Greek and Roman coast to coast

This tour will help you discover the remains of the Greek and Roman civilisations which made these lands great. These, often times, were places of refuge; but also places of entertainment, like the theatres where battles unfolded.

Beginning in Gioiosa Ionica we will visit the Parco Archeologico del Naniglio (Naniglio Archeology Park) – an ancient roman villa built around the first century D.C. and abbandoned around the third. We will then visit a Greek-Roman theatre which displays the change from the greek architectural model, built onto the hill side, to the roman architectural models, which are built upright. Followed by Castello Pellicano (Pellican Castle) built in the 13th century at the highest point of the city, which is now almost entirely rubble.

Visiting the Volta di Mammola (Mammola’s vault) you will discover the treasures of this medieval village. Tasting the delicacy of the place: stockfish, and the many ways in which it is cooked. Whilst there, we will visit MUSABA, an open-air modern art museum, born from the brilliant artists Nik Spatari and his wife, Hiskee Maas. Once concluded the visit, we will wonder the village and head to Cinquefrondi for an appetiser of local foods at a farmhouse. We will stay the night in the village.

The next morning we will sight see the village, stopping by the remains of a roman villa which dates back to imperial times, carrying on to San Giorgio Morgeto. Here, first we will visit the remains of the castle destroyed in the 1783 earthquake, then we will taste the main product of this Reggio Calabria province, the oil.

In the afternoon we will head back towards the Tyrrhenian coast, stopping in Rosarno. Here we will visit the Museo Archeologico di Medma ( the Archeology Museum of Medma), ancient greek name of the Increase colony founded in the sixth century A.C.. This city was famous for the terracotta figurines which we can admire in the exposition rooms of the museum. We will stay the night in Rosarno and the following day we will head for Gioia Tauro.

During the greek and roman times, Gioia Tauro used to be a very active port. At the Museo Archeologico Metauros (Metauros Museum of Archeoligy) are collected testimonies which will help us draw an image of the commercial trades which occurred in the southern Tyrrhenian. The famous Gioia Tauro plains, a result of many drainage implementations, is now a vast olive tree field of the Sinopolese variety, which due to its large diameters, resembles Oak and Beech trees. There is approximately 5 million trees, some of which are around 400 years old, which contribute to the economic history of the area.

After lunch we will come upon the first regions of the Costa Viola (Purple Coast) – named after the colour of the sea at sunset. Palmi, where we will visit the Parco Archeologico dei Taurani (the Archeology Park of the Taurani) with holds the evidence of the ancient city. The Scoglio dell’ Ulivo (the Olive Tree Rock) who’s profile haas been immortalised by whomever has visited these shores. And the Monte Sant’ Elia (Saint Elia’s Mount) with it’s lookout over the Costa Viola, with a view from the Gioiosa Tauro port all the way to the Messina Straight.

What a way to end this marvellous coast to coast tour on the discovery of the beauty of both the inland and the coast side.

The tour will end here, you are free to choose whether head back to the starting place or carry on with another tour.

Through this tour you will discover some of the greek and roman colonies. Therefore you will taste some of the local products, as stockfish and oil, element which contributes to the economic growth of small local communities, in the past and present.