Staying at Residente Osiris means rediscovering and immersing yourself in the Costa degli Dei and the immediate hinterland. As such, you can not only enjoy the sea but also the hills and the Poro plateau, where it is still possible to taste and discover the secrets of Calabrian food and wine tradition.
Itinerary of flavours
From the sea to the hills, up to the plateau of Monte Poro, the itinerary winds through landscapes of rare beauty, in a context that represents various Typical Products (DOP and IGP): Tropea red onion, “Nduja di Spilinga”, Pecorino del Monte Poro, extra virgin olive oil and wine. These are revealed in the widespread museums, wineries and oil mills, vineyards and centuries-old olive groves, typical restaurants, an ancient distillery and farms ready to welcome visitors by offering a unique experience.
In fact, in addition to the beauty of its nature and landscape, this coastal stretch has a very rich culinary tradition thanks to the varied geography of landscapes, products and typical dishes that have always enriched this destination, Nicotera being the capital of the Mediterranean Diet.
1. Visit to the nearby Masseria
Less than a kilometre from the Residence is the Masseria Pontoriero (which belongs to the same owners), where the red onions and hot red peppers used for making Nduja di Spilinga are grown.
The route starts from the nearby Masseria Pontoriero, which is less than a kilometre from Residence Osiris.
The Masseria produces Tropea red onion, spicy red peppers for Nduja di Spilinga, legumes, durum wheat, tomatoes, aubergines and various seasonal fruits (figs, pomegranates, oranges, lemons, etc.).In some periods of the year, it is also possible to take part in the seasonal fruit and vegetable harvest.
In an old “bresta” hut (made from mud and straw bricks), there is a still-functioning wood-burning oven for making homemade bread, pizzas, roasted peppers and baked onions.
The Masseria has been the location of several Italian (LaTVdeiViaggi) and British (BBC with Carluccio and Contaldo, and ITV with Gino D’Acampo) TV documentaries.
2. Visit to Ricadi's wide choice of museums
The itinerary includes a visit to the extensive museums of the Municipality of Ricadi, more precisely from the Red Onion Museum in Capo Vaticano, located inside the railway station, and the Folk Art Museum (ancient oil mill) located in the centre of Ricadi.
Inside the Ricadi railway station, a permanent exhibition has been set up with educational panels and the ancient tools used to grow, harvest and process Tropea red onion.
The Folk Art Museumexhibits the machinery of the ancient oil mill used for processing olives, large iron and glass jars and containers for the preservation of the olive oil produced.
Objects for working the land are also on display. From the rear courtyard, you enter a small building made from mud and straw (in Calabrian: bresta) dedicated to traditional spinning.
3. Nduja di Spilinga and Pecorino del Poro
Carrying on towards Spilinga – Monte Poro, the landscape continues to amaze, with fields and pastures on which you can see the ancient “Masserie“, stone and bresta buildings, some of which are still used today by farmers as a shelter for hay and tools.
Having reached Spilinga, which is 9 km from Capo Vaticano, you can visit an artisanal cured meat factory that produces the famous ‘Nduja di Spilinga, where it is possible to observe the various processing and ageing stages.
Continue towards the Poro plateau, along the road that crosses pastures, cereal fields and ancient farms, to visit a dairy that processes milk from the plateau pastures to produce cheese: Pecorino del Poro DOP.
4. Extra-virgin olive oil, wine and spirits
From the Monte Poro plateau, head towards Limbadi – Nicotera. The route offers evocative panoramas that range from verdant, centuries-old olive groves to the blue of the sea, with the Strait of Messina on the horizon.
After Nicotera (the homeland of the Mediterranean Diet), the olive groves give way to the vineyards near the hamlet of Badia, where you can pay a visit to a winery with a view of the vineyards and the village of Nicotera. Continue to nearby Limbadi to visit an olive farm with an oil mill (where extra-virgin olive oil is produced), and the historic Caffo distillery, which still produces world-famous Calabrian herb bitters.
The way back includes a stop in Nicotera (the city of reference for the Mediterranean Diet) for a short visit to the famous panoramic view behind the Castle and to taste artisanal ice cream.
Alternatively, it is possible to visit the medieval village of Motta Filocastro (part of the Municipality of Limbadi), with its charming old town where you admire breathtaking views, and an ancient (private) oil mill dating back to 1800.
Itinerary through villages, caves and museums
Are you looking for an alternative to the sea?
In addition to the magnificent beaches on the coast and Tropea with its small shops, piazzas and bars where you can relax, it is also possible to visit the wide range of museums and numerous villages in the immediate hinterland of the Costa degli Dei.
