Calabria and the amazing Sicilian Islands

Calabria and the amazing
Sicilian Islands
Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654
www.tasteandslowitaly.com - info@tasteandslowitaly.com
Day 1
Arrival at the airport where you will meet the tour leader and the private bus.
Transfer to a 3 or 4 star hotel in Cosenza
Dinner at the hotel
Day 02
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, departure with the tour
leader to reach Altomonte by private bus.
You will walk through the streets of the picturesque historical
centre of Altomonte.
Then you will visit the Belluscio Theatre.
Amphitheatre of recent construction mounted in the historical
centre of Altomonte which has been helding exhibitions and
concerts of international notoriety since 1988 – year of the
inauguration. Both Italian and foreign well-known artists, who
have performed on this stage, praise the special atmosphere of
this peculiar amphitheatre.
Visit of the Azienda Moliterno, a family trade which makes the
typical regional spirits.
After a visit of the old firm’s museum, you will have the opportunity to taste its main products in a special tasting session.
Altomonte
Altomonte is an enchanting town situated in the province of Cosenza, on the edges of the Pollino
National Park. Built on a pre-existent fortress, it still preserves its medieval aspect. The town’s old
houses still have the original carved stone doors made by the local stone-dressers in the XVII-XIX centuries.
Azienda Moliterno
Departure to the ancient medieval village of Morano Calabro.
Arrival to this small but rather peculiar town where you will pay a visit to the Maddalena Church with its wellknown polyptych made by Vivarini and walk through the historical centre. Lunch at your leisure.
Departure to Cosenza. Enjoy a 2 hour-long walking tour of Cosenza with a local guide: you will walk through
the narrow streets of the old part of the city until you reach Piazza XV Marzo where you will admire the well-
known statue of Bernardino Telesio.
Visit of the wonderful Cathedral of Cosenza that has been included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The tour will end in the modern part of Cosenza: going down
through the shopping streets, you will see the prestigious
sculptures of the Billotti Museum, the well-known open-air
museum of Cosenza that allows you to both walk in the centre
and to be in direct contact with art.
Dinner at the hotel.
Morano Calabro
Day 03
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure with the tour leader and the private bus for a tour
along the gorgeous Tyrrhenian coast.
First stop: Diamante, a beautiful town with a long promenade. Walking through the historical centre of Diamante, you
will see the well-known murals of the town.
Diamante is also renowned for the chilly museum and festival. From the seafront you will enjoy the wonderful view of
the Cirella Island.
Cosenza - Duomo
Second stop: Santa Maria del Cedro. Visit of the Citron Consortium: you will have the opportunity to
visit a citron tree plantation and to enjoy a peculiar
tasting session.
Third stop: Scalea, unspoiled seaside town. Walking
through the historical centre you will see the Church
of St. Nicholas in Plateis and the Torre Cimalonga
Antiquarium, a museum rich in archaeological findings.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 04
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure with the tour leader and the private bus for a tour along the wonderful Ionian
coast. Visit of one of the charming towns in the Sila Plateau, San Giovanni in Fiore.
The Sila Plateau –together with the virgin Ionian sea and
shores- is one of the greatest attractions in Calabria.
Then enjoy the visit of Crotone, Capo Colonna and Le Castella.
Dinner at the hotel.
San Giovanni in Fiore
Day 05
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure with the tour leader and the private bus for a
nice day-trip that will finally lead you to Reggio Calabria
from where you will embark for Messina (Sicily).
Amantea
First stop: Amantea. Walking through the historical centre, you will have the opportunity to see St. Bernardine
Church, the Collegiate Church of St. Biagio and the ancient palace that once held the Clarisse convent. Visit of
the ancient palace and of its peculiar collection of ‘falsi d’autore’ (Old Masters’ reproductions). Take part to a
special cooking lesson and enjoy a delightful lunch with
the typical dishes of Calabria.
Second stop: Pizzo and its renowned Piedigrotta
Church.
It is a charming church -situated in a grotto on the
seafront- that dates back to the 17th century. It was
raised as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin of Piedigrotta by a group of sailors that survived a big storm. In
the inside, you will see a series of altars, frescoes and
interesting sculptures.
Departure to Reggio Calabria. Embarking for Messina.
