The Small Group Heritage Tour of Calabria 2026

You will arrive at Lamezia Terme Airport in time for the group transfer at 10:00 AM where you will meet your bilingual travel host for the week and private driver. You’ll transfer to your hotel in Catanzaro Lido, via a visit with my dear friend Lucia, whose family has been making olive oil for generations.

Nestled among rolling hills and ancient olive groves, her family’s farm is more than just a business—it’s a legacy of passion, tradition, and some of the finest extra virgin olive oil you’ll ever taste. (It’s so good, we’ve gotten our Calabrian neighbors hooked on this stuff!)

Lucia will guide you through the art and science of olive oil production, sharing how her family expertly tends to their trees, harvests their prized olives, and produces award-winning oil that has earned a spot on the tables of top chefs. But what makes their operation truly unique is how they integrate their dairy farm into the olive business—a rare and fascinating combination that highlights Calabria’s deeply rooted, sustainable farming traditions.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll settle in for a picnic-style feast in the heart of the grove. Following lunch, you’ll continue to Catanzaro Lido where you will check into your 4-star hotel located directly on the seafront promenade, offering charming views of the Ionian Sea. We’ll meet for a Welcome to Calabria aperitivo at our favorite local bar.

Overnight Catanzaro Lido.

Today, you will step into a world where ancient craftsmanship and modern passion collide as you explore Catanzaro’s deep-rooted silk-making tradition. Once a powerhouse of European silk production, Catanzaro supplied luxurious tapestries to the Vatican and was famed for its skilled artisans. Though time nearly erased this once-thriving industry, a dedicated group of Calabrian innovators is bringing it back to life in a tiny village tucked into the hills.

You will walk among lush mulberry trees, the key to silk production, and see firsthand how these young artisans raise silkworms, hand-spin delicate threads, and experiment with all-natural dyes to create vibrant fabrics. This is silk in its purest form—slow, sustainable, and deeply connected to the land. You will get a hands-on look at the process, from worm to woven masterpiece, and leave with a new appreciation for – and possibly a purchase or two of – this nearly lost art.

After your immersive experience, you will sit down for a leisurely lunch, savoring regional flavors while overlooking the rolling countryside. As you sip local wine and reflect on these centuries-old techniques, you will understand why true craftsmanship, like silk, is worth preserving. You’ll return to Catanzaro Lido. Overnight in Catanzaro Lido.

This morning, you will venture into the heart of Calabria’s countryside, where time slows down, and traditions are woven into everyday life. Your journey begins in the charming village of Maida, where you’ll meet friendly locals, explore the town, and gather fresh ingredients along the way.

With baskets full, you’ll continue to a family-run farm, where your warm-hearted hosts will greet you with smiles and local treats. In their rustic kitchen, you’ll knead dough for fresh-baked bread and help set the table before sitting down to a homemade feast.

After this unforgettable experience, return to Catanzaro Lido. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Travelers with heritage in central and northern Calabria will depart with your private Calabrian Heritage Specialist. You will visit your ancestral town, learn what your specialist discovered during our on-the-ground research, and learn more about your family in the village. You will have lunch in or near your town, then will return to your hotel.

Other travelers will head to the lovely seaside village of Pizzo Calabro, famous for its tuna and gelato truffles. Our first stop will be to visit the enchanting Chiesetta di Piedigrotta cave church before heading to one of the area’s most loved seafood restaurants.

Following lunch, we will hit the center of town for dessert and a behind-the-scenes look at how to make Pizzo’s famous tartufo di Pizzo gelato truffles. Happy and full, we will return to Catanzaro Lido.

Evening on your own. Overnight in Catanzaro Lido.

Travelers with heritage in central and southern Calabria will check out of your hotel and depart with your private Calabrian Heritage Specialist. You will visit your ancestral town, learn what your specialist discovered during our on-the-ground research and learn more about your family in the village. You will have lunch in or near your town, then will drive south to your hotel in Reggio Calabria.

Other travelers will head south to the lovely seaside village of Pizzo Calabro, famous for its tuna and gelato truffles. Our first stop will be to visit the enchanting Chiesetta di Piedigrotta cave church before heading to one of the area’s most loved seafood restaurants.

Following lunch, we will hit the center of town for dessert and a behind-the-scenes look at how to make Pizzo’s famous tartufo di Pizzo gelato truffles. Happy and full, we will drive to our hotel in Reggio Calabria.

Evening on your own. Overnight in Reggio Calabria.

Today, you will head to Scilla, a gem nestled along the Violet coast that will steal your heart with its picturesque charm and captivating seaside ambiance. With its colorful fishing houses lining the waterfront, Scilla feels like a scene from an Italian postcard.

Here you’ll embark on a morning boating excursion along this breathtaking coast with light aperitivo. Then you’ll head back to land and try some locally famous swordfish sandwiches.

Then, you will return to Reggio and regroup in the afternoon to tour Bronzi statues followed by a pizza dinner.

Overnight in Reggio Calabria.

Your local guide and driver will meet you this morning for an excursion that will take you to the enchanting village of Pentedattilo in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Pentedattilo was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1783, causing its residents to abandon the town completely. The town is positioned precariously high on the hilltop and named after the ‘five fingers’ of protruding rock that it was once perched upon before the collapse of part of the mountainside. Overlooking the southernmost coast of the Italian mainland, Pentedattilo is a crumbling abandoned town in the Reggio di Calabria province, with roots as a commercial town in the Greek and Roman eras, from 640 B.C.

We will venture up the hill from the main cobbled street to visit the areas left completely abandoned, so make sure that you are wearing sturdy footwear. The views from up here are spectacular, both out over the town towards the coast, and also over the other side of the mountain to further inland.

There is a certain beauty about the crumbling remains of this ancient village, left completely abandoned for over a century. Enjoy this piece of history and the eery silence at 250m high.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the village of Bova, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and stunning panoramic views. After visiting the two villages, you will immerse yourself in the rustic charm of a local agriturismo, where you’ll indulge in traditional Calabrian cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding countryside.

You’ll return to your hotel in Reggio Calabria and have some time to rest before regrouping for a Farewell to Calabria aperitivo.

Overnight in Reggio Calabria.

At 8:00AM this morning there will be a group transfer to both the Reggio Calabria and Lamezia Terme Airports. Ciao Calabria!