Reviews

A M A Z I N G it will be hard to make this short, but WOOOOOOOOW what an incredible experience and hospitality with Vita Calabra Tours!! From the moment I reached out to Danilo to him booking our driver for the week, Enza, everything was perfect! They went above and beyond with our time in Calabria! Danilo was easy to reach and very reliable with responding quickly! Enza was not only our driver but she was an impromptu tour guide and translator!!! She did not have to go above and beyond like that, but she did and it made our trip that much better! I cannot thank Danilo and Enza enough for the week we had and I'm still just on cloud 9 with the service!! I feel like we are all family now LOL thank you for EVERYTHING!!! BOOK THEM!!

Cosenza heritage towns I was able to visit two towns where my great-great-grandparents lived before leaving Italy after the unification. My guide, Ernestina, was wonderful and Danilo was very warm and easy to communicate with to coordinate the trip. Many of these towns in Calabria are very small and I was worried that if I went alone I wouldn't be able to navigate or have any conversations: Ernestina transported me to and from the towns and helped to ease communication. I really enjoyed seeing some of the churches and roads my ancestors experienced and to visit the city hall of one of the towns to see one of the birth certificates in person. Compared to other agencies, Vita Calabra was the most affordable option for me as a solo traveler and I would highly recommend them!

Calabria is beautiful with so much to explore, certainly much more beyond Tropea. If you are one who likes to go off the beaten path, whether to explore new places or seek your roots, then you are best served working with a local firm like VitaCalabra. VitaCalabra based in Altomonte, created and delivered a wonderful tour this summer. Danilo Verta is the founder of the firm and also served as our main contact and guide. I provided a list of what I wanted to do and see, and Danilo made it happen, everything from drivers to special guides for the villages and historic sites. He was very flexible and went above and beyond to accommodate our needs and wants. Particularly delightful were the small local restaurants he knew with authentic food and ambiance, as in Bivongi and Scilla. Where are these places? Reach out to Danilo and he will help you learn all about Calabria! Looking forward to a return trip! Grazie, Danilo!

Amalfi coast tour This is my second time using Vita Calabria Tours. Danilo is the BEST! I brought my family to the Amalfi coast this time and he was our guide and transport. Very safe driver on the winding roads throughout the mountains. He’s very personable and just wants you to have the best time visiting southern Italy. We love him and will be using him again on a future trip. Could not recommend him more!

Best Family Vacation of Our Lives My family and I had the absolute pleasure of spending 5 days in Tropea guided by Danilo's custom itinerary. We were a mix of three generations, spread across five adults and one 7-year-old. The primary purpose of our trip was to tour our paternal ancestors' home town of Piane Crati. The warmth, hospitality, and beauty of Calabria was far beyond our expectations and we enjoyed every minute of our time there. There are not words enough to thank Danilo for such a special experience. Our first highlight was that Danilo made our accommodation reservations in Tropea at a lovely small hotel in the heart of the historic district. Perfect for stepping out of your door into the lively town or for sitting on the roof deck watching the goings on. For our activities, Danilo arranged a private sailing excursion that far exceeded our expectations (perhaps helped by a very calm, warm day on the water). Our captain, Michele, was wonderful and engaged with our 7-year-old with much patience and kindness. We also had a lovely farm-to-table dinner with pasta making, two bookings at a beach club which included a very lively and enjoyable lunch, and a laid-back buffet dinner with wine tasting. For our "roots" tour of my grandfather's home town, Danilo went above and beyond. We arrived and were met by the mayor who had all of our families' birth and marriage records waiting for us to review and photograph. The mayor and our tour guide had copies of a book written about the town for each of us and the guide walked us through the various sights in town, including the street where my grandfather was born. We then ate at a delightful and delicious restaurant run by a woman who shared a family name with one our our great-grandparents. It was by all accounts a fantastic experience from beginning to end. Danilo took our preferences and requests and created what can only be described as our family's best vacation together. We will cherish the memories of our time in Calabria forever and can't thank Danilo enough for his efforts. If you are on the fence about booking Calabria, don't be! Just email Danilo and let him put together an amazing trip for you. Go and enjoy, but be prepared to eat because the food is plentiful!

A wonderful Trip to Calabria 2025 Our recent trip to Calabria was wonderful, only to make it that much more special by Vita Calabra Tours. Our travelling of the Calabrian region to see family was interwoven with tours exceptionally planned by Vita Calabra (Danilo & Enza). Vita Calabra Tours is a company which operates beyond expectations and offers carefully planned tours with your interests in mind. This was evident with our experience of the history of the region (historical sites) , complimented with a tour of how Italy's famous Olive Oil is processed and a cooking class, of how to make an authentic Italian meal. The experience certainly did not disappoint ; from the pickup at the airport, to the personal Tour Guide offered in discovering new places and experiences. We would definitely recommend this tour company. Danilo is definitely client centric in listening to your needs and managing your interests. A humble and extremely engaged Tour Guide manager, making your vacation a time you will never forget!!!!We will never forget our trip to Southern Italy. Thank-you ever so muchPaul & Mirella GasperiOntario, Canada

The perfect introduction to Calabria and my ancestors' villages For decades, I dreamt of visiting the Calabrian village where my grandfather was born. Despite traveling all over the world, this particular trip intimidated me because I don’t speak fluent Italian and am not comfortable driving narrow and steep switchback roads up to hilltop communities. It was also important to me that when I did visit, I did so in a way that would be respectful of the people who still live there.When I found Danilo of Vita Calabra Tours contributing helpful advice on various online groups devoted to this undiscovered region of Italy, I knew I’d found the right partner to help turn my dream into reality.From our first few emails back and forth, I recognized I had hit the jackpot. He was clear and concise and explained what he could do to help me and my husband visit three villages where my ancestors came from. His energy and enthusiasm made me even more excited for the trip and it was clear he loves Calabria and wants to introduce others to its charms.On the day of the tour, he was at our hotel waiting for us at the appointed time. We drove about an hour to Gasperina, our first planned stop, and it was just so much fun talking with him about Calabria and his life there.He had arranged for a well-known local historian and professor, as well as an expat who had returned to Italy — both of whom had ties to our next stop, Montauro — to join us on our exploration. We learned so much about the history of the places and what life was like when my grandfather lived there. It added context we never would have been able to discover on our own.At Sant’Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio, we met several representatives from the “proloco” (civic organization) who joined our tour and showed us many of the beautiful, hidden spots in town. Danilo and the proloco even arranged a private visit to the Convento Delle Suore Riparatrici. We were touched to have this opportunity and saw art and religious relics that rival what we’ve seen in museums in Rome and Florence.Throughout, we enjoyed terrific conversation — with Danilo translating for us at every turn. We also had a wonderful lunch together and even walked along the beach at Soverato.It was a perfect day. We are already planning on returning with the rest of our family to see more of the area and we’ll rely on Danilo for that trip, too.If you are considering a guided tour in Calabria, go with Danilo and Vita Calabra Tours. It will be magical.PS: One additional note for anyone who’s booked a private tour and arrived to find an old, unsafe or un-airconditioned vehicle. Danilo arrived in a brand-new Mercedes sprinter van that was pristine with excellent air conditioning. I mention this because coming from the US, we are used to AC everywhere. You won’t find that in Italy and you may not think to ask potential tour operators about their vehicles. This may seem minor, but it made the tour so much more comfortable.

Tour of Belsito, Calabria with Danilo My family and I had the most incredible day touring Belsito, Calabria, with Danilo to visit my father-in-law’s hometown. Honestly, it was so much more than we ever imagined. Danilo was amazing from the get-go—super responsive, warm, and totally tuned in to what would make this trip special for us. When we got to Belsito, the whole village welcomed us like we were long-lost family. The church bells were ringing, and the mayor came out to greet us with homemade pastries and chilled Prosecco—such a sweet touch! Vincenzo, another local, joined us and shared stories about the town’s history and old legends in Calabrese, with Danilo translating everything into English so we could keep up. It felt like we were stepping back in time, connecting to my father-in-law’s roots in a way that gave us all chills.The real surprise came at the end when Danilo had booked us a table at this amazing farm-to-table restaurant. The food was next-level—fresh ingredients, bursting with flavor—and the view! Oh my gosh, we were surrounded by mountains, with these stunning vistas stretching out to nearby villages. It was like something out of a movie. The whole day felt so personal and heartfelt. Danilo’s love for Calabria and his knack for making every detail perfect made this trip unforgettable for our family. If you’re thinking about exploring Calabria, you’ve got to book with Danilo. Seriously, you’ll be talking about it for years!

Spectacular day learning of our ancestors Danilo went above and beyond to coordinate a special day in Calabria for my family. We visited the town where our relatives lived and met the mayor, vice mayor and priest. We obtained copies of important documents such as birth certificates. We visited the exact spot where our relatives house stood. And furthermore we enjoyed the local sights and a delicious lunch prepared special for us. It was the trip of a lifetime for my family who will cherish this experience for years to come. I highly recommend Danilo’s services!

So wonderful! We cannot say enough good things about our trip. Danilo planned a 2 week adventure for us encompassing ancestral villages and things we would never have discovered on our own. It has been the trip of a lifetime. We will return and hopefully Danilo will help us make the next trip as wonderful as this one. We recommend 5 stars💯!

My son and I contacted Danilo Verta because so many people have shared their good experiences with him. I still was not prepared for how moving it was to visit the town where my family lived before moving to the United States. I also over-estimated my ability to accomplish our mission without professional help. Danilo warmly and expertly guided us through modern Italy and into the past. He understood our desire to explore our ancestry while experiencing Calabria today. He found birth records, arranged a home-cooked meal, and sent us on a nature hike. He is a delightful person who loves his work.

Let Danilo Guide You Through the Present into the Past I have relied on guides in more than 30 countries, and Danilo is one of the best. Danilo’s many 5-star reviews share the themes of warmth, knowledge, helpfulness, and exceeding expectations. For many of us, returning “home” to Calabria for the first time is an emotional experience. It also can be complicated and logistically difficult to discover the past and navigate the present. My son and I felt like Danilo was gently holding our hands, from guiding the initial family research to walking us into city hall to receive my grandfather’s birth certificate. He also arranged a home chef and a wilderness hike. Despite the very professional marketing material, this is an owner-operated business. If you hire the company, you get the boss.

Danilo spent two days with us providing us with fabulous experiences and understanding the culture and life of people in Calabria specifically in Fagnano or Fano Costello Danilo also helped us to connect with a long lost family member which we didn’t even think would be possible. I can’t say enough good things about our experience and what he provided for us I recommend, using him highly if you want to get to know the people and the life of someone in Calabria

Fabulous time in Calabria Danilo Virto Took us on a spectacular tour of Calabria to an olive farm and watch the process of olive oil. Then he spent the next day with us in Fagnano and we learned about my husband‘s ancestors and even got to meet up with one of them. We spent the day with our long lost relatives. More than my heart could’ve been imagined all thanks to Danilo and his hard work creating a magical experience for us.

Well Organized and Exceed Expectations. Danilo did a fantastic job organizing our visit, which exceeded our expectations. He made arrangements at the best hotels and restaurants and arranged ag tours. He led us on an informative walking tour of Altomonte. Through his deep research, he was able to locate my grandfather's birth certificate and childhood home. Also, he located extended family members living in the area and set up a meeting. Overall, it was an excellent tour that went smoothly and had no issues. We recommend Danilo and hope to revisit Calabria soon.