off to visit the ‘calanchi’ or ‘badlands’ which characterize the rough terrain of south-eastern Lucania (Basilicata) surrounded by the Sauro, the Agri and the Basento valleys. Parallel or fan-shaped furrows, created by surface water erosion on clay slopes, the ‘calanchi’ are
visible in the dry landscape and were aptly described by Carlo Levi in his book “Christ Stopped at Eboli”. Brief visit to the towns of Aliano and Stigliano. Arrive at your hotel and then ready for dinner.
Day 4
TRopea, Pizzo Calabro, Cosenza
After breakfast, you’ll be accompanied on a panoramic visit of Tropea, a natural ‘balcony’ that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, leave for enchanting Pizzo Calabro, where legend has it that Ulysses stayed. You’ll be accompanied on a scenic walk to explore the amazing little Church of Piedigrotta, which is a cave dug out of soft ‘tufo’ rock by Neapolitan sailors who had survived a shipwreck. You’ll arrive in Cosenza in the evening – time to get settled in your hotel and then ready for dinner.
Day 5
Cosenza, Sila
You’ll be met by your guide after breakfast for your visit to Cosenza, which boasts one of the most famous historic centres in all of Calabria and was the capital of the ancient Bruzian people. Lunch on your own. Afternoon departure for the mountainous plateau of Sila, which was once called “Grande Bosco d’Italia” (“The Great Forest of Italy”). Back to your hotel in the evening where dinner awaits you.
Day 6
Rossano Calabro, Sibari and Naples
After breakfast, leave for Rossano Calabro where you’ll be met by your guide for your visit to the cathedral and museum which boasts the Codex Purpureus (the Rossano Gospels), illuminated ancient sacred manuscripts from the 5th century AD. On to Sibari in the afternoon where a guided tour of the archaeological site of the ancient city is scheduled. Evening arrival at your hotel in Naples where dinner awaits you.
Day 7
Departure Day
Free time after breakfast and then transfer to Naples airport.