Thanks to the location of the Damanse Hotel, it is easy to reach a variety of villages and sites of historical, cultural and artistic interest in a short time.
Santa Domenica - Tropea - Zungri - Pizzo Calabro
The Tropea – Pizzo Calabro coastline is famed for its stunning views and sunsets, its beautiful beaches and its crystal-clear sea, with touristy seaside villages.
1. Visit to the Anthropological and Palaeontological Museum of Santa Domenica
The itinerary begins with a visit to the new Paleontological Museum , located in the central square of Santa Domenica di Ricadi a few kilometers from the facility.
The Anthropological and Palaeontological Museum is part of the Ricadi Civic Museum, a museum network of five museums located in different buildings throughout the municipality.
- Museum of the Sea in Capo Vaticano ;
- Onion Museum in Capo Vaticano ;
- Museum of the Towers at Torre Marrana di Brivadi;
- Folk Art Museum in Ricadi;
- Anthropological and Paleontological Museum of Santa Domenica .
2. Tropea, the Village of Villages
After the Santa Domenica Museum, we carry on for 3 km to reach Tropea and its historic centre, with its many narrow streets and churches, palatial buildings and granite portals, white beaches and transparent sea.
Reached Tropea, named ” the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea “, it is worth visiting the old town center, which almost entirely preserves a 17th-century urban structure, with the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and narrow alleys full of history, stores and typical restaurants, the Norman cathedral and numerous churches, the tall aristocratic palaces from past centuries that give it a regal appearance, and then the overlooks to the white beaches below and the clear water of the sea offer extraordinary views and unique sunsets (The Ulysses Sunsets).
The church of Santa Maria dell’Isola is situated on a cliff/island directly on the beach from where a flight of steps climbs up to the inside of the church, behind it is a well-kept garden with paths leading to terraces set above the sea, a very romantic place.
3. Zungri, the museum and rock caves.
From Tropea continue on to Zungri , crossing the Poro plateau , to visit the Museum of Peasant Civilization and the caves of Zungri .
Reached the historic center of Zungri , a small road leads to the Rock Settlement ” The Caves of Zungri “, an urban layout of house-caves carved into the rock, dating back to the 12th-14th cent. .
The settlement consists of a hundred caves, of various sizes and shapes, occupies an area of about 3,000 square meters and is considered a unique case, of its kind in Calabria.
At the top of the narrow street, at the entrance to the rock settlement, you can visit the Museum of Peasant Civilization .
The museum holds a rich collection of traditional local culture objects from the 19th to the 20th century , located in three rooms and organized into different thematic sections including: agriculture, weaving, forging, clothing and household furnishings.
4. Pizzo Calabro, the castle, the truffle and Piedigrotta
The last stop includes a visit to Pizzo Calabro to marvel at the famous little church of Piedigrotta, its historic centre with the Murat castle, and taste the Pizzo ice cream truffle.
Pizzo, situated on the top of a cliff, appeals to sea lovers and history and tradition enthusiasts. Walking along the typical narrow streets, you will reach the central square, with about 20 ice-cream parlours; Pizzo is rightfully recognised as the city of ice cream. Famous for its excellent truffles and Pizzo’s master ice-cream makers. Standing majestically in the square is the Castle, built by the Aragonese, where Joachim Murat was held prisoner and shot.
In several workshops, you can watch a group of ceramists work on pottery, or spend entire mornings at the shipyards where boats are built still using artisanal techniques. From the cliffs that animate the increasingly rugged coastline, it is easy to watch tuna fishing, the “tonnara”. Pizzo, is famous for its high-quality tuna, an artisanal process, from the selection of pieces to cutting and packaging.
The little church of Piedigrotta is impressive, carved entirely out of tuff as a votive offering for a shipwreck that occurred in the 18th century. The chapel guards an image of the Virgin Mary that survived the shipwreck, and within a few years became one of the most cherished places of worship for the inhabitants of the area. What makes the little church even more impressive is the light that filters through the cracks in the rock.
CALABRIAN FLAVOURS ITINERARY
Calabria is a land of authentic flavours, as well as internationally renowned PGI and PDO local products. The following is a food and wine journey to discover the authentic flavours of Calabria and the areas where they are produced.
