Terzo Giorno/Day 3

Reggio, Area Grecanica, Bovesia & Scilla

• Breakfast / Colazione Belli come i bronzi di Riace! (as beautiful as a Riace Bronze). See for yourself what would made Michelangelo’s David blush!

• Early departure to Reggio Calabria, where we will visit the National Archaeological Museum which houses the famous Riace Bronzes (rare surviving examples of Classical Greek sculpture).

• Then, a walk along the Lungomare Falcomatà lined with palm trees and hailed as "the most beautiful kilometer in Italy.” On a clear day, you will see the majestic Etna volcano gracing the horizon across the Strait of Messina. The walk back will be on via Corso Garibaldi, a pedestrian only street filled with beautiful Liberty-style buildings.

• For a late-morning snack, don’t miss Reggio’s famous arancini. These are shaped and filled differently than the Sicilian variety. Or enjoy a gelato at a 3-generation family run establishment which has won best gelato in all of Italy.

• If there is time, we will stop at the Bergamot Museum which displays the tools used to extract the oil from this magical citrus fruit used in perfumes and Earl Gray tea.

• Late lunch / Pranzo in a nearby agriturismo set in a Bergamot Orchard.

• On the way back, catch a glimpse of the ghost town of Pentedattilo situated on Monte Calvary The name comes from the Greco-Calabro dialect penta + daktylos meaning five fingers. If you look closely at the mountain the town sits on, you’ll see why. Or, we can visit Bova situated in the Area Grecanica (the Greek area of Calabria). Bova is the last town to abandon the Orthodox rite in the 16th century. Here, the people speak an ancient form of Greek.

• Midafternoon, we will depart for Scilla.… the little town quoted by Homer in the Odyssey. We will ascend to the majestic Castello Ruffo di Scilla, a medieval fortress that stands sentinel atop a cliff, offering panoramic views of the Strait of Messina and the passage where the terrifying monsters Scylla and Charybdis fought it out. If you would rather spend an afternoon at the beach, you can descend, instead, to Marina Grande, Scilla's main beach with its a sprawling expanse of pebbles and clear water for a swim. It will also be fun to meander through Chianalea, Scilla's ancient fishing district.

• Dinner / Cena on your own in Scilla. Scilla must try dishes include swordfish Marianna" style (spaghetti with swordfish), scuzzetta (roasted scabbardfish rolls), and albacore tuna with onions. Their swordfish carpaccio is also wonderful!