History, traditions and legends

Rende is a town full of wonders. It is located near Cosenza and has a medieval flavour all its own. It was built in antiquity, on top of a hill, in the Norman era. Founded in 1095 as a stronghold by order of Boemondo d’Altavilla, it underwent major transformations over time due to various dominations, including the Bourbons and the French. It owes its name to the latter: Renne, in fact, means kingdom in old French! The variety of cultures, as well as the customs and traditions that have passed through it have contributed to it becoming an important university town since 1970. The flourishing of arts and crafts within it, especially between the 19th and 20th centuries, made it to all intents and purposes, the city of museums. Famous artists, such as Giorgio de Chirico and Mattia Preti, still adorn it with their works. Its marvels are many, but there are four in particular that capture the attention of every visitor. These are the Norman castle, the many museums, Rossini Park where the town hall is located, and Robinson Park. Added to these attractions are the numerous churches and the botanical garden of the University of Calabria.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

The Rende Castle is of ancient Norman origin. It was built in 1095 in the historical centre of the city, and exactly on the highest point of the hill where it stands. Bohemond I of Antioch, son of Robert Guiscard, decreed the laying of its foundation stone, with the intention of guarding and defending the area under his jurisdiction from invaders. According to the sources of the time, the function of the castle had already been planned years earlier, but in a different way. The intention was to erect a series of strongholds in the Crati valley for defensive purposes. However, the castle of Rende, once built, was used as a military base for the preparation of the first crusade, which took place in 1096, commanded by Bohemond I himself. The monument’s fame grew considerably, making it rise to the role of a symbol for the town community. Further proof of this is its representation on today’s municipal coat of arms. From the outside, the castle appears as imposing as it is impenetrable. The walls more than two metres thick and the particular architectural conformation made the construction of a moat for further protection of the structure unnecessary, a practice that was usual for the Normans at the time. Looking at it from the outside, one can see small windows and loopholes from which archers were able to shoot arrows, pitch and darts at the besiegers without being hit in turn. Resisting all attacks, the imposing manor house later passed to the Swabians and from them to the Angevins and then to the Aragonese, ending up in the hands of the Adorno counts. More recently, it was transformed into a stately palace, becoming the property of illustrious noble families such as the Alarçon de Mendoza and Magdalone families. The latter resided there until the transformation of the historical building into the seat of the city municipality, i.e. until 1922.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is to all intents and purposes the city’s cathedral. It is a 12th century building, characterised by a very simple façade on which a tall rose window stands out. At first glance, one notices its Latin cross plan divided into three naves, but much has been rebuilt since the original construction. Unfortunately, the church suffered considerable damage in the earthquakes. In order to make it safe, those responsible for the work, including Raffaele De Bartolo, rebuilt the barrel vault above the nave and the columns, replacing the pre-existing ones in tufa with mighty masonry artefacts. Inside the church, visitors can admire numerous religious statues made of marble or wood, as well as Saint Anthony of Padua by Giuseppe Grana and paintings by Cristoforo Santanna.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

The church of St Francis of Assisi together with the convent of the Franciscan Observants dates back to the 16th century. It is still rich in monastic mysticism thanks to its important size, mitigated by the measured architectural elegance that recalls the humility typical of the Franciscan order. Visiting it, one perceives an aura of peace and serenity that comforts the heart. To the right of the main entrance, the church is flanked by the above-mentioned building of the old convent, whose premises – restored and modernised – have been used by the University of Calabria as a conference centre, welcoming scholars from all over. The construction, begun in 1525, was inaugurated in 1533 after papal approval. In 1569 and 1638, the building was severely tested by earthquakes. Reconstruction took place in 1647, as evidenced by a plaque inside the cloister. Following the domination of successive dominations, the convent underwent alternating phases, but was finally suppressed in 1867. The interior of the church is beautifully decorated in Baroque style. The following four main works can be admired:

The Madonna and Child by an unknown southerner – 18th century canvas, (m 2.38×1.50). The painting celebrates the glorification of the Mother of God, depicted against a heavenly background with the divine Child clasped to her breast and flanked by St. Vincent Ferreri.

The Pieta by Cristoforo Santanna – 18th century canvas, (m 2.38×1.50). The artist depicts the moment of the ‘Pieta’ in which the body of Jesus is laid on the lap of the Holy Mother. Dominant is the figure of Jesus’ body, slimmed for the torture, but around him can be seen the three Marys (the Mother, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Cleophas) as well as Salome.

The Immaculate Virgin between two angels by Francesco De Mura – 18th century canvas (m2.80×1.70). Here the Immaculata is depicted in a pink dress, surmounted by a blue cloak. The moment depicted is when, surrounded by angels, she tramples the spirit of evil.

The Apotheosis of the Immaculate by Cristoforo Santanna – 1797 canvas (m 7.00×3.00). This painting was commissioned to the artist by the friars of the convent. It celebrates the Virgin rising against a celestial background between angels and winged heads. It also depicts the Eternal Father, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and John Duns Scotus, one of the greatest scholastic thinkers.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

This church appears externally solid and with very simple features, despite its Baroque date; yet, inside it reveals a beating heart of devotion and warmth for the faithful. The first stone of the building was laid around 1600, but the finished work has evolved considerably over many years. The façade that can be seen today was redone in 1719: it features an admirable multi-coloured stained glass window at the top depicting the Madonna of Constantinople with Child. The Latin cross plan lends solemnity to the sanctuary. Its interior, as anticipated, stands in stark contrast to the austerity of the exterior. In fact, it is richly decorated and features a dome entirely frescoed by Capizzano with images of the Virgin of Constantinople in Glory. The high altar is of excellent workmanship, featuring multi-coloured marble. In the chapel is a beautiful oil-painted icon framed by a fine copper support. The shrine also houses a small museum with sacred vestments and silver objects dating from around 1600.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

