Buongiorno Reggio 2026

Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Welcome at Altafiumara Resort & Spa

Guests arrive at Altafiumara Resort & Spa, an elegant retreat in Villa San Giovanni, nestled in the heart of the Costa Viola. Set within a magnificent 10-hectare park overlooking the sea, the resort offers a truly unique panoramic view of the Strait of Messina.

Upon arrival, check-in to reserved rooms is followed by time to settle into the property’s distinctive spaces—Il Castello, lo Sporting, and le Isole—each combining comfort, charm, and a deep connection to the surrounding territory.

The afternoon is dedicated to discovering the resort’s amenities and natural beauty. Guests may stroll through the seaside park, relax in panoramic lounge areas, or explore the most scenic corners of the estate. For those seeking relaxation, an optional wellness experience awaits at Essentia Spa, the resort’s refined and innovative wellness center.

As the sun sets, a welcome aperitif is served in one of the resort’s panoramic locations. Guests will enjoy a glass of Calabrian wine accompanied by a selection of traditional finger foods—an inviting first moment of conviviality and an introduction to the region’s flavors.

In the evening, the experience continues in the nearby village of Cannitello, a charming seaside destination along the Costa Viola. Overlooking the Strait of Messina, it offers an authentic and relaxed atmosphere. Here, guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner at Filanda Restaurant, featuring a tasting menu that celebrates local ingredients through creative interpretations of Mediterranean cuisine, inaugurating the journey with an elegant waterfront dining experience.

Day 2 — Discover Scilla and Dive into the Excellence of Calabrian Salumi

 Guests start the day with breakfast at the hotel, featuring a rich sweet and savory buffet inspired by local products, to begin the day with the authentic taste of Calabria.

After breakfast, departure for Scilla, one of the most evocative villages on the Costa Viola, perched above the Strait of Messina and renowned as one of Italy’s most characteristic seaside borgos. A guided walk through the picturesque Chianalea district leads guests along narrow alleyways and fishermen’s houses built directly on the rocks, so close to the sea that the village is often called the “Venice of the South”.

Those who wish can then climb up to Ruffo Castle, a historic fortress standing on the promontory that divides Marina Grande from Chianalea and symbolically represents the genius loci of Scilla. From its panoramic terraces, guests admire breathtaking views over the Costa Viola, the Strait of Messina and, on clear days, the Aeolian Islands.

Late morning, return to the hotel. Lunch is served with a selection of traditional dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients and the authentic flavors of the territory, creating continuity between the morning’s discoveries and the culinary experience.

In the afternoon, transfer to the Borruto salumi facility, a family-run business active since 1980 and a point of reference for artisanal Calabrian cured meats. During the guided tour, guests follow the production chain of typical salumi—such as capocollo, soppressata, ’nduja and pancetta—from processing to seasoning, discovering how traditional know-how is handed down and how the company maintains a strong bond with the local territory.

The experience continues with a dedicated masterclass on Calabrian salumi, with a focus on production techniques, characteristics and tasting methods. 

To conclude the day, guests enjoy an apericena on the rooftop terrace of the salumificio, overlooking the mountains and the Strait of Messina for a striking sunset panorama. The menu highlights a pasta dish with ’nduja and almond pesto, accompanied by a selection of typical cured meats and local wines. A chance for an informal yet refined dinner with a strong territorial identity.

Day 3 — A Day in Aspromonte: From Pasture to Forest

 Guests begin the day with a light breakfast at the hotel, before setting off to discover the rural and natural soul of Aspromonte.

Departure at 7:30 am for Azienda Agricola Vizzari, a historic family-run farm in the Aspromonte area, today in its fourth generation and known for its artisanal cheeses produced from sheep’s milk gathered from thier own flock. Here, guests take part in “A Day as a Cheesemaker”, a hands-on immersion in the world of a local shepherd and cheesemaker.

Upon arrival, participants are introduced to the philosophy of the farm and follow, step by step, the main stages of dairy processing: heating the milk, curdling, cutting the curd, moulding and salting. Working side by side with the producer, they observe how fresh and aged pecorino, as well as fresh ricotta are created. Here, they will be shown techniques, timing and small secrets that define the character of the local products.

