Splendours of Calabria

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to northern France for an overnight stay.

We depart our overnight hotel early this morning. We begin our journey towards Italy before arriving at our hotel in the Parma area for an overnight stay.

We continue our journey south skirting Bologna, the Tuscan capital of Florence. We continue past the ‘eternal city’ of Rome and later Naples, Italy’s third largest city, before arriving at our hotel on the Neapolitan Riviera for a two-night stay.

Join our included excursion to the beautiful resort of Sorrento. The town and area has been a popular holiday resort for over 2000 years with all nationalities and is the perfect place to watch the world go by. The town features beautiful architecture, many cafés, restaurants and lots of shops for you to explore. A popular souvenir from the area is Limoncello, the signature lemon liqueur. Browse the shops for souvenirs or sit back and relax with a traditional Italian pastry and a cappuccino – the choice is yours.

We travel south into Calabria to Cosenza, where we make a short stop in the historical medieval quarter and include a guided tour. See the Byzantine cathedral, or enjoy a typical Italian coffee in the historical literary café Renzelli. We continue to our hotel in Calabria for a five-night stay.

Join our included excursion to Pizzo and Tropea, the two most precious jewels of the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. Our first stop is Pizzo Calabro, one of the most beautiful and most famous fishing villages with a historical centre characterised by narrow streets and small squares. You can visit the small church of Piedigrotta, which is excavated in limestone cliffs right above the sea. There are around 140 steps down and the same back up, so sensible footwear is a must.

We continue to Pizzo itself, which is situated on a steep cliff overlooking the Gulf of Santa Eufemia. High above the sea is the Aragonese Castle, which was built by Ferdinand I of Aragon in the 15th century. The historical centre is characterised by narrow lanes and streets with many interconnecting stairways and some squares with fountains. Before leaving Pizzo, you should try the famous Tartufo (truffle ice cream), highly recommended!

We continue to Tropea, where you will have the opportunity to explore the historical centre rich in ancient palaces and the Norman cathedral. You will also see the Church of St. Mary of the Isle which is surrounded by the beautiful white sandy beaches with a view above the Aeolian Islands. Admire the incredible views from the various vantage points in the town.

We explore a little more of the Calabrian countryside on our included excursion today. We head to Zungri, which boasts a pleasant historical centre – simple architecture, a representation of peasant life and a time long gone. See the Caves of Zungrì and the Church of Our Lady of the Snow (local charges may be applicable). We will later visit a small family farm near Ricardi, which produces local food such as onion, olive paste, nduja (typical salami from Calabria and often created into a paste or sauce), wine, cheese and vegetables. You will have the opportunity to taste some of the produce and also to make a purchase or two!

En-route back to our hotel, we make a short stop in the promontory of Capo Vaticano, which is made of white granite, dominates the coast and beautiful sandy beaches. It offers many views over the Aeolian Islands and the Straits of Messina. Capo Vaticano separates the Gulf of Gioia Tauro from the Gulf of Sant’Eufemia. It lies about 284 metres above sea level at its highest point and it is distinguished by the crystal-clear sea, beautiful white sandy beaches, and rocky coast and romantic landscapes.

Today, our included excursion is to Reggio Calabria, an elegant city in Liberty style, which belongs to the Italian Art Nouveau period. Reggio Calabria is the most densely populated city in Calabria and lies on the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, between the slopes of the Aspromonte range and the eastern shore of the Straits of Messina. Take a walk on the Lungomare (seafront promenade) which was described by Gabriele D’Annunzio, the famous Italian writer and poet, as ‘the most beautiful kilometre in Italy’. Running parallel to the Lungomare is the main shopping street, the Corso Vittorio Emanuale III, where you will find excellent boutiques and shops. Whilst in Reggio Calabria, see the cathedral and you may wish to also visit the National Archeological Museum (at additional cost) which holds the richest collection of Magna Grecia finds and the famous Bronzes of Riace.

Later we head to Scilla, a pretty little town set in the enchanting scenery of the Costa Viola. The promontory of Scilla lies in a strategic position above the Tyrrheanian Sea. It is dominated by Ruffo Castle (a small charge is payable locally to enter the castle) which connects the fortress with the village of San Giorgio, Marina Grande and Chianalea. Scilla is the most famous town on the Costa Viola. The coast of Scilla is divided into two parts: Marina Grande and Chianalea. Here you will visit the old fishing village which is known as Chianalea, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and also one of the most evocative fishing quarters.

A day at leisure or why not join our full-day optional excursion to Serra San Bruno, pausing en-route to admire the Angitola Lake. Serra San Bruno is a charming town which is situated among woodland and boasts fine examples of Byzantine architecture and beautiful churches in its historical centre. We will visit the museum of the Charterhouse of St. Bruno and the church. The museum creates a fascinating impression of the life of San Bruno and the incredible history of this Carthusian monastery. During the day we include lunch at a nearby restaurant, enjoying wonderful antipasti and pasta.

We leave Calabria and head north to our hotel in the Abruzzo area for an overnight stay.

We drive north to the Lake Garda area for a two-night stay.

Enjoy a relaxing day in resort or join our full-day optional excursion along the shores of Lake Garda visiting some of the picturesque villages on its shoreline. Spend time exploring the narrow streets or relax in one of the many cafés. During the day, our excursion allows us to take to the water on a boat cruise where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding area from the lake.

Travel north to Belgium for an overnight stay.

Return home.