Settimo Giorno/Day 8
Serra San Bruno & Soriano
Breakfast
Today we travel to the highlands of the Calabrian Serre, where our first stop is Serra San Bruno. This village is nestled in the mountains, surrounded by woodland and crowned by a serene monastery whose hermitage and grounds offer a glimpse into the spiritual life of the Carthusian monks. Serra San Bruno was originally settled by the builders and artisans who constructed the monastery, and today its quaint town center and stone buildings seem untouched by time. Stanley Tucci, whose family hails from Calabria, featured Serra's traditional timpano in the movie “Big Night.”
Lunch in Serra San Bruno
In the afternoon, we continue to Soriano, perched 300 meters above sea level. The village is believed to have ancient origins, dating as far back as 700 BC, and is thought to have been founded by Syrians — hence its name. Here we visit the Sanctuary of San Domenico, once one of Europe's most important convents. Destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1659, it was rebuilt on a monumental scale by the Dominican friar Bonaventura Presti, a native of Bologna. During the Baroque period, this convent became one of the wealthiest and most renowned Dominican monasteries in Europe, drawing pilgrims from across Italy.
Soriano is also famous for its mostaccioli, or in Calabrian dialect, mostazzoli — biscuits made of flour, orange blossom, and chestnut honey. The name derives from "mustache," referencing an ancient wedding cake baked on laurel leaves. The biscuits take on a variety of beautiful shapes and are decorated with colored foil, and were described as far back as the 3rd century BC by the Hellenistic Greek poet Theocritus of Syracuse.
In Soriano, there will also be time to visit the Museo dei Marmi (a testament to the region's economic, cultural, and religious significance during the 16th and 17th centuries) and the small artisan shops where skilled craftsmen still ply their trade.
Farewell dinner.