Immediately afterwards, guests enjoy a hearty “farmer’s breakfast” at Vizzari: warm ricotta served in its freshly produced whey, accompanied by twice-baked bread made from ancient grains and a glass of local wine, evoking the simplicity and authenticity of rural traditions. From here guests will have the oppurtunity to relax and discover the beautiful grounds of the family farm. 

Lunch will follow at the farm with variety of local specialties of the season. 

In the early afternoon, the group continues towards the Gambarie area, a mountain village at around 1,300 metres above sea level in the heart of Aspromonte National Park. This protected area, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, extends over more than 65,000 hectares between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas and is renowned for its wild landscapes, rich biodiversity and striking panoramas over the Strait of Messina and the surrounding coasts.

A guided walk leads guests through beech, oak and chestnut woods, with stretches of conifer and Mediterranean vegetation, revealing the beauty that make Aspromonte one of southern Italy’s most evocative mountain environments. Along the way, as we search for the local delicacy of the wild mushrooms of the forest, the guide shares insights into the delicate balance between traditional human activities and nature.

As evening falls, the group meets Anna, who introduces guests to traditional mushroom preserves, explaining essential techniques and safety tips for preparing them at home. The day concludes with a mushroom-based dinner, featuring rustic dishes inspired by the forest—such as seasonal mushroom preparations paired with local products—celebrating the flavours, scents and atmosphere of Aspromonte’s woods.

Day 4 — From Vineyard to Oven: Wine Tasting & Fresh Bread Making

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will set out to visit Azienda Agricola Cinque Talenti in the rolling hills of Sambatello to tour the vineyards and learn how territory and climate shape local wines. A wine masterclass explores grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and tasting criteria with a special focus on Calabrian food pairings, followed by a guided tasting highlighting matches with stockfish (pesce stocco) — a dried cod prepared according to longstanding local practices and especially renowned in the area of Mammola, where it is preserved and rehydrated in traditional recipes that bring forward intense, savory flavors. The tasting also includes a selection of sweet and savory local pairings that demonstrate the versatility of wine when matched with baked goods and more structured dishes.

In the afternoon we return to the hotel for some time to relax and refresh.  Around 6:00 PM, we will head over to Panificio di Vecchia Tradizione, a family-run forno in a historic neighborhood of Reggio Calabria. Here guests will enjoy  a hands-on eperience of ancient-grain recipes and learn traditional breadmaking amid the warm aromas of fresh loaves.

The day ends at a panoramic private villa in the Aretina area overlooking the hills and the Strait, where sunset sets the scene for a traditional evening featuring panini with salsiccia (a pork sausage specialty with peppers and onions), Calabrian street food, frittole (a classic pork stew), and Calabrian folk music to envoke the tradition of dancing under the stars.

Day 5 — Reggio Calabria Through History, Archaeology, and Taste

 The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. From there, we head out in the morning to visit the historic center of Reggio Calabria, the elegant heart of the city overlooking the Strait, where monumental streets, lively squares, urban views, and traces of its Mediterranean identity tell the story of the city. The route offers a chance to take in the soul of Reggio Calabria through its history, its urban fabric, and its constant connection with the sea.

Following this, we continue with a guided visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, one of Italy’s most prestigious archaeological museums for the importance of its collections dedicated to Magna Graecia. The central moment of the visit will be the encounter with the Riace Bronzes, authentic symbols of Calabria to the world: two extraordinary Greek bronze statues from the 5th century BC, discovered in 1972 off the coast of Riace Marina and now preserved in an exhibition setting that enhances their beauty, expressive power, and historical value.

For lunch, we enjoy a tasting at Gelateria Cesare, a historic landmark of the city and a point of reference for more than a century. Founded in 1918 on the Lungomare, it is today a symbolic place, celebrated for the artisanal quality of its gelato and for the way it has transformed a family tradition into a recognized excellence.

In the afternoon, there is free time for an independent visit of the historic center, with time for strolling, shopping, and pauses in the most evocative places of the city. This is followed by a cocktail break in the center of the city , in a selected venue, for a refined pause among typical flavors.

Return to the hotel and time at guests leisure for relaxation.

In the evening, dinner is served at the restaurant Villeggiante da Ciccino, a welcoming trattoria in Reggio Calabria specializing in traditional Calabrian cuisine and grilled meats. The menu highlights local ingredients and a selection of the best cuts of meat curated by our partner Borruto Carni.

