Itinerary
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Booking this tour: IV Travel

You'll be flying to the airport at Lamezia Terme where you'll pick up your car and then head south to the beautiful little city of Tropea - one of the most attractive cities in all Calabria.  You are booked into the Hotel Tirreno where you make camp for the next 2 days.  You can kick back on the hotel's private beach, stroll around Tropea, or, if you'd like to see some other wonderful sites, drive to Pizzo and/or Vibo Valentia where you can do some more exploring.

You can enjoy the night life in Tropea - try the wine bars like La Munizione on Largo Duomo 12 or Le Volpe e L'Ulva on Via Pelliccia with about 300 wines in its cellars.
 

Today you'll be driving up the A3 Autostrada to Rende where you'll stay at an authentic Calabrian farm - the Agriturismo Quercia.  There is plenty to do in the area - especially if you like outdoor sports - walking, hiking, mountain biking and so on.  It will be good to stretch your legs.

Rende is a tidy little village with a strong Albanese background, with a terrific little museum devoted to the Albanese heritage of the town.  Rende also offers spectacular views of the hills bordering the Sila Mountains.  Or...you can take a drive into Cosenza, one of Calabria's largest and busiest modern cities.  The principal attraction in the city is the Duomo in the centro storico on Corso Telesio, which was consecrated in 1222 AD.
 

Today you'll drive north and west into the mountains of Calabria, enjoying spectacular scenery as you go.  Altomonte is one of the prettiest towns in Calabria, sitting on a high hill amidst a green patchwork of fields and orchards - evoking a touch of Umbria or Tuscany in fact.  The town has a great atmosphere - relaxed but busy - with lots of interesting shops and restaurants.  You might want to visit the local monastery with its hushed medieval character.  The cloisters and other architectural elements are a pleasure to see.

Tonight, you'll be staying at the Hotel Barbieri, owned and operated with great flair by a local family.  Sit back and relax by the hotel pool - have a cocktail - and enjoy a wonderful meal.
 

You'll come down out of the high mountains of Calabria's interior toward the Tyrrhenian Coast.  Be prepared to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.  There are a string of great little towns on the coastal highway that you've got to see!  In Praia A Mare, head to the beach - about 2 km long - with a walk that parallels the sand.  At the southerly end you'll see Dino Island which boasts incredible sea caves that you can paddle into if you rent a paddle boat at one of the local lidos (open end of June to mid September).  You'll pass through the busy summer town of Scalea, on your way to Diamante, which is a real gem of a place and a "must see".  Park near the Longomare - the road along the town's waterfront, then head into the old center - gelato in hand - where you can walk through the ancient streets and alleys to see dozens of murals painted over the years - a veritable open air art gallery.

Next stop is your hotel - the Grand Hotel San Michele - with an abundance of old world charm.  You'll especially like the views from the hotel's terraces, but the thrill of the establishment is the elevator ride down to the magnificent private beach and bistro at the foot of the cliffs. 
 

Continuing down the coast, you'll eventually arrive at another lovely little coastal town - Amantea.  But, you've got a whole day to spend, so we recommend you stop in Paola - perhaps for lunch - and take time to see the incredible monastery just above the town.  It is dedicated to San Francesco di Paolo - a venerated saint.

Amantea is a beach town - and its only fitting you end your tour here where you can relax at the fabulous Hotel delle Canne - where you'll find everyone eager to please.  There's a great pool but if you like dunking in salt water, the Hotel has a private beach where you can take the sun, and swim the blue blue waters of the Tyrrhenian.

• It's time to go - so drive from Amantea to Lamezia Terme where you can leave your car and board the homeward bound flight.  Or better still - extend your trip.  We've added a few suggestions below.

* VisitsItaly.com reserves the right to select hotels within the same class depending on availability at the time of booking.