Badolato outside the walls
A journey through art, history and nature in the residences and landscapes of Badolato
Guided Tour
Regione Calabria
On the weekend of 11 and 12 October 2025, the FAI – Italian Environment Fund invites you to discover the wonders of Calabria with the FAI Autumn Days. In Badolato, the "Badolato outside the walls" itinerary comes to life, offering two days to explore villas, castles, convents and landscapes in the Badolato countryside, on a journey that intertwines art, nature and memory.
Among the most eagerly awaited openings is Villa Paparo, an elegant noble residence on the seafront, which can be visited exclusively on this occasion. A place suspended in time, where furnishings, period objects, 18th-century clothing and a rare crystal piano tell the story of a family and its refined world.
An immersive experience awaits visitors at the 'RespiraTerra' art garden, a widespread museum where creativity meets nature among centuries-old olive trees and contemporary works. On Sunday morning, the space will also host workshops for families and children entitled 'Shapes and colours among the olive trees', dedicated to painting and sculpture.
The tour continues with a visit to the majestic Gallelli Castle, residence of the Barons Gallelli of Badolato, built in 1853 and known for its private collection of armour, the largest in southern Italy. During the days, it will be possible to admire a photographic exhibition dedicated to the traditional 'simulated fox hunt on horseback'.
Among the places of spirituality, the Convent of the Franciscan Friars Minor, dating back to the 17th century, preserves precious works of art, including the wooden group of the Madonna degli Angeli musicanti by Fra Diego da Careri, recently restored.
The tour ends at Villa Collina, an international residence that welcomes the Danish community of Badolato and which, on the occasion of the FAI Days, will host a concert by the Sonderborg Big Band Opus2 on the evening of 12 October.
There will also be opportunities for discovery in the old town: on Sunday 12 October, at 10:00 am, a guided walk will depart from the Belvedere in Piazza Castello, taking in the streets of the historic centre, churches, exhibitions and places of symbolic importance to the community.
