Calabria and Sicily
Thursday 11th September to Saturday 20th September 2008
Relax into the Italian way of life with this popular tour to Calabria, which if you look at a map, is at the southern end of the Italian mainland including the “toe end”, which seemingly kicks neighbouring Sicily into touch! The region is mountainous and remains very much as nature intended. The natural attractions include forested highlands and a scenic western coast both of which we experience during this beautiful tour of Southern Italy. We round this trip off with a dramatic trip around the slopes of Mount Etna to get a close look at Europe’s largest active volcano. For the steam enthusiasts we will enjoy steam hauled rail tours on narrow gauge lines, and special mention must be made of the standard gauge steam charters we will have along the scenic coastal lines. We arrive in Sicily on one of the last passenger carrying train ferries in the world.
Thursday 11th September
Fly to Lamezia
We use Alitalia to fly from London Heathrow to Lamezia. Our coach takes us to the Hotel Executive, Cosenza, for our three night stay. (D)
Friday 12th September
Cosenza
After a leisurely breakfast we enjoy a city tour of Cosenza accompanied by a local guide. Cosenza boasts a magnificent cathedral and a castle.
The River Buseuto divides the city into the modern town and the old citadel. The 7th century cathedral was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1184. The Norman castle overlooks the city which itself has many interesting old buildings and churches. We enjoy a typical lunch in the city.
The afternoon is free to explore or join our organized group to visit the main state railway locomotive depot. It still houses five standard gauge rack tank locomotives which formerly hauled trains over the hill to Paola until this was replaced by a ten mile tunnel. This will be followed by a visit to the narrow gauge railway workshops. (B L D)
Saturday 13th September
Steam Trip to Italy’s Highest Station
We go to Cosenza’s main station and board our vintage train steam hauled by Borsig 2-6-0T number 403, to travel to the ski resort of Camigliatello. This will be a spectacular ride as it is on one of the steepest adhesion worked lines in the world. We continue uphill to San Nicola Silvana, the highest station in Italy where we leave our train for lunch in a collection of vintage railcars. After lunch we carry on to the end of the line at San Giovanni in Fiore. Founded in the 12th century, the town is home to a restored abbey. From here we return to Camigliatello by steam, and then return to our hotel in Cosenza by coach. (B L D)
Sunday 14th September
Steam to Catanzaro
Our train will again be waiting at Cosenza’s main station. Double headed by steam locomotives numbers 403 and 353 we depart Cosenza and head south on a narrow gauge railway through the Calabrian Mountains. We will travel through spectacular alpine scenery, much covered with trees. During the journey we will have a two-hour break for a relaxing glass or two of wine with a superb Calabrian lunch. We arrive at the Calabrian capital of Catanzaro in the late afternoon and check into a four-star hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 15th September
Steam Train to Soveria Mannelli
We travel by coach to Catanzaro Citti station to board a special narrow gauge steam charter hauled by rack tank number 504. Our train goes down the steep incline to Catanzaro Lido station before commencing a spectacular twisting ride back. We carry on northward to enjoy a typical Italian lunch in San Pietro before continuing our journey to Soveria Mannelli, returning to Catanzaro by railcar. (B L D)
Tuesday 16th September
To the Mediterranean
After travelling the twenty miles to Lamezia by coach our train, hauled by a 740 class 2-8-0, will depart Lamezia on the main line. It branches off at Eccellente, heading south through Pizzo.
We continue along the coast with spectacular views of rocky peninsulas overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea as we head through the ancient coastal towns of Briatico, Tropea and Nicotera.
If it is a clear day, the island volcano of Stromboli and Sicily’s north coast will come into view.
At Nicotera we stop for lunch and a glass or two of wine. After lunch we continue running south still with our steam locomotive with more fine views over the Mediterranean Sea. Mid afternoon we steam into Reggio di Calabria.
There will be time for a short city tour before we transfer to our four star hotel in the city for dinner and overnight accommodation for two nights. (B L D)
Wednesday 17th September
Steam Train to Rocella
We transfer to Reggio di Calabria Centrale by coach, where our special steam hauled vintage train will be waiting for us. Our journey today takes us around the opposite coast of Sicily’s foot, through Palizzi and Bianco to Rocella Ionica where we enjoy an Italian lunch. We transfer by coach back to Reggio di Calabria. (B L D)
Thursday 18th September
On the Train Ferry
After breakfast we transfer to Villa San Giovanni Station where we board our train to Taormina. This is one of the last train services in Europe to use a train ferry. On arrival at Taormina we check into our hotel and enjoy lunch. Above the Ionian Sea and sitting at the foot of Mount Tauro, Taormina is Sicily’s most famous tourist resort. With its medieval layout, there is much to see.
We can visit a Greek theatre dating from the 3rd century BC, see the 13th century Cathedral San Nicolò or visit the 15th century Palazzo Corvaja, originally an Arab tower. We can follow the footsteps of film stars at the famous café Wünderbar or enjoy the stepped alleyways and quiet lanes passing through areas full of character. (B L D)
Friday 19th September
Railcar around Mount Etna
We transfer by coach to Giarre-Riposto where we join our special charter with an old Fiat railcar. We travel over the narrow gauge Ferrovia Circumetnea that runs around the base of Mount Etna giving us superb views of the volcano. It is Europe’s largest active volcano, both feared and loved. Mount Etna dominates the scenery and, surprisingly, is home to many species of plants and animals. We have lunch on the way.
Catania nestles between the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna and is Sicily’s second city. It has a close relationship with the volcano, and most of the city’s buildings are made from black lava.