Transfer to Milazzo. Arrival at the hotel and dinner.
Piedigrotta
Day 06
Meeting with a local guide at the hotel. Embarking for a mini-cruise around the beautiful islands of Panarea
and Stromboli.
Enjoy the amazing view of the Stromboli volcano at night.
Dinner on board.
Day 07
Stromboli
Meeting with a local guide at the hotel. Embarking for the islands of Lipari and Vulcano.
Enjoy a wonderful boat trip around the islands and the astonishing view of their landscapes.
The gorgeous Island of Lipari- the biggest of the Aeolian Islands- has been shaped by twelve different volcanoes. Admire the deep grotto, the rocky shores and the wonderful bays of the island. The Vulcano Island has
always been known for its volcanic activity.
Free time in Milazzo.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 08
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure with the tour leader to reach Messina by private bus. Visit of Messina: the tour will start from Viale
Boccetta, the modern route that connects the highway together with the natural harbor.
The ancient town was raised around the same street. Funded by Greek colonists in 730 B.C., it was originally
called Zancle (sickle) because of the shape of its natural harbor. The city eas devastated by a series of earthquakes, especially the ones of 1783 and 1908.
You will see the Church of St. Francis, the Palace of the Government,
Neptune’s Fountain, Via Garibaldi, the Theatre of the Opera, the town
hall, the Church of the Annunziata dei Catalani and finally the Cathedral
of Messina with its well-known astronomical clock made in 1933 by the
Ungerer Company of Strasbourg.
You will have the possibility to visit the bell tower or the treasures of the
Cathedral, such as the magnificent Golden Mantle studded with precious
stones.
Messina
Enjoy the astonishing view of the natural harbor and the Straits of Messina from the viewpoint Cristo Re.
Lunch at the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy a sightseeing
tour of Milazzo followed by a visit of the archeological area of the ancient Tyndaris, one of the
latest Greek colonies in Sicily, funded in 396
B.C. by Dionysius from Siracusa.
Then you will wander through the remains of
the Roman Basilica, the thermal baths, the Greek theatre, and the modern shrine that holds the
miraculous statue of the Black Madonna of Tindari, a byzantine figure coming from the East.
Dinner at the hotel.
Tindari
Day 09
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure with the tour leader and the private bus to Messina and embarking for Reggio
Calabria.
Visit of the city of Reggio Calabria and the renowned Riace Bronzes.
Lunch at your leisure.
Departure for the airport.
First stop: Scilla. Walking tour in Chianalea, the famous fishermen quarter.
Bronzi di Riace
Second stop: Bagnara Calabra. Visit of the famous ‘torrone’ factory , the castle and the St. Mary Church.
Arrival at the airport.
End of the services.
Tour information:
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The tour will be available with a minimum of 16 payers.
The tour can be changed according to airport and flights’ schedule
Round trip flights’ reservation available
Cancellations insurance
Services included:
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9 days, 8 nights in a 3/4 stars Hotel, HB
Tour leader for the whole duration of the tour
Local guide for 2 full days and 3 half days
Private bus for the whole duration of the tour
1 lunch with cooking session
1 spirits tasting session
1 citron tasting session
Private mini cruise around the Eolie islands
Ticket for the boats from/to Messina
Not included:
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Anything which is not expressly mentioned in the list above
Tickets for the archeological sites and museums
Travel health insurance
Baggage insurance
Tips and personal expenses
DAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
ITINERARY
Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Cosenza
Altomonte, Morano Calabro and guided tour of Cosenza
Diamante, Santa Maria del Cedro and Scalea
The Ionio coast: San Giovanni in Fiore, Crotone,
Capo Colonna and Le Castella
Boarding for the transfer to Sicily, stop in Amantea,
Pizzo Calabro and Piedigrotta
Mini cruise to Panarea and Stromboli
Boarding for a guided tour to Lipari e Vulcano islands
Visit of Messina and Milazzo
Back to Calabria, visit of Reggio Calabria, Scilla,
Chianalea and Bagnara Calabra, end of services
MEALS
D
B-D
B-D
B-D
B-D
B-D
B-D
B-L
B
B = breakfast
L = lunch
D = dinner
Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654
www.tasteandslowitaly.com - info@tasteandslowitaly.com