Traditions

Immerse yourself in the art of tomato preservation with Giuseppe and his family! Start your day by learning the secrets of homemade tomato "passata" — the traditional tomato base for many dishes, including pasta. True to tradition, lunch will follow with tomato-based dishes using the fresh passata, accompanied by a bottle of local wine. An experience that introduces you to one of Southern Italy’s most essential food traditions — the base of many beloved dishes. Location: Grisolia (Scalo), Calabria (9.3km from Scalea ~12 minutes) Highlights: Meet at Giuseppe's Kiosk. Homemade Tomato Preservation "Passata" Workshop. Lunch made with the tomato passata. A Bottle of Wine.

Experience the ancient agricultural tradition of sowing, the first gesture that brings life to the land. Visit the KALAB agricultural laboratory and take part in the sowing process. During the tour, you'll learn about traditional and modern cultivation techniques. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Calabria's agricultural roots and contribute to the growth of the land. Location: Orsomarso, Calabria (9.8km from Scalea ~13 minutes) Highlights: Hands-on sowing lesson. Visit to the fields and KALAB agricultural laboratory. Guided tour of the land and explanation of traditional and modern techniques. Products to take home with you.

Immerse yourself in the ancient craft of ceramics in the heart of Scalea’s historic centre. Guided by Anna, you’ll discover the full process of creating ceramics and craft your own personalised souvenir to take home. This experience connects you to a timeless art, using the original pottery wheel once owned by the woman who taught ceramics to the village children in the 1980s. Location: Scalea (Historic Centre), Calabria Highlights: Introduction to the ceramic-making process. Create your own personalised ceramic object to bring home.

Experience an authentic day in the life of a shepherd in the mountains of Pollino National Park. Meet Simone at his family's dairy farm and begin by milking the animals and collecting the fresh milk. We'll then venture into the pastures for a walk with the flock, stopping for a simple and authentic shepherd's breakfast. Later, we'll return to the workshop to transform the milk into cheese, following traditional methods. We conclude the day with an aperitivo of cheeses and other local products — a toast to the beauty of mountain life. Location: Episcopia, Basilicata (71km from Scalea ~1 hour) Starting Time: To be agreed upon Highlights: Milking of goats and sheep to collect the fresh milk. Walk with the flock. Typical shepherd's breakfast. Milk processing and cheesemaking workshop. Aperitivo of cheeses and local products.

Discover the traditional art of basket making with a unique experience in Verbicaro. Together with Antonio — who lovingly carries forward the knowledge passed down from his father — you’ll be guided step by step through the process of creating your very own basket! You'll begin with the preparation of traditional materials such as female and male reeds (cane) and willow. You'll learn the techniques and secrets of this craft, and by the end you'll be able to take home your own handmade masterpiece. A beautiful reminder of Calabrian tradition and your day with a true artisan. Location: Verbicaro, Calabria (18.5km from Scalea, ~30 minutes) Highlights: Explanation of the traditional materials used to make a basket: different types of reeds and willow. Half-day workshop on the basics of creating a basket to then take home.

Spend a full day immersed in the art of basket making with Antonio in Verbicaro. During the workshop, you’ll learn how to prepare the traditional materials and discover the difference between female and male reeds, as well as willow. Antonio will guide you through every stage of the craft — from the essential basics to the more advanced techniques used for larger, more elaborate baskets. From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM you'll break for lunch, and by the end of the day, you’ll take home your own artisanal masterpiece — the fruit of an ancient and fascinating Calabrian tradition. Location: Verbicaro, Calabria (18.5 km from Scalea ~30 minutes) Highlights: A day dedicated to basketmaking. Explanation of the traditional materials used to make baskets. Workshop to create larger and more elaborate baskets.

Cast your nets, haul in the catch, and experience what it's like to be a fisherman for the day! Start your day with two fishermen carrying on generations of the trade. Head out on the open sea aboard a professional fishing boat. After collecting the nets and reeling in the day’s catch, you’ll stop for a delicious lunch featuring the freshly caught fish, prepared especially for you. Following Lunch, Daniele will take you to the local market to experience the selling of the fish for you to discover all the rhythms and traditions of this ancient profession. Location: San Nicola Arcella, Calabria (10 km from Scalea ~ 14 minutes) Highlights: A full day with local fishermen. Demonstration of traditional fishing methods. Lunch prepared with the day’s catch. An experience selling your fresh fish at the local market.

