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 - [email protected] 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 oppor- tunity 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 centuri- es. 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 well- known 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 in- cluded 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 promena- de. 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 festi- val. From the seafront you will enjoy the wonderful view of the Cirella Island. Cosenza - Duomo Second stop: Santa Maria del Cedro. Visit of the Ci- tron 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 fin- dings. 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 Plate- au, 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 Ca- stella. 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). First stop: Amantea. Walking through the historical cen- tre, you will have the opportunity to see St. Bernardine Church, the Collegiate Church of St. Biagio and the an- cient palace that once held the Clarisse convent. Visit of the ancient palace and of its peculiar collection of ‘fal- si d’autore’ (Old Masters’ reproductions). Take part to a special cooking lesson and enjoy a delightful lunch with Amantea 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 Piedigrot- ta by a group of sailors that survived a big storm. In the inside, you will see a series of altars, frescoes and interesting sculptures. Piedigrotta Departure to Reggio Calabria. Embarking for Messina. Transfer to Milazzo. Arrival at the hotel and dinner. 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. Stromboli Day 07 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 volca- noes. 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 ear- thquakes, 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 Messina stones. 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 arche- ological 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 Gre- ek theatre, and the modern shrine that holds the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna of Tin- dari, 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 quar- ter. 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: • 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: • 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: • 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 ITINERARY MEALS 1 Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Cosenza D 2 Altomonte, Morano Calabro and guided tour of Cosenza B - D 3 Diamante, Santa Maria del Cedro and Scalea B - D The Ionio coast: San Giovanni in Fiore, Crotone, 4 B - D Capo Colonna and Le Castella Boarding for the transfer to Sicily, stop in Amantea, 5 B - D Pizzo Calabro and Piedigrotta 6 Mini cruise to Panarea and Stromboli B - D 7 Boarding for a guided tour to Lipari e Vulcano islands B - D 8 Visit of Messina and Milazzo B - L Back to Calabria, visit of Reggio Calabria, Scilla, 9 B Chianalea and Bagnara Calabra, end of services 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 - [email protected] .