HollyDay Travel has completed its inaugural Southern Italy tour, taking a group of Australasian guests on a 13-day cultural immersion journey through Calabria and Sicily.
Personally hosted by Holly Velardo, owner of HollyDay Travel in South Australia, and her Italian husband Angelo, the tour offered guests unprecedented access to authentic local experiences in Angelo’s hometown of Bagnara – a charming fishing village that rarely sees tourists.
The unique itinerary was personally created and designed by Holly and Angelo, conducted in partnership with Trafalgar Tours utilising their full size coaches, expert local travel directors and knowledgeable local guides.
The highlight of the tour was the visit to Bagnara, an authentic coastal treasure in Calabria where the entire community embraced the group.
“Cars were pulling over, people were popping out of shops just to say hello,” said Holly. “The whole town knew we were bringing a group and the genuine warmth was overwhelming.”
The personal nature of the experience was evident throughout, with guests dining at Angelo’s cousin’s restaurant, visiting the family church where Angelo’s parents worshipped as a child and being welcomed into local businesses by the owners themselves.
Tour director Federica’s passionate rendition of Ave Maria in the family church moved several guests to tears, creating what Holly described as “a truly magical moment.”
Unlike conventional Italy tours focussing on Rome-Venice-Florence, this carefully crafted itinerary showcased the authentic Southern Italy that Holly and Angelo call their second home. The tour included:
- 19 meals featuring fresh local cuisine including pesce spada (swordfish), handmade pasta, and regional specialities
- Exclusive experiences such as a private visit to Ceramica Spoleti La Regina, where master craftsman Mr. Spoleti demonstrated traditional ceramic making techniques
- Mt. Etna exploration with early access to volcanic craters and wine tasting at the 400-year-old Tenuta di Fessina winery
- Cooking classes and tastings throughout the journey
“We travelled with the best group, ever,” said guest Christine Andrews, capturing the sentiment shared by the entire group. Many guests, despite having travelled extensively through Italy before, expressed that this small group tour exceeded all expectations.
“Twenty-three strangers became friends as we wandered through cobblestone streets together, sharing stories over the most incredible meals,” Holly reflected.
Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural tour, HollyDay Travel has announced their 2027 Southern Italy departure for June, with limited spots remaining.
“Seeing the genuine friendships that formed over shared meals and laughter and knowing that 23 people now carry a piece of this beautiful region in their hearts – this is exactly why we created this tour,” said Holly.