Cast your nets, haul in the catch, and experience what it's like to be a fisherman for the day! Start your day with two fishermen carrying on generations of the trade. Head out on the open sea aboard a professional fishing boat. After collecting the nets and reeling in the day’s catch, you’ll stop for a delicious lunch featuring the freshly caught fish, prepared especially for you. Following Lunch, Daniele will take you to the local market to experience the selling of the fish for you to discover all the rhythms and traditions of this ancient profession. Location: San Nicola Arcella, Calabria (10 km from Scalea ~ 14 minutes) Highlights: A full day with local fishermen. Demonstration of traditional fishing methods. Lunch prepared with the day’s catch. An experience selling your fresh fish at the local market.

Cast your nets, haul in the catch, and experience what it's like to be a fisherman for the day! Start your day with two fishermen carrying on generations of the trade. Head out on the open sea aboard a professional fishing boat. After collecting the nets and reeling in the day’s catch, you’ll stop for a delicious lunch featuring the freshly caught fish, prepared especially for you. Following Lunch, Daniele will take you to the local market to experience the selling of the fish for you to discover all the rhythms and traditions of this ancient profession. Location: San Nicola Arcella, Calabria (10 km from Scalea ~ 14 minutes) Highlights: A full day with local fishermen. Demonstration of traditional fishing methods. Lunch prepared with the day’s catch. An experience selling your fresh fish at the local market.

Hidden behind the doors of our fishermen’s warehouse lies a tradition that has survived centuries — the quiet, intricate art of crafting fishing nets by hand. Here, Daniele will share with you the very techniques passed down to him by his grandfather. A tradition handed from generation to generation along the coastline. A beautiful experience to share this precious craft, one that has withstood the test of time, carrying centuries of history, skill, and love for the sea. Location: San Nicola Arcella, Calabria (10 km from Scalea ~ 14 minutes) Highlights: A hands-on lesson in the traditional art of making fishing nets.

The tradition of homemade bread! Your day begins at the flour mill, where you’ll watch fresh wheat being ground into flour. Back in the countryside with Stefania, you’ll knead the dough following ancient peasant traditions and help prepare the wood-fired oven. As the oven heats, we'll take a relaxing stroll through the farmland, immersed in nature and the rhythm of rural life. At the end of your time together, you'll savour the freshly baked bread. An authentic experience that connects you with tradition, nature and genuine flavours. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: Visit to the flour mill to grind wheat into flour. Traditional bread making in a wood-fired oven. Tasting of freshly baked bread.

Homemade bread: an experience that begins in the forest and ends at the table! Your day will begin with a walk to collect wood for the traditional wood-fired oven. Once back at the farmhouse, Stefania the "contadina" will guide you through a hands-on bread-making lesson, following ancient traditions passed down through her family. When your bread comes out of the oven, warm and fragrant, you’ll savour the fruits of your labour with a drizzle of Stefania’s own extra virgin olive oil. A simple, heartfelt experience that brings you back to the roots of genuine, rural living. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: A walk in the forest to collect wood. Homemade bread-making lesson. Tasting of freshly baked bread with extra virgin olive oil.

In Calabrian farming culture, the pig has always held a central place — a symbol of abundance, hard work, and a deep-rooted tradition where nothing is wasted and everything is transformed into delicacies. Your day with Stefania begins in the morning to prepare the meat, and a rich, slow-cooked sauce with pork to accompany the homemade pasta you’ll enjoy together at lunch, paired with homemade wine. Preparations of other traditional pork recipes will continue after lunch as you discover flavours, techniques, and secrets of this centuries-old rural tradition. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7 km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: Preparation of pork meat & traditional recipes. Introduction to this typical traditional farming tradition. Shared lunch with homemade wine.

Learn the ancient method of traditional soap-making together with Stefania the "contadina" following the very recipe passed down to her from her grandmother. Be guided step by step through the old-fashioned process of creating homemade soap — just as families once did, using simple ingredients and time-honoured methods. At the end of the experience, you’ll take home your own bar of handcrafted soap as a fragrant reminder of this beautiful tradition. A unique opportunity to touch, smell, and experience a piece of Calabrian heritage that blends simplicity with craftsmanship. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7 km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: Hands-on preparation of traditional homemade soap using an ancient method. One bar of soap to take home as a keepsake.

