Overseeing tour of the town of Pentedattilo (ghost town) and cosy fairytale Bova (including transfers to the port and boat crossing).
Tour of the town of Pentedattilo, nestled on Mount Calvario at an altitude of 250 metres above sea level. The name of this ancient settlement comes from the Greek words penta + daktylos – five fingers, as it resembles the giant hand of the Cyclops.
Pentadattilo is an ancient, abandoned town. The town itself was partially destroyed by an earthquake and in the years that followed, the inhabitants of the surviving houses gradually left the town. There is a legend that the earthquake is the result of a punishment for the events that took place in the town: the family of Alberti, Marquess of Pentedattilo, was murdered in their sleep by the Barons Abanevoli of Montebello. The town can be reached by car. This place attracts you with its special mystical atmosphere and the unique landscape of Greek Calabria. Nature itself has created a fanciful setting for a million dollars, as the famous film director Robert Englund said. From the panoramic site, the village can be reached by climbing up the mountain on foot or by electric car. If desired, the most trained can visit the ruins of the castle of the Marquis Alberti, where in the XVII century there was a tragedy of jealousy between feuding families. A stroll through the narrow streets of Pentedattilo: the Church of St Peter and St Paul, the Museum of Folk Traditions, craftsmen’s shops.
Pentedattilo is being revived with EU funding, with the annual “Pelearizza” festival of Greek culture and the “Pentedattilo Film Festival”, an international short documentary film festival.
Weather permitting, after exploring Pentedattilo, you have the opportunity to go down to the sea to the wide beach and swim in the Ionian Sea.
Visit the town of Bova, a unique town listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”. You will be able to see it for yourself when you reach the altitude of 915 metres above sea level. The settlement dates back to the Neolithic period. Since the 8th century BC, the Greeks settled here and the whole surrounding area became known as Greater Greece.
The town bears the marks of the medieval cultures that have passed through it over the centuries. But the Greeks left an indelible mark. The population still speaks Ancient Greek and every year the Paleariza festival of Greek music and culture is held here. The names of the streets are written in Italian and Greek. Everything here is imbued with a special atmosphere. It seems to be in a fairy tale. In addition to walking around Bova, you can visit one of the many agritours and sample the local cuisine.
Return to the port of Villa San Giovanni.
