Soul of Calabria Tour 2026
10-Day Itinerary
15th – 24th June
I planned this ten day journey the way I would for my closest friends. I will show you the Calabria I know deeply and personally through the people and experiences that open only when you are welcomed in.
— Tania Pascuzzi
Calabria has a beauty that is not loud or staged. It reveals itself through its people, its kitchens, its coastal towns and its countryside traditions. This itinerary brings together the experiences, the families, the artisans and the places that define life in this part of Southern Italy. It is designed for travellers who want to step into the rhythm of real Calabrian life rather than observe it from a distance.
Tour Overview
This guided small group itinerary is curated for travellers who want a deeper connection to Calabria. You stay in Tropea for the entire journey and each day opens a new window into Calabrian life. Cooking with locals, meeting artisans, sharing long table meals, learning culinary traditions and visiting coastal and countryside towns creates an experience that most visitors to Calabria will never encounter.
Boutique Stay in Tropea Calabria
You will stay in carefully selected boutique accommodation in the historic centre of Tropea. From there you have access to shops, cafés, bars and the beach below all within walking distance.
Calabria Food Wine and Cultural Experiences Day by Day
DAY 1
ARRIVAL DAY IN TROPEA
Private transfer from Lamezia Terme airport or train station to Tropea in Calabria. Settle into your accommodations in the historic coastal town and take some time to relax after your journey to Southern Italy. In the evening we gather for a relaxed welcome dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants in Tropea.
DAY 2
TROPEA WALKING TOUR AND COUNTRYSIDE COOKING EXPERIENCE
We begin the morning with a guided walk through Tropea’s historic centre in Calabria. We explore the streets, noble palazzi, old churches and coastal viewpoints and visit our favourite specialty shops to taste local products and get a feel for daily life in Tropea. The afternoon is free to enjoy Tropea at your own pace.
Late afternoon our cooking class begins at a countryside agriturismo where we meet our hosts Laura and Daniele. We enjoy a hands on Calabrian cooking experience featuring homemade pasta, seasonal meat and fish dishes and fresh vegetable recipes. During the class we also take a short walk with Daniele around the property to learn about the fruit trees, vineyards and gardens they care for in the Calabrian countryside. We have an array of salami and cheeses and local wine to enjoy while we prepare our dishes. We then sit down to a long table feast under the grapevines tasting the recipes we have made followed by homemade dessert and Laura’s liqueurs. Private transfer back to Tropea.
Day Three
Pizza Making and Artisan Gelato Day
In the morning we head north of Tropea to a private countryside home overlooking olive groves and rolling hills. Our host welcomes us to his rustic outdoor kitchen with a traditional wood fired brick oven. Here we prepare pizza dough, choose our toppings and learn to make authentic Italian pizza the classic way. We enjoy our homemade pizzas for lunch in this peaceful rural setting with views toward the coast.
DAY 4
BERGAMOT TRADITIONS LUNCH IN REGGIO CALABRIA AND SCILLA COASTAL DISCOVERY
This morning we travel to Reggio Calabria to visit the Museo Nazionale del Bergamotto dedicated to Calabria’s rare and celebrated citrus. The museum traces over three centuries of bergamot cultivation and processing showcasing traditional tools early steam machinery and the historic Gangeri extraction system used to produce essential oils. We take part in a masterclass utilising bergamot as the prime ingredient.
After lunch we make our way to our host’s gelateria where the atmosphere embraces the charm and colour of a 1960s Italian ice cream shop. Vintage details, music and the joyful feel of once upon a time Italy set the scene as we learn the art of traditional gelato making. We also make fresh cones before tasting the gelato we have helped create. Return to Tropea.
Following our visit we enjoy lunch in Reggio Calabria where guests choose from an extended pasta menu. After lunch we walk to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria to meet our guide Francesca for a privately guided visit of the museum including time to admire the Bronzi di Riace. Before returning to Tropea we make a stop in the seaside town of Scilla for a guided walk through its picturesque fishing quarter of Chianalea where stone houses sit directly on the water and boats rest just outside doorways.
DAY 5
PIZZO AND SEA TO TABLE EXPERIENCE
We begin the morning in Pizzo Calabro with a visit to the Chiesetta di Piedigrotta a small rock carved church overlooking the sea. According to local tradition it was created by shipwrecked sailors in the sixteen hundreds who vowed to honour the Madonna in gratitude for their survival.
From Pizzo we continue to Vibo Marina known for its historic fishing port and daily seafood market. Here we meet our chef host at his elegant waterfront restaurant. We learn about the local fish varieties the seasonal catch and traditional Calabrian methods for preparing seafood. While the chef demonstrates how fresh fish is prepared we enjoy a glass of Prosecco with a selection of seafood delicacies. We then sit down to a generous seaside lunch featuring dishes inspired by the day’s catch celebrating the flavours of the Tyrrhenian coast before returning to Tropea in the afternoon.
DAY 6
PRIVATE YACHT EXPERIENCE MORNING
This morning we depart from the Port of Tropea on a private yacht. Our skipper takes us along the coastline toward Capo Vaticano to admire its dramatic cliffs and hidden coves. Along the way there are stops for swimming and snorkelling in the clear Tyrrhenian waters with the chance to view Tropea and its clifftop historic centre from the sea. On board we enjoy an aperitivo including Prosecco and local specialties before returning to the port in Tropea. The afternoon is free to enjoy Tropea at your leisure.
DAY 7
ANCIENT FLOUR MILL AND BREAD MAKING IN CALABRIA
This morning we travel into the hills of the Catanzaro countryside to visit a restored stone mill dedicated to preserving Calabria’s ancient grain traditions. Here we learn how heritage wheat varieties are cultivated without chemicals and milled slowly between traditional stone wheels. We follow the journey from grain to loaf and take part in a hands on bread making experience preparing dough in the traditional way and baking our own pitta. We enjoy a traditional pitta lunch filled with local Calabrese ingredients and simple regional specialties before returning to Tropea in the afternoon.
DAY 8
OLIVE OIL TRADITIONS AND QAFIZ MICHELIN CULINARY EXPERIENCE
This morning we travel into the Aspromonte area near San Giorgio Morgeto to visit a small family run olive oil estate. Here we learn about the cultivation of native olive varieties and follow the process from grove to mill. We finish with a guided tasting to understand the different profiles of extra virgin olive oil.
We then take a short walk in San Giorgio Morgeto before continuing to Qafiz a Michelin star restaurant known for its contemporary interpretation of Calabrian flavours. Here we enjoy a tasting menu with wine pairing thoughtfully created by the chef as an elegant expression of the region. Transfer back to Tropea.
DAY 9
ARTISAN SALAMI PICNIC UNDER THE PINES SUNSET WINE TASTING FINAL EVENING
This morning we travel to the hills near Spilinga the birthplace of nduja Calabria’s renowned spreadable salami. We visit a small artisanal production house dedicated to traditional cured meats where local experts share the process behind making nduja and other Calabrian salumi. We end with a tasting before continuing on.
We then continue to Monte Poro for a home cooked picnic lunch under the pine trees prepared by our friend Rosanna. In the early evening we travel into the hills to a private lookout point above the coast.
We spend the evening with our friend Francesco and his wife who prepare a home cooked Calabrian meal paired with their wines as we take in the sunset and sweeping coastal views. After dinner we return to Tropea.
DAY 10
DEPARTURE DAY
Private transfer to Lamezia Terme airport or train station for your onward journey.
Price
- Single supplement 845 euro
- €4,250 per person
- Exclusive pricing for our 2026 edition.
What’s Included
- Private arrival transfer from Lamezia Terme Airport or train station
- Private departure transfer to Lamezia Terme Airport or train station
- 9 nights boutique accommodation in Tropea
- Private driver for all scheduled activities across the 10 days
- Welcome dinner in Tropea with full menu and wines
- Guided walking tour of Tropea’s historic centre with tastings at specialty food shops
- Countryside cooking class with Laura and Daniele (pasta, meat, seafood, seasonal vegetables)
- Salumi and cheeses with wine during cooking class
- Long table dinner under the grapevines with homemade dessert and liqueurs
- Pizza-making day in a countryside home with traditional wood-fired oven and lunch
- Artisan gelato workshop with fresh cone making and gelato tasting
- Entry and masterclass at the Museo Nazionale del Bergamotto in Reggio Calabria
- Lunch in Reggio Calabria
- Privately guided visit of the National Archaeological Museum including the Bronzi di Riace
- Coastal stop in Scilla and walk through Chianalea fishing village
- Visit to the rock-carved church of Piedigrotta in Pizzo
- Sea-to-table culinary experience in Vibo Marina (seafood aperitivo, demonstration and generous seaside lunch)
- Private yacht excursion from Tropea including swimming, snorkelling and aperitivo on board
- Visit to restored stone flour mill and hands-on bread making with pitta lunch
- Olive oil estate visit near San Giorgio Morgeto with guided tasting
- Michelin dining experience at Qafiz with full tasting menu and wine pairing
- Visit to artisanal salumi producer specialising in nduja and traditional cured meats with tasting
- Home-cooked picnic lunch under the pine trees prepared by Rosanna
- Sunset wine-paired dinner hosted by winemakers Francesco and his wife overlooking the coast
- All meals listed in the itinerary
- All wines, liqueurs, coffee and desserts with meals
- All workshop, tasting, class and cultural entry fees
- English-speaking host throughout the full 10 days
- Full hosting support from arrival to departure
Not Included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Additional food or drinks not specified in the itinerary
Book Your Place on Heart and Soul of Calabria Tour
Spaces are limited for this personally guided small group experience. To receive dates pricing and availability for Heart and Soul of Calabria please enquire below.
