8th century B.C.: tribes coming from Greece (including Achaeans, Chalcidians and Locrians) established their colonies along the Ionian shores, “... where the sun sets”, founding Sybaris, Kroton, Locri, Epizephyri and Rhegion, and exporting their culture and their artistic tastes to the new world. With the Second Punic War and the Roman penetration into Southern Italy, Greek opulent cities lost their political and military power, and became part of the Roman district named “Brutium”. As the “Cradle of Western Civilization”, the region proudly preserves its archaeological sites and museums, as well as its partly undiscovered remains and precious artifacts. As part of the Southern Italian peninsula that Greeks called Magna Graecia, Calabria was imprinted with the Hellenic culture, absorbing the Eastern knowledge on arts, mathematics, phylosophy and medicine.
(6 days - 5 nights)

Day 1:	In the evening arrival at the airport in Calabria, and transfer to the reserved hotel in Crotone. Welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2:	Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Crotone, once one of the most ancient and important Achaen colonies in Magna Graecia. The town was renowned for its medicine school and celebrated throughout the Hellenic world for boasting the best olympic athletes as well as the most charming women. Thanks to its cultural vivacity, it appealed to outstanding scientists, mathematicians and philosophers of the time, including Pythagora who held here some of his assemblies and established one of his schools. As a consequence, Crotone is rich in archaeological, historical  and artistic findings. Our city tour includes visiting the ancient town, the Archaeological Museum,  the Civic Museum and the Castle. Lunch at the hotel, followed by an afternoon trip to the Archaeological Site of Capo Colonna, perched on a high cliff corresponding to the easternmost point of the region.The tradition has it that after Akhilleus’ death, his mother Thetis (in Greek mythology, a goddess of the sea) offered the suggestive headland of Capo Colonna to Hera Lacinia (the goddess of marriage). Once known as Capo Lacinio (from the name of the Greek thief Lakinion killed by the well-known Herakles while dwelling in Italy), the site still holds its intriguing and mysterious appeal, being today as in the past also a favorite pilgrimage destination (May’s celebration at the Sanctuary of Madonna di Capo Colonna is a traditional example). Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3:	After breakfast, departure to Reggio di Calabria, considered as the geographical capital of the region because of its position, overlooking Sicily and Messina’s Strait. Originally a Greek Chalcidian colony, the city is renowned for its production of bergamot essence used to make perfumes, as well as for the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia housing an extensive collection including, since 1981, the world-famous “Warriors of Riace”. These bronze sculptures derive their name from the marine town along the Ionian coast where they were discovered beneath the water surface and are celebrated as some of Magna Graecia’s most important masterpieces. Lunch in a local restaurant and departure to Scilla, to visit Chianalea and its fishermen’s old town, and catch sight of Monte S. Elia from its belvedere, located at 590 metres above sea level. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4:	After breakfast, departure to San Giovanni in Fiore, undoubtedly the greatest as well as the most ancient site of the Sila Highland region. The town is renowned for its characteristic traditional costumes, and above all for the so-called “Abbazia Florense” (Florense Abbey), named after the religious order and the hermitage founded by Blessed Gioacchino da Fiore at the end of the 12th century. Our tour includes visiting the town’s Medieval Abbey, together with the Museum of  Sila’s Folklore, Ancient Trades and Arts, as well as learning about hand-made carpets and fabrics in the well-known “Caruso’s workshop”. After lunch in a local restaurant, departure to Santa Severina. The ancient village overlooking the pleasant valley of the river Neto (old Greek Nèaithos) boasts remarkable churches and monuments of great architectural and historical value showing strong Byzantine, Arabian, Norman and Angevin influences. Our tour includes visiting the town’s Byzantine Castle, together with the Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5:	Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Sibari. In ancient times this wealthy Achaean town was well-known for its competing with Crotone, that ultimately razed it to the ground in 510 B.C. following a very rapid war campaign. After exploring today’s Archaeological Site of the ancient Greek colony of “Sybaris”, we’ll reach Rossano, known as “the Byzantine village”. Considered as Calabria’s most important town during the Byzantine domination, Rossano hosts a wide collection of documents and monuments dating from this period. Our city tour begins with learning about its liquorice production in the famous Amarelli’s factory and museum. After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll continue our visit with the 11th century’s Church of St. Mark (quite similar in architecture and style to the Byzantine Stilo’s Cattolica Church), together with the Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Achiropita, and the Diocesan Museum, preserving a remarkable Codex Purpureus, a 6th century’s Greek Evangelistary. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6:	Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Le Castella to visit its suggestive fishermen’s village. From here we will sail on sturdy see-through boats to admire the suggestive universe of the local Marine Reserve (subject to weather and availability). We’ll continue our trip visiting the Aragonese Castle, built on a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The defensive role of this little island in the town’s history was mostly confirmed by the presence of an Hellenic “Phrourion” (fortress), dating back to the 4th century B.C, recently surfaced following a terrible sea storm. Lunch in a local restaurant and transfer to the airport for return flights.
	Traduzione a cura di Lucia Ubertiello e Maresa Marino

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