Secondo Giorno/Day 2
Pizzo
Breakfast / Colazione. Il profumo di un buon caffè per iniziare la giornata, e una nuova avventura per continuarla. The aroma of a good coffee to start the day and a new adventure to continue it!
Late morning departure for Cantine Benvetuto. We will tour award-winning Giovanni Benvenuto’s winery and learn about the distinct character of indigenous Calabrian wines like Zibibbo, Malvasia, Greco Nero and Magliocco. In 2020, Giovanni’s Zibibbo wine triumphed in the New York Times’ best white wine in Italy. Because of vintners like Giovanni who are dedicated to quality, sustainability and expression of the Calabrian terroir, Calabria is carving out its space on the international stage, akin to other prominent southern Italian DOC wines. This transformation has proven not to be a fleeting trend but a sustained trajectory of quality and consistency.
Lunch / Pranzo at the vineyard with local delicacies all prepared on site by the proprietors … and of course, a tasting of Giovanni’s beautiful wines!
After lunch, we will go on a walking tour of Pizzo, a charming coastal fishing town known for its historical center with Murat’s Castle, a 15th century fortress where Gioacchino Murat, Napoleon's brother in-law was held prisoner after his failed attempt to reclaim his throne as the King of Naples. Pizzo has stunning sea views, narrow streets, and charming artisanal shops. Don’t miss their delicious "tartufo”, a delicious chocolate and hazelnut gelato dessert. It is often accompanied by an amaro, a herbal digestif popular throughout Calabria. If you get tired of walking, you can flag down a Piaggio Ape Calessino, an iconic Italian three-wheeled motorcycle similar to a tuk-tuk that became popular in the 1960s and is still loved for its retro appeal.
If there is time, we will make a stop in Vibo Valentia. The region’s capital had several name changes: Hipponion was its Greek name and then Monteleone until 1928. Here we will visit the impressive Norman-Swabian Castle where falcons love to nest and now home to the "Vito Capialbi" National Archaeological Museum. One of the museum’s prized artifacts is an exceptionally rare Laminetta of Hipponion. This thin sheet of gold dates to the 4th century and contains 16 lines written in an ancient Greek detailing instructions for a journey in the afterworld. The instructions were meant to help the soul navigate the challenges of Hades, telling them, for example, to bypass one spring and drink from the "Lake of Memory" (Mnemosyne).
Dinner / Cena on the beach at a Lido known for its delicious fish menu and wood-fired pizzas.
Back to Popilia…. If you are not too tired, enjoy an evening stroll on the grounds.