Learn the art of making marmalade and jams in the countryside using seasonal fruit with Stefania the "contadina" . Depending on the season, you'll venture into the farmland to pick figs, peaches, plums, or grapes in the summer, and oranges, mandarins, lemons, and chestnuts in the fall. After making the jam, we'll conclude with a tasting and a jar to take home as a memento of this sweet experience. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: Seasonal fruit picking. Jam making lesson. Final tasting with a coffee. Jar of jam to take home.

Discover an ancient Calabrian tradition: preparing crocette di fichi, sweet fig “crosses” filled with walnuts and lemon. Following methods passed down through generations, with Stefania the "contadina" you’ll learn how to fill, fold, and bake the figs before preserving them with care and creating your own special gift package to take home. A delicious bite of Calabrian heritage and a sweet tradition to pass on. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7 km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: Preparing figs with walnuts and lemon. Traditional recipe process to bake and preserve. Tasting + gift packaging of your prepared figs.

Ready to get your hands dirty in the Calabrian land? Live a day as a country farmer together with Stefania our "contadina" and immerse yourself in the traditions of the land in an authentic, passion-filled experience. Together, you’ll work the soil just as it’s always been done — following the natural cycle of planting, tending, and harvesting. After a morning of work, we’ll pause to share a farmer’s lunch, prepared with produce from the land itself. A simple, heartfelt experience that reconnects you with nature, tradition, and the beauty of slow living. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7 km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: Experience daily life of a country farmer ("contadina") in Calabria. Hands-on experience working the land. Shared farmer’s lunch made with fresh produce.

An experience that celebrates play, conviviality, and tradition! In the very place where locals once gathered to play cards — now home to Paradiso dei Golosi and its artisanal preserves — you’ll learn the rules of Briscola and Scopa, the classic Italian card games that have brought generations together. Enjoy a playful lesson in Italian cards as you enjoy the artisanal specialties bursting with traditional flavours, paired with a good glass of local wine! Location: Buonvicino, Calabria (19 km from Scalea ~ 30 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to Italian playing cards (Napoletane). Lesson & game of Briscola or Scopa. Tasting of the company’s artisanal products. A glass of local wine.

Discover the tradition of homemade ricotta — a simple, delicious delicacy. In this experience you’ll learn a recipe you can easily recreate at home. Together, we’ll taste ricotta in different variations, paired with a selection of traditional treats. To conclude our time together, you'll take home a "ricotta salata" (salted ricotta) to enjoy. An authentic and genuine experience, starting with the milk and going straight to the heart. Location: Santa Maria del Cedro, Calabria (6.9km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: Demonstration of how to make fresh ricotta. Learn the easy recipe to replicate at home. Fresh Ricotta tasting with a selection of local treats. Ricotta salata (salted ricotta) to take home.

A true Calabrian-style picnic by the Argentino River. Prepare your sense of adventure and join Gianluca for a wild and unforgettable outdoor feast in the cool, lush forest that runs alongside the river. Together you’ll prepare a full Calabrian meal — from appetisers to homemade fresh pasta and dessert — cooked and enjoyed right by the river, paired with Verbicaro wine and fresh spring water. A return to simplicity, where nature and flavour meet. Please Note: There are no facilities (bathrooms, etc.) — just pure authenticity and natural beauty. Location: Santa Maria del Cedro, Calabria (6.9km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: An authentic outdoor experience immersed in wild nature (no facilities: no bathrooms or modern conveniences—just nature!). Traditional Calabrian Picnic. Preparation and complete lunch menu prepared by the river: appetizer, fresh pasta, main course, fruit, and dessert. Local Verbicaro wine and fresh spring water.

A mystery to savour! It all began in the fields, with hands dirty from the earth and hearts full of ingenuity. In this mysterious and delicious experience, together with Gianluca, you will discover the peasant origins of the fork! As we unravel this legend, we'll prepare a traditional farmer's salad that's rich, authentic, and made with simple yet delicious ingredients. Before we say goodbye, you'll take home a jar of typical products to continue the story at home. Location: Santa Maria del Cedro, Calabria (6.9km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Highlights: Discover the history of the fork and its peasant origins. Traditional farmer's salad accompanied by fresh homemade bread and local wine. A jar of traditional products to take home.