Day 6 — Olive Oil and Artisanal Pasta

 The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. From there, we head out in the morning to visit Oleificio Giacco, a historic family-run business active since 1936 in the Plains of Gioia Tauro, where the culture of extra virgin olive oil has been passed down for generations in a landscape especially suited to it, between sea and mountains. Here, participants will have the opportunity to explore the local olive oil tradition and learn more about a production deeply connected to the Calabrian agricultural landscape.

The experience continues with a guided tasting of extra virgin olive oil, offering the chance to appreciate its aromas, intensity, balance, and possible pairings in the kitchen.

From there, we depart Oleificio Giacco and head out to our next stop, Pastificio Gioia, an artisanal project dedicated to celebrating authentic flavors and Calabrian biodiversity, with particular attention to the most distinctive shapes of the regional tradition. The visit offers a look into the heart of production and reveals the process that transforms carefully selected raw ingredients into authentic expressions of the local cuisine.

The experience continues with a masterclass inside the pastificio featuring stroncatura, the symbolic pasta of Calabrian tradition, made from a blend of flours based on durum wheat semolina cultivated in the mountains of Aspromonte, whole wheat semolina, and rye. This blend gives the product its characteristic dark color, rough texture, and strong gastronomic identity. During the experience, the story of this traditional shape is told, now reinterpreted through artisanal methods and valued as a true expression of the territory.

Lunch is served at the pastificio, with a menu centered on house specialties and the most representative flavors of local tradition.

In the afternoon, we head back to the resort for some relaxtion time. Guests can enjoy the resort and it’s amenities at their leisure.

In the evening, dinner is served at Ristorante Faghitò, appreciated for a culinary offering that highlights Calabrian and Mediterranean cuisine, with special attention to fresh fish. The evening will be enriched by a focus on the sea cuisine of Chef Ettore, who will present a culinary demonstration designed to share techniques, sensitivity, and a contemporary interpretation of the flavors of the territory.

Day 7 — Traditional Cuisine, Relaxation and Wellness

 The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. From there, we return to the Aretina area to experience this place in a different light and appreciate its daytime charm, with wide views over the foothills of Aspromonte and striking glimpses of the Strait of Messina.

Next comes a masterclass in traditional local cooking in Aretina: a participatory experience dedicated to the preparation of recipes from the local tradition, among gestures passed down over time, genuine ingredients, and stories connected to home cooking.

Lunch is a rustic meal on site, in a warm family atmosphere, with a tasting of the dishes prepared during the lesson and other local specialties.

In the afternoon, guests return to the hotel for a relaxing spa experience compliments of the tour.

In the evening, guests will enjoy an aperitif followed by a farewell dinner at the hotel, with a menu designed to say "Arrivederci" to the group while revisiting the most representative flavors of the experience.

Day 8 —Arrivederci Calabria, alla Prossima

 As our journey comes to a close, In Calabria, we say “A Presto!” — see you again soon! - Wishing all well with warm hearts and lasting memories of Calabria’s landscapes, flavors and hospitality! 

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Included
- Accommodation: 7 nights at Altafiumara Resort & Spa, overlooking the Costa Viola.
- Transfers to/from Reggio Calabria Airport for arrival and departure; private ground transport for all excursions; personalised transfers on request.
- Guided visits and masterclasses: local guides for towns, the National Archaeological Museum and the nature walk; tours, tastings and culinary masterclasses with selected producers.
- Meals: all meals per the itinerary, from the arrival dinner to departure breakfast.
- On-site organisational assistance and logistical coordination throughout.

Not included
- International and domestic flights to/from Reggio Calabria.
- Travel insurance.
- Personal expenses, minibar, laundry, room service and hotel extras.
- Optional spa treatments beyond what is included.
- Activities, entrance fees, meals or consumptions not expressly listed.
- Taxes and local tourist tax.

FAQ
1. Can personalised transfers be arranged? Yes — on request, defined in advance to your schedules and logistics.
2. How many meals are included? All meals, as per the itinerary.
3. Food allergies or dietary restrictions? Yes — please tell us in advance and we'll tailor the experience.
4. Physical activity level? Moderate: village walks, cultural visits and a nature walk in Aspromonte.
5. Room amenities? Air conditioning, WiFi, satellite TV, in-room safe, minibar, private bathroom, hair dryer; laundry on request (fee).
6. Can the itinerary change? It is carefully planned; some details may change for weather or unforeseen events, always keeping the spirit of the journey.