CALABRIA AND BASILICATA: FROM THE TIP OF THE BOOT TO THE HEART OF THE SOUTH
The ancient Greeks were known to be connoisseurs and lovers of beauty. Indeed, it is no coincidence that Calabria and Basilicata were very important territories of Magna Graecia, of which many precious testimonies remain. But in addition to their history, these two regions are true paradises on earth, with mountains and green hills, beautiful beaches and a crystal clear sea.
DAY 1: REGGIO CALABRIA
Transfer by local bus to the centre of Reggio Calabria. Discover the city by bus and on foot: walk along the seafront along Corso Garibaldi, often called “the most beautiful kilometre in Italy”, the shopping street par excellence, piazza Camagna, the cathedral, the Aragonese castle, the Greek walls and the Roman baths. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: REGGIO CALABRIA, SCILLA, LOCRI, STILO, CROTONE
After breakfast, departure by coach to Scilla and quick discovery of the picturesque district of Chianalea, an ancient fishermen’s village where the houses, stuck together, are built on the rocks overlooking the sea. Continuation to Locri to visit the archaeological site of Locri-Epizefiri. At the end of the morning, departure to Stilo. Lunch on the way. Visit to the Cattolica, a small church dating back to the Byzantine period and probably one of the most beautiful in Calabria. Proceed to Crotone passing by Cape Colonna. Here you will find the ruins of the temple of Hera Lacinia, one of the most important religious complexes in Magna Graecia. Check-in at the hotel in Crotone, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: CROTONE, ROSSANO, POLICORO, METAPONTO, MATERA
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by coach to Rossano and visit of the museum housing the famous Codex Purpureus. Continuation to Policoro and lunch. Visit to the archaeological park Siris-Herakleia and the archaeological museum of Siritide. Pass through Bernalda to discover the Palatine Tables of Metaponto. Continuation to Matera. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4: MATERA
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Matera’s city centre with its ‘Sassi’, which represent the ancient districts of the city. They were developed around the Civita and represent a whole city carved in the limestone rock locally called ‘tufo’. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993, the ‘Sassi’ offer the visitor a unique scenario, a testimony of the past. Lunch in Matera. Free time for individual visits and shopping. Dinner in a restaurant with tasting of local dishes and wines.
Panoramic tour of the city by night to enjoy the unique atmosphere of darkness that makes the city a real living nativity scene.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
DAY 5: THE BREAD OF ALTAMURA AND VENOSA
After breakfast, your journey in Basilicata will take you to the “bread laboratory” where you will learn how to make the traditional bread of Altamura, one of the best in Italy.
Lunch in a farmhouse or restaurant with local food and wine.
Continuation to Venosa, of Roman origin and famous for being the birthplace of the poet Orazio. You will visit the medieval church of the Santissima Trinità and the Archaeological Park.
Continuation to Melfi, accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 – Melfi and return journey
After breakfast, guided tour of Melfi, centre of the ancient Lucanian culture in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., capital of the county of Apulia in the Norman period, residence of Frederick II, whose castle is the most famous in the region.
Lunch and return home.