Step into Giuseppe’s clay workshop and discover the joy of creating with your own hands. In this unique experience, you’ll immerse yourself in the art of shaping an object — something Giuseppe believes is an expression of yourself. From start to finish, he’ll guide you through every step, letting you feel the clay, its weight, its softness, and the beauty of shaping something from nothing. Before you leave, you can choose to take home a finished piece made by Giuseppe, or — if you’re staying nearby — return in about 10 days to collect your own creation, once it has dried and been fired. Either way, you’ll take home an authentic memory of your journey…made with heart and soul. Location: Tortora, Calabria (20.3km from Scalea ~ 23 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the art of how to work clay. Hands-on workshop. A terracotta object to take home.

Experience the authentic spirit of Tortora during La Festa della Zafarana — a lively celebration of traditional flavours, history, music, and dance. The Zafarana is the village’s iconic chilli pepper, grown and harvested in early October. Welcomed by a local guide, you’ll begin with a stroll through Tortora’s most evocative corners, discovering the history of the village and leading you straight into the heart of the festivities, where you’ll savour a typical dish made with zafarana paired with a glass of local wine. After that, you will be welcomed to join the festivities with traditional music and dances, transporting you into the heart of the Calabrian village. Location: Tortora, Calabria (20.3km from Scalea ~ 23 minutes) Highlights: Personalised guide for the town Festival. Guided walk of Tortora. A typical dish to enjoy (Lagane and chickpeas, Ravioli with zafarana, Spaghetti with zafarana, Fusilli with zafarana). A glass of local wine. Music and dancing.

Italian Sundays shine with tradition and sweetness. Learn more about this typical Southern Italian tradition with Tonino & Michaela at Pasticceria Cicciù. Enjoy a selection of lovingly prepared pastries and experience this typical Sunday ritual for yourself. A sweet excuse to make every day feel like Sunday. Location: Praia a Mare, Calabria (13.3km from Scalea ~18 minutes) Highlights: Explanation of this traditional Sunday ritual. Preparation of a tray with various sweets. Option to take your tray home with you or enjoy it with a coffee.

Breakfast: Italian style! A simple ritual, yet deeply rooted in our daily culture. A sweet awakening, where the day begins with a frothy cappuccino or a strong espresso, accompanied by a freshly baked artisanal pastry. Tonino & Michaela at Pasticceria Cicciù will guide you through this tradition and introduce you to their selection of handmade creations for you to choose and enjoy. Location: Praia a Mare, Calabria (13.3 km from Scalea ~ 18 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the Italian breakfast tradition and homemade artisanal products. A pastry of your choice, accompanied by a good coffee or an excellent cappuccino.

Immerse yourself in the beauty and tradition of the tarantella, an ancient dance that expresses the soul of the South. In the heart of Verbicaro, accompanied by the Folklore Group, you will learn the steps and stories behind the dance. If you don't dance, no problem! Just listen to the rhythm and immerse yourself in the atmosphere. An experience that unites dance, music, and tradition, making you feel part of a culture that still thrives today, one step at a time. Location: Verbicaro, Calabria (18.7 km from Scalea ~ 30 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the history and symbolism of the tarantella. Explanation of basic movements: hands, steps, rhythm. Dance demonstration with the Verbicaro Folklore Group.

Once upon a time in Calabria, love was declared and a proposal was made with the "Canto della Fidanzata" (the song of the girlfriend). A simple yet profound gesture that united heart, courage, and tradition. In this experience, you'll experience the magic of that tradition, hearing the song sung live, discovering its true meaning, and — who knows — you might even use it yourself to make a truly unforgettable proposal. Whether you're curious, romantic, or ready to propose, this moment will be unique, beautiful, and deeply authentic. Location: Verbicaro, Calabria (18.7 km from Scalea, ~30 minutes) Highlights: Live performance of the traditional "Canto della Fidanzata". Explanation of the meaning and origins of this exclamation of love. Option to propose yourself, folk style!

