BYZANTHINE NORMAN ITINERARY
8 days / 7 nights (2 in the area of Cosenza, 1 in the area of Crotone, 4 on the Jasmine Coast)
Following Byzantine and Norman masterpieces to discover their cultures and their traditions
Arrival in Cosenza in the afternoon and accommodation in the Hotel. Welcome Cocktail. Tour of the old town, visit the Castle and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Tour of Rossano, the most important Byzantine town in Calabria. In the Diocesan Museum it is possible to admire the Codex Purpureus. Stop at the Licorice Museum, owned by Amarelli family. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure for Altomonte, one of the most beautiful village in Italy with its lanes and the S. Maria della Consolazione’s Cathedral. Return to Hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Departure for Santa Severina, one of the oldest and best preserved towns in Calabria and visit its old town, focusing on its Norman Castle and its Byzantine Monastery. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure for Capo Colonna where it is possible to admire the column belonging to the temple of Hera Lacinia. Then you move to Isola Capo Rizzuto, which hosts an impressive Aragonese Castle in Le Castella. Departure for Catanzaro. Accommodation in the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Heading for Roccelletta di Borgia. Visit the Archaeological Park of Scolacium which hosts the ruins of S. Maria della Roccelletta’s Norman Church. Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Borgia’s Norman Castle and ateliers. Heading for the Jasmine Coast. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Tour of Locri Epizephiri, visit the Archeological Area and the National Museum. Lunch in the Hotel. Departure for Gerace, a medieval town and visit the Cathedral, S. Francesco’s Church and a textile atelier. Return to Hotel. Dinner with folk show. Overnight.
Breakfast. Free time in the morning. Lunch in the Hotel. Visit a Bergamotto plantation and spirit-tasting. in the afternoon, tour of Stilo, the Byzantine town, and visit the well-known Cattolica. Departure for Bivongi. Arrival at the S. John Therestis Monastery and visit one of the most suggestive religious place in Calabria. Return to Hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast. Departure for Vibo Valentia and visit the Archaeological Museum located in the Norman Swabian Castle. Transfer to Tropea, one of the most suggestive towns in Calabria. Visit the Cathedral, the old town and stop at the “Affaccio”, that provides a breath-taking view of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here you can taste the famous red onion, famous all over the world. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure for Pizzo Calabro. Visit the Aragon Castle and Piedigrotta Church, which was built in tuff. Tartufo tasting (a traditional ice-cream). Return to hotel. Farewell dinner where Ladies will receive a present. Overnight.
Breakfast and departure.