TOUR 1 “Sea and Mountains” Scilla and Aspromonte – Duration of the excursion 4–5 hours.
In the morning, visit the Aspromonte National Park, whose name means “harsh-inaccessible mountains.” But these mountains warmly welcome the traveler with their pristine nature, mountain streams, waterfalls, and panoramic balconies. Here in autumn, you can gather mushrooms, and in winter, you can ski in the high mountain town of Gambarie. You can take a cable car up to 1700 meters above sea level and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Strait of Messina and Sicily with its Etna, and on a clear day, you can also see the Aeolian Islands to the right of Sicily. A 30–40 minute drive down and you are already at the sea, in the resort town of Scilla. It was sung by Homer in the legends of the sea voyages of Odysseus and the Argonauts. The terrible monster Scylla lived opposite another monster – Charybdis, who lurked for sailors from the opposite Sicilian shore. The legendary Spartacus also visited here, setting up camp in Scilla in hopes of crossing to Sicily. Today, it is a wonderful resort town in the most picturesque location on the cape at the entrance to the Strait of Messina, where the shortest distance between Calabria and Sicily is found. From here, the Sicilian coast is like on the palm of your hand, and you can clearly see Lake Ganzirri, where mussels are cultivated, and some of the Aeolian Islands. Here you can visit the 5th-century BC Ruffo Castle, the Church of the Holy Spirit, the fishing village of Chianalea, called the “Southern Venice,” Marina Grande, where you can stroll along the sea, sit in one of the many restaurants or cafes, and also taste the local ice cream.
TOUR 2 “Gems of the Gods’ Coast” Tropea and Pizzo – Duration of the excursion 4 – 5 hours.
Tropea is called the pearl of the Tyrrhenian coast. On the narrow streets of the historic center of this resort town, you can admire ancient noble palaces, churches, the Roman-Norman cathedral, and suddenly find yourself on panoramic terraces that offer a view of the emerald sea and the island of St. Mary with its characteristic sanctuary.
The medieval town of Pizzo is characterized by its unique architecture and panoramic terraces. One and a half kilometers from this town is the unique church of Piedigrotta, which was excavated in tuff by Neapolitan sailors who survived a shipwreck three hundred years ago. Later, it was expanded and beautified by local craftsmen. In Pizzo, there is a castle built in 1492 by order of Ferdinand of Aragon, where King Gioacchino Murat (Napoleon’s brother-in-law) was imprisoned, and here on October 13, 1815, he was executed. Documents and paintings from that era are still preserved in the castle’s halls. Nearby is the Baroque church of San Giorgio with sculptures dating back to the 500s AD. It is unforgivable to visit Pizzo without sitting in one of the cozy cafes in the square and tasting the famous ice cream, the most famous brand of which is “tartufo.”
TOUR 3 “Diving into the Middle Ages” Stilo and Serra San Bruno – Duration of the excursion 5-6 hours.
In the middle reaches of the Stilaro River at the foot of Mount Consolino lies the mountain medieval town of Stilo. From its observation deck, there is a dizzying view of the Calabrian hills and the Ionian Sea. The Byzantine temple of Cattolica is known worldwide, as well as the Norman castle. In the center of the town, the building of the Abbey of San Giovanni Theristis is well preserved, and on the main square, Piazza Carnоvale, the Church of San Francesco dei Minori and the “Dolphins” fountain are worth seeing.
From Stilo, we will move to the mountains (40 min.), to the heart of the Sila National Park, where you will meet the amazing forest town of Serra San Bruno with its Baroque-style churches and the Certosa Museum (Male Monastery). A distinctive feature of the local churches is the stone portals and wooden furnishings. The Male Monastery – Certosa was erected by St. Bruno in the 12th century. If desired, you can visit the museum, which has about 20 rooms. Just a few hundred meters separate the Certosa from Lake San Bruno and from the Church of Santa Maria del Bosco, built by Ruggero Normanno. By prior arrangement, lunch can be held in the woods of Santa Maria, where you can also get acquainted with the Sila National Park with its chamois and deer.
TOUR 4 “From Ancient Greeks to Byzantines and Normans” Locri and Gerace – Duration of the excursion 5-6 hours.
The archaeological zone of Locri-Epizephiri is an open-air museum. Ancient Locri Epizephiri was founded by Greek colonists from Locride in 623 BC. To this day, the territory of the Ionian coast for several kilometers around Locri is called Locride. Its heart – the city of Locri is the most interesting from a historical point of view among all the cities of southern Calabria. The excavations are of great interest, especially the archaeological zone of a hundred rooms – an ancient commercial district dating back to 600 BC! You can visit the “Antiquarium” – the local museum where all the items found during the excavations in this area are displayed.
Next, the path leads to Gerace (15 min.) – a medieval town located a few kilometers from Locri on top of a 500-meter cliff. The name of the city is of Greek origin and translates as “hawk-quail catcher.” According to legend, the first inhabitants of these places, fleeing from a Saracen attack in 915, followed a hawk that led them into the mountains…
Here, there is a special atmosphere of “timelessness,” civilization has hardly touched this settlement and has not disturbed its medieval tranquility. A special attraction of Gerace is the Norman Cathedral (12th century), the central entrance of which is adorned with columns and capitals from the Roman Empire. It is worth peeking into the chapel to see the riches of Ancient Greece.
TOUR 5 “Pentidattilo – Ghost Town and the Most Beautiful Kilometer of Italy in Reggio” – Pentidattilo and Reggio di Calabria – Duration of the excursion 5–6 hours.
Wrapped in legends, the ghost town of Pentidattilo is beautifully integrated into the relief of the cliff of Mount Golgotha, which resembles a giant hand, hence the name: daktylosPenta – five fingers. Imagine a small mountain settlement, with preserved houses, streets, and a church, but without people. People left it many years ago. There are rumors that you can see ghosts in Pentidattilo. In the Middle Ages, a terrible tragedy occurred here, akin to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and since then, the restless souls of the slain wander these streets. But all the “fears” are dispelled by the annual international short documentary film festival held at the end of August.
From the belvedere, there is a mesmerizing view of the Ionian Sea, the volcano Etna rising above Sicily, and the neighboring hills and valleys. After exploring Pentidattilo, if desired by tourists, you can descend to the sea to the wide Anna beach and swim in the Ionian Sea.
Reggio Calabria is the regional center and the largest city in the region. The poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, seeing the waterfront of Reggio Calabria planted with exotic plants against the backdrop of the Strait of Messina, glorified it as “the most beautiful kilometer of Italy!” Without exaggeration, it can be noted that this “kilometer” stretches further – along all of Calabria, impressing with the diversity and pristine beauty of its landscapes. The land is literally soaked with beauty and harmony. This region gave humanity two great knights of beauty – Tommaso Campanella, who created the utopia of ideal life “The City of the Sun,” and the unparalleled fashion artist Gianni Versace. In the National Museum of Great Greece at the beginning of the waterfront, in the archaeology department, the famous bronze figures of warriors from Riace (5th century BC) are displayed; they are truly unique. In addition to the bronze figures, the museum has a rich collection of the historical heritage of the peoples that inhabited this land. The deepest mark in the history and culture of the region was left by the ancient Greeks. Here was one of the oldest Greek colonies, founded in the 8th century BC. At that time, Reggio was a very important Greek city, where one of the most famous philosophical schools – the Pythagorean school – was founded in the 6th-5th centuries BC.
Reggio Calabria is characterized by two unique features – the fata morgana and bergamot. Fata morgana is an unusual mirage that appears under certain conditions over the Strait of Messina, and it can only be seen from the side of Calabria.
Bergamot, “the green gold of Calabria,” grows only in the vicinity of Reggio Calabria. Its peel is used to extract essential oils, which are widely used in the perfume industry worldwide, and it is an integral part of the production of the best and most expensive perfumes. Bergamot oils are also used in aromatherapy and medicine.
If desired: visit and lunch at the Bergamot Museum based on local products and bergamot.
TOUR 6 Statti Farm with tasting and nature rest, shopping at the “Two Seas” Shopping Center – Duration of the excursion 6–7 hours.
Statti Farm is considered one of the best and oldest (over 200 years old) in Lamezia Terme. Tourists will have the opportunity to get acquainted with a modern Italian farm. Here, 500 hectares of land are cultivated with olive groves, citrus orchards, and vineyards, as well as feed for six hundred heads of cattle; 6600 liters of milk are produced daily. A walk through the olive grove with a visit to the farm and winery with wine and olive oil tasting.
Next, shopping at the “Two Seas” shopping center.
TOUR 7 “Brozio” Farm in the village of San Calogero (near Tropea) – Duration of the excursion 6-7 hours.
Visit a typical Calabrian farm, unity with nature under the shade of olive groves.
Three routes of varying difficulty for trekking in the countryside, taking into account the composition of the group and the wishes of the participants. After the walk, you will have the opportunity to bake village bread with your own hands, and after righteous labors, have lunch outdoors based on biologically pure local products and natural cuisine. Here you can also ride horses, interact with the four-legged and feathered inhabitants of the farm.