Immerse yourself in the life of a Calabrian fisherman for a day! Head out to sea with Antonio Manco Junior and Senior for a typical day as a fishermen: fishing with the nets, selling freshly caught fish and to conclude the day, enjoy a delicious lunch together prepared with the day's catch and lots of love. A chance to learn about local fishing traditions and enjoy the fruits of the sea. Location: Scalea, Calabria Highlights: Pull in the nets and throw them into the sea. Come with us to sell the fish. Lunch together with the fresh catch of the day.

Discover the ancient art of repairing fishing nets, a disappearing tradition that is fundamental to the local fishing culture. Take part in this unique experience, where you will have the opportunity to learn from one of the last experts along the Calabrian coast who still performs this work by hand. During the lesson, you will learn the traditional technique and the cultural importance of this ancient craft. Immerse yourself in the history and traditions of Calabrian fishing and contribute to the preservation of a precious art. Location: Scalea, Calabria Highlights: Explanation and lesson in repairing fishing nets by hand - an ancient tradition.

Experience the Feast of the Madonna del Lauro (Our Lady of the Laurel) from a unique perspective! On 8 September, join Antonio by boat to accompany the statue of the Madonna for the procession along the coastline, and enjoy the fireworks from the water. It's a special opportunity to immerse yourself in one of Scalea's most beloved traditions, experiencing the beauty of the festival from the sea. This experience is offered as a "gift to the Madonna," and you're invited to make a donation in her honour. **Bookings are essential.** Location: Scalea, Calabria Highlights: Boat Tour for the Feast of the Madonna del Lauro.

A way to save the season’s harvest, a family ritual, and a loving gesture passed down through generations. Join Giuliana and Giuseppe at Sarubbi to discover the traditional Calabrian art of preserving food — from making passata sauces to preparing fruit jams, pickled vegetables, and other homemade delights that fill the pantry for the year ahead. An invitation to celebrate the roots of this ancient tradition and to keep it alive, one jar at a time. Location: Santa Maria del Cedro, Calabria (9.3km from Scalea ~ 12 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the history and tradition of preserves. Hands-on demonstration (recipe depending on the season). Explanation of how to replicate this tradition at home. Mini tasting of the products made. Small sample to take home.

Crispy like chips... but not made of potatoes! In this curious and tasty experience, you'll discover a Calabrian specialty made with peppers (capsicums)! A perfect mix of curiosity, tradition, and a delightful Calabrian crunch! You'll learn the history and production technique of this unique snack, enjoying it as tradition demands: with a fried egg! A jar of this artisanal delight will be your little crunchy souvenir. Location: Santa Maria del Cedro, Calabria (9.3km from Scalea ~ 12 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the tradition of Calabrian "chips". Tasting with fried egg, as tradition demands. Jar to take home.

Discover a precious tradition at risk of disappearing: panicelli, small, fragrant sweets made with raisins and a hint of cedro, wrapped in cedro leaves and tied with a string of "ginestra" plant. This recipe is traditionally prepared in preparation for Christmas and typically enjoyed at the end of a meal. Together with Stefania, our "contadina" (farmer) and guardian of tradition, you will learn all about the various methods to this ancient process. Staying true to tradition. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: Introduction to the tradition of panicelli. Demonstration & preparation of the panicelli. Tasting of the ready-made panicelli.

Before refrigerators or preservatives, nature was our only ally. In this experience, you’ll discover the traditional farming method used to transform fresh grapes into raisins — an ancient practice that once ensured a family’s fruit supply for the entire year, and one that is now becoming increasingly rare. With Stefania, a guardian of these precious antique methods, you’ll learn how to prepare and tie grape clusters following the natural method passed down through generations. Where nature preserves, and tradition protects. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~ 10 minutes) Includes: Introduction to the traditional grape-drying method. Hands-on activity: preparing and tying grape clusters in preparation for drying.

There was a time when nature was the family's pantry, and wild chicory was a precious gift from the fields: easy to find, easy to cook, and perfect for creating a complete meal with beans. Stefania welcomes you for an experience steeped in memory and tradition: you'll set out to pick chicory greens, learn how to prepare them, and finally taste the traditional dish of wild chicory and beans, just as Nonna makes it. A journey through the flavours of peasant cuisine: warm, hearty and authentic. Location: Marcellina, Calabria (7.7km from Scalea ~10 minutes) Highlights: Guided walk to pick wild chicory. Preparation of sautéed chicory. Tasting of the traditional dish of chicory and beans.