Calabria is a place where time slows down, where traditions are alive and well, and where the landscapes are as breathtaking as the Sunday dinner is long. It’s the Italy most travelers never see. At My Bella Vita Travel, we’re here to make it easy for your clients to experience southern Italy in a way that feels like a well-kept secret.
We specialize in curating experiences that go beyond sightseeing. Imagine your clients learning the ancient art of silk extraction, rolling up their sleeves in a family-run olive harvest, or crafting ceramics with a local artisan. From cooking alongside a nonna who shares recipes passed through generations to taking in Calabria’s rugged beauty from a hot air balloon, our tours are all about creating memories that go deeper than the typical tourist trail.
Our B2B services include fully customizable packages, perfect for clients who crave slow travel and immersion in real, unfiltered Italy. Whether they’re sailing the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, visiting a hidden farm to learn the secrets of traditional cheese-making, or enjoying an intimate wine tasting at a vineyard most tourists will never find, our goal is to craft experiences that resonate.
Why partner with My Bella Vita Travel? We’re the perfect blend of North American understanding and deep local knowledge. As an American who has spent 20+ years calling Calabria home, I know what your clients are looking for in a great vacation. My husband is Calabrian, our son was born here, and our team lives here—so we have the local connections to make every moment feel special and seamless. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s what makes us uniquely equipped to deliver the true Calabria to your clients.
Working with us means offering your clients something special—experiences that are as genuine as a Sunday family lunch and stories they’ll bring back home. Reach out today, and let’s craft an itinerary that will show your clients a side of Italy they never knew existed. We’re ready to help you make Calabria the highlight of their Italian journey.
If you’re planning a weeklong trip to Calabria but don’t know where to start, we’ve pulled together an itinerary that showcases a few of the must-sees of this stunning destination. This is only a guide and anything you or your clients can dream of, is possible. Book a call with Cherrye to discuss.
You will arrive in Lamezia Terme where you will meet your bilingual travel host and driver for the week. Your first stop (post-bagno) will be to a lovely family-owned olive farm. You’ll relax while the staff sets the scene for a gorgeous olive oil tasting. No bread here, though. You’ll test your taster by trying to decipher the “good” stuff from the fakes and will enjoy a lovely introduction to Calabrian cuisine. Following lunch, you’ll drive a half-hour across the narrowest isthmus in Italy to Catanzaro Lido. Check into your seaside hotel. Overnight Catanzaro Lido.
This morning you’ll drive outside of town to Soverato, known for its stunning beaches and dramatic cliffs. You’ll have time to shop at the outdoor market, then you’ll visit our friend, Francesca, a local artist, who will teach you the fine art of malocchio mask making. You’ll make your own “evil eye” mask, then have lunch al fresco at one of our favorite seaside restaurants in the region.
This morning, you’ll take an in-depth look into Catanzaro’s ancient silk tradition. Since the 1600s, Catanzaro has been home to one of the most important silk industries in Europe, and once supplied tapestries to the Vatican. You’ll join our good friends, Miriam and Domenico, who have brought new life to this dying tradition. From their base nestled in a beautiful mulberry tree orchard, they breed silkworms and give visitors hands-on experiences at extracting silk. Following our visit, you will be their special guests for a delicious multi-course lunch, with wine.
After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive across Calabria (about 30 minutes!) to the Tyrrhenian Sea. You’ll detour north to Belmonte, to meet the 4th generation of Calabrians who made dried, stuffed figs one of our most beloved treasures. You’ll have a multitude of tastings, and just when you can’t eat any more … it’s time for lunch. For this, we’ll head about 20 minutes north to Fiumefreddo Bruzio – one of the most beautiful and well-preserved towns in the region. You’ll have time for a passeggiata (because you’ll need to get hungry again) before meeting our friends Andrea and Maria Teresa. There is no menu at this place – you’ll get the best, local food from their trusted local farmers. Following lunch, you’ll drive to your hotel in Pizzo Calabro and have the rest of the evening on your own.
You’ll spend today in Pizzo Calabro, where history, gelato, and breathtaking views collide to create an unforgettable experience. You’ll begin with a visit to the intriguing Chiesetta di Piedigrotta cave church, where you’ll learn about its unique mixture of local history and legend and visit the imposing Murat Castle, where Napoleon’s brother-in-law Jacques Murat was captive. Then, you’ll head into the heart of the village for a seafood lunch where you will indulge in a seafood extravaganza. You’ll end your afternoon in time for dessert, where you will visit my friend, Franco, for a behind-the-scenes look into how he makes his famous Tartufo di Pizzo chocolate and hazelnut gelato truffles.
Today you will have your choice of a hands-on cooking class in Tropea, where you’ll learn the secrets of generations-old recipes or you’ll hit the sea in a fishing boat for a day exploring the Coast of the Gods.
In the evening, you will head a few miles north to one of our favorite local wineries for a tasting. The wines you will try are distinct from most others since they are grown in a natural and organic manner. The flavor is powerful and the taste is distinct. This might be due to the sorts of grapes used in the fermenting process. They cultivate their grapes organically, which means no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used.
Upon turning 18, the winemaker left his native Abruzzo and moved back to Calabria, the native land of his father. He decided to revive the vineyards that belonged to his grandfather, just a couple of miles from the sea town of Pizzo, where there had been a long tradition of quality wines, since the Phoenicians introduced the vitis vinifera to the region. His objective is the recovery of the historic Zibibbo di Pizzo grape varietal, otherwise destined to extinction. Return to the hotel. Overnight Pizzo.
This morning you’ll have time on your own in the town, then will have a private transfer to the train station or airport. Ciao Calabria.