We return to our hotel in Taormina. (B L D)
Saturday 20th September
Depart for London
We have a free morning and at around lunchtime we transfer to Catania airport for our Alitalia flight to return to London Heathrow. (B)
Fly to Lamezia
We use Alitalia to fly from London Heathrow to Lamezia. Our coach takes us to the Hotel Executive, Cosenza, for our three night stay. (D)
Friday 12th September
Cosenza
After a leisurely breakfast we enjoy a city tour of Cosenza accompanied by a local guide. Cosenza boasts a magnificent cathedral and a castle.
The River Buseuto divides the city into the modern town and the old citadel. The 7th century cathedral was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1184. The Norman castle overlooks the city which itself has many interesting old buildings and churches. We enjoy a typical lunch in the city.
The afternoon is free to explore or join our organized group to visit the main state railway locomotive depot. It still houses five standard gauge rack tank locomotives which formerly hauled trains over the hill to Paola until this was replaced by a ten mile tunnel. This will be followed by a visit to the narrow gauge railway workshops. (B L D)
Saturday 13th September
Steam Trip to Italy’s Highest Station
We go to Cosenza’s main station and board our vintage train steam hauled by Borsig 2-6-0T number 403, to travel to the ski resort of Camigliatello. This will be a spectacular ride as it is on one of the steepest adhesion worked lines in the world. We continue uphill to San Nicola Silvana, the highest station in Italy where we leave our train for lunch in a collection of vintage railcars. After lunch we carry on to the end of the line at San Giovanni in Fiore. Founded in the 12th century, the town is home to a restored abbey. From here we return to Camigliatello by steam, and then return to our hotel in Cosenza by coach. (B L D)
Sunday 14th September
Steam to Catanzaro
Our train will again be waiting at Cosenza’s main station. Double headed by steam locomotives numbers 403 and 353 we depart Cosenza and head south on a narrow gauge railway through the Calabrian Mountains. We will travel through spectacular alpine scenery, much covered with trees. During the journey we will have a two-hour break for a relaxing glass or two of wine with a superb Calabrian lunch. We arrive at the Calabrian capital of Catanzaro in the late afternoon and check into a four-star hotel for two nights. (B L D)
Monday 15th September
Steam Train to Soveria Mannelli
We travel by coach to Catanzaro Citti station to board a special narrow gauge steam charter hauled by rack tank number 504. Our train goes down the steep incline to Catanzaro Lido station before commencing a spectacular twisting ride back. We carry on northward to enjoy a typical Italian lunch in San Pietro before continuing our journey to Soveria Mannelli, returning to Catanzaro by railcar. (B L D)
Tuesday 16th September
To the Mediterranean
After travelling the twenty miles to Lamezia by coach our train, hauled by a 740 class 2-8-0, will depart Lamezia on the main line. It branches off at Eccellente, heading south through Pizzo.
We continue along the coast with spectacular views of rocky peninsulas overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea as we head through the ancient coastal towns of Briatico, Tropea and Nicotera.
If it is a clear day, the island volcano of Stromboli and Sicily’s north coast will come into view.
At Nicotera we stop for lunch and a glass or two of wine. After lunch we continue running south still with our steam locomotive with more fine views over the Mediterranean Sea. Mid afternoon we steam into Reggio di Calabria.
There will be time for a short city tour before we transfer to our four star hotel in the city for dinner and overnight accommodation for two nights. (B L D)
Wednesday 17th September
Steam Train to Rocella
We transfer to Reggio di Calabria Centrale by coach, where our special steam hauled vintage train will be waiting for us. Our journey today takes us around the opposite coast of Sicily’s foot, through Palizzi and Bianco to Rocella Ionica where we enjoy an Italian lunch. We transfer by coach back to Reggio di Calabria. (B L D)
Thursday 18th September
On the Train Ferry
After breakfast we transfer to Villa San Giovanni Station where we board our train to Taormina. This is one of the last train services in Europe to use a train ferry. On arrival at Taormina we check into our hotel and enjoy lunch. Above the Ionian Sea and sitting at the foot of Mount Tauro, Taormina is Sicily’s most famous tourist resort. With its medieval layout, there is much to see.
We can visit a Greek theatre dating from the 3rd century BC, see the 13th century Cathedral San Nicolò or visit the 15th century Palazzo Corvaja, originally an Arab tower. We can follow the footsteps of film stars at the famous café Wünderbar or enjoy the stepped alleyways and quiet lanes passing through areas full of character. (B L D)
Friday 19th September
Railcar around Mount Etna
We transfer by coach to Giarre-Riposto where we join our special charter with an old Fiat railcar. We travel over the narrow gauge Ferrovia Circumetnea that runs around the base of Mount Etna giving us superb views of the volcano. It is Europe’s largest active volcano, both feared and loved. Mount Etna dominates the scenery and, surprisingly, is home to many species of plants and animals. We have lunch on the way.
Catania nestles between the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna and is Sicily’s second city. It has a close relationship with the volcano, and most of the city’s buildings are made from black lava.
We return to our hotel in Taormina. (B L D)
Saturday 20th September
Depart for London
We have a free morning and at around lunchtime we transfer to Catania airport for our Alitalia flight to return to London Heathrow. (B)
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Price
| Price per person | £1535 |
| Single supplement | £179 |
Price includes:
- Alitalia flights to and from Italy
- 9 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast
- 9 dinners and 7 lunches including wine
- Luggage transfers between hotels
- All trains, transfers and visits as mentioned in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner