A Relaxed Morning in Lamezia Terme
We took full advantage of a free morning in Lamezia Terme by taking a leisurely stroll down the main high street. Wandering in and out of local shops is always one of the best ways to get a feel for everyday Italian life. Along the way, we stumbled upon Italy’s equivalent of a dollar store—and, naturally, we couldn’t resist going in! We walked out with a few items we actually needed, alongside a few fun impulse buys we definitely didn’t need!
As we walked down toward the train station, we spotted a sight that made us do a double-take: the “Old Wild West Café.” It’s always amusing to see a slice of American culture transposed right into the heart of Calabria.
A Quick Lunch & Spritz at Il Fornaio Angotti dal 1977
For lunch, we stayed close to our hotel and stopped at Il Fornaio Angotti dal 1977. This place was a wonderful local bakery and café, perfect for grabbing a quick bite and enjoying a refreshing afternoon Spritz while soaking in the neighborhood energy before our afternoon adventure.
Trekking up the Mountain to the Norman Castle
At 2:00 PM, we met our local guide for a walking tour up to the Norman-Swabian Castle Ruins (Castello Normanno-Svevo). When I say “up the mountain,” I mean UP the mountain!
It turned into a solid, rigorous two-hour hike winding up the hills of Nicastro. The climb was steep, but reaching the ancient stone fortifications overlooking the city and the valley made every step worth it. As a fun highlight, I even made time to snap a photo with a statue of my Norman ancestor, Emperor Frederick II!
Evening Dinner at Diana e Nettuno
After hiking back down to the hotel to refresh, we headed down the street for dinner at Ristorante Diana e Nettuno. Since seafood isn’t really my preference, it wasn’t my personal favorite meal of the trip, but the restaurant catered heavily to regional seafood specialties and everyone else in the group thoroughly enjoyed their dishes.
It was a fantastic, action-packed day balancing local town life with serious mountain history. Tomorrow, we’re off to the stunning coastal cliffs of Tropea!
Have you ever traveled somewhere to trace your family history? Let me know in the comments below!
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