At My Bella Vita Travel, we offer something truly special for your clients—authentic, immersive experiences that go far beyond the typical tourist trail. As an American who has lived in Calabria for over 20 years, I understand the expectations of North American travelers and what makes for an unforgettable vacation. Our team combines deep local knowledge with personal connections across the region, ensuring your clients experience the real Italy, with all its rich traditions, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture.
When you work with us, you’re offering your clients more than just a trip—you’re giving them a chance to connect with local artisans, savor farm-to-table dining, and explore hidden gems that most tourists never find. Our fully customizable itineraries, from hands-on cooking classes to unique wine tastings and sailing adventures, mean that every trip is tailored to meet your clients’ specific interests.
Not only do we handle all of the logistics, but we also offer generous commission rates to our travel agent partners. We value your business, and our goal is to make your job easier so you can rest assured your clients are in expert hands. Let’s work together to craft unique, memorable journeys that keep your clients coming back for more. Book a call with Cherrye and let’s get started.
“Working with Cherrye and Peppe was a wonderful experience. When I received a request to plan a family heritage tour to Reggio Calabria, I wasn’t sure where to begin. As a Travel Advisor, I plan a lot of trips to Italy, but I was relatively unfamiliar with this particular region and had never organized a trip with this type of focus. ‘My Bella Vita’ knocked it out of the park! They found incredible, off-the-beaten-path opportunities for my clients to truly experience the region and learn about their heritage. It was fun for the parents and also for their three younger kids. They are incredibly thorough, responsive, and genuinely want clients to have the most amazing, authentic experience. I couldn’t be happier with how the trip turned out, and I would absolutely work with them again. In fact, I look forward to it!”
At My Bella Vita Travel, we specialize in creating seamless, white-label experiences that allow tour operators to offer immersive, authentic southern Italian adventures under their own brand. Whether you’re planning group tours focused on heritage, culture, food, adventure, or a mix of everything, we provide the expertise and local connections to make each itinerary unforgettable.
With over 20 years of experience living and working in Calabria, we understand what North American travelers want in a perfect vacation.
Our team will work behind the scenes to craft fully customizable group experiences, from digging through local archives, visiting artisanal workshops, and participating in local traditions to unique culinary tours and outdoor adventures. We handle all of the ground logistics, while you maintain full ownership of the client relationship, allowing you to offer exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences without the hassle of managing the details.
In addition to delivering high-quality, authentic experiences, we offer competitive rates to ensure a profitable collaboration. By partnering with My Bella Vita Travel, you can confidently offer unique, high-value group tours with the assurance that every aspect, from accommodations to activities, reflects your brand and meets your clients’ expectations.
Let us be your local expert in Calabria while you focus on delivering exceptional group travel experiences to your clients. Together, we’ll create tailor-made tours that showcase the very best of this beautiful and lesser-known region of Italy.
For over 20 years, My Bella Vita Travel has been creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences that go beyond the classroom. We work closely with educational institutions and cultural exchange programs to design tours that offer students and participants not just a trip, but a deep dive into the history, traditions, and lifestyle of this stunning Italian region.
Our tailored programs emphasize cultural immersion, from learning age-old artisanal techniques like silk extraction to meeting with local anthropologists to discuss immigration. Your students will connect directly with experts, giving them insights into a way of life far removed from the typical tourist experience.
Whether you’re building a language immersion program, cultural study, or hands-on history experience, we work behind the scenes to provide customized itineraries that align with your academic goals. Our focus is on curating meaningful, real-world experiences that bring your institution’s values to life. Participants can explore Calabria’s ancient towns, engage in sustainable food production, and even visit local schools to interact with their peers, fostering cross-cultural connections.
By partnering with My Bella Vita Travel, your institution benefits from our extensive local network and expert logistical support, ensuring a smooth and impactful experience for your participants. Let’s collaborate to create educational journeys that leave a lasting impression, building global awareness and deeper understanding for your students.
I have worked with Cherrye and My Bella Vita Travel for two academic study abroad trips. On both occasions Cherrye went above and beyond for our students. I told her what I needed to do as far as the academics and student learning outcomes and things the students would want to do, and asked her to keep the trip as affordable as possible. We offered Political Psychology, Social Interaction, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Cherrye was able to link different excursions in both Calabria and Rome with various student learning outcomes in our courses, and more importantly allowed our students to interact hands-on with various Italian locals. Cherrye has the uncanny ability to adapt Calabrian vacations and tours to the realm of academia. I would recommend her services for others planning educational trips and I will definitely use her services the time I plan a study abroad trip to Italy.
Looking for a destination that offers more than just another meeting or team-building retreat? At My Bella Vita Travel, we specialize in creating unforgettable MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and incentive programs in Calabria, combining authentic Italian charm with unique, customized experiences for your team or clients.
Calabria offers the perfect backdrop for incentive trips that reward, inspire, and foster deeper connections. From sailing the pristine waters of the Ionian Sea to private, hands-on cooking classes with renowned local chefs, our programs go beyond the standard. Whether your goal is to boost motivation, strengthen team bonds, or offer a unique reward for top performers, we curate tailored experiences that deliver both relaxation and enrichment.
For your meetings and conferences, we handle everything from venue selection and logistics to unforgettable excursions that capture the essence of Calabria. Picture your team hiking through Calabria’s scenic landscapes, visiting family-owned vineyards for exclusive wine tastings, or embarking on a private hot air balloon ride. Every detail is designed to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for your group.
With over 20 years of local expertise, our team takes care of the finer details, allowing you to focus on your business goals while we create the perfect blend of work and play. Our partnerships with local venues and unique activity providers mean that every moment reflects the high standards your company expects.
Bring your next MICE or incentive event to Calabria with My Bella Vita Travel, and offer your team or clients an extraordinary reward they’ll never forget. Let’s work together to design a program that combines business with the beauty and authenticity of Southern Italy.