It is an admirable 18th-century Baroque building located in Piazza del Seggio, right in the centre of Rende. The building was erected starting from the end of 1677, although it was modified and remodelled several times over the next century, until it achieved, towards the end of the 18th century, the appearance that can be admired today. The façade of the church, made of stone extracted from the quarry in Mendicino, was built in the 18th century by Raffaele and Giuseppe De Bartolo, under the influence of Neapolitan art of that period. The façade is divided into three sections, of which the central one is more recessed than the lateral ones. Valuable plant decorations dominate the portal framed by small columns. The church is rich in pilasters surmounted by Corinthian-style capitals and shell niches of clear Baroque inspiration. The interior of the building features exciting frescoes by Cristoforo Santanna.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

In the vicinity of the cathedral, in Via Bellarintha to be precise, visitors can find the Rende Civic Museum, built in the early 1980s. It is a curated exhibition inside the 18th-century Palazzo Zagarese, former home of the Rende noble family of the same name. It offers a review of civic folklore, as well as a picture gallery dedicated to Rendese painter Achille Capizzano. The building is divided into several rooms that revolve around the courtyard, which dates back to 1695. The museum has been architecturally remodelled several times, so it now features a double loggia. Its strategic location allows one to enjoy a splendid panoramic view directly from the terrace. The folklore section mentioned above is dedicated to the Calabrian anthropologist Lombardi Satriani and is set up to convey the particularity of the local culture. A vast panorama of popular customs and traditions can be seen in the exhibition rooms. The art gallery section, named after the painter Capizzano, displays works of great value. Among the most interesting are ‘Il Soldato’ by Mattia Preti and ‘La Madonna della Purità’ by Dirk Hendricksz.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

www.rendecentrostorico.it

It is an exhibition of artists from Calabria or who have worked in the area over the last two centuries. Its name, MAON, is an acronym that stands for Museo d’Arte Otto e Novecento (Museum of Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Art); therefore, it fully represents the works it contains. It has been housed since 2004 in the 19th-century Palazzo Vitari, located in the historic centre of Rende. Created on the initiative of the Achille Capizzano Centre for Art and Culture, MAON also has a significant documentary archive that makes it unique. As mentioned above, the museum showcases the excellence of Calabrian art, but does not shy away from proposing monographic exhibitions dedicated to great Italian and foreign artists, such as Giorgio de Chirico, Umberto Boccioni and Man Ray. The permanent exhibition is divided into different branches, among which are those dedicated to Achille Capizzano, Calabrian art and the works of 20th century masters. Visitors will be enraptured as they admire Salvador Dali’s ‘Evangelical Scene’, George Braque’s ‘Butterfly’ and Mimmo Rotella’s ‘Tiger’, as well as works by Picasso and Max Ernst.

Info and contacts:

MAON Museum – www.maon.it

Heading south of the historical centre of Rende, near Robinson Park and the Roges district, is the Museum of the Present. It is located in the modern part of the town and has eight exhibition rooms covering an area of 2500 m². The museum offers visitors modern and contemporary art exhibitions, photographic exhibitions, film forums and shows. It is also often transformed into an ideal venue for conferences and book presentations. The rooms are on two floors of a building as modern as the contemporary art to which it is dedicated. The museum was created with the intention of offering the population many cultural events: shows, conferences, photographic and contemporary art exhibitions and book presentations. There is also an Internet café where you can relax and enjoy the works while exchanging opinions and culture with other enthusiasts. Among the outstanding artists in this museum structure are Domenico lo Russo, Ivana Russo and Anna Romanello.

Info and contacts:

Facebook: museodelpresente

In the Roges district, it is worth visiting Robinson Park. This is Rende’s green lung, located right in the heart of its urban area. Inaugurated in the 1970s, it can to all intents and purposes be considered the first city park: since then, it has been a meeting place for outdoor recreation for various age groups, thanks to its shady lawns, ideal for pleasant walks. The area also offers an ice-skating rink, an amphitheatre and children’s areas equipped for the enjoyment of the little ones. According to local urban planning plans, the area is to be redeveloped to become ‘the largest inclusive park in Europe’. Robinson Park can be reached on foot not only from Rende, but also from Cosenza, via Viale Mancini, which connects the urban areas of the two cities. The area is also continuously served by public transport. Near the park, there are numerous refreshment facilities: bars, ice-cream parlours, pizzerias, shops and even a shopping centre. In addition to a stroll in the green nature it offers, perhaps stopping to admire the amphitheatre and the pond inhabited by ducks and ducklings, the park also offers a skating rink where skaters and rollerbladers can safely enjoy themselves.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rende – www.comune.rende.cs.it

We are talking about a rural centre in the Presilana belt located 640 metres above sea level and characterised by very interesting views for visitors. San Pietro in Guarano has very ancient origins: its first inhabited nucleus has been dated around the second century B.C., therefore in the middle of the Roman era! As evidence of this, archaeologists have found finds in the nearby locality of Vigne. San Pietro has been known since the beginning of the 19th century because of the courage of its inhabitants who rebelled against the harassment of invaders intent on plundering their homes, as evidenced by the painting in the town church of St. Peter the Apostle. The territory of the municipality stretches from the valley of the Crati river to the locality of Fago del Soldato, in Sila Grande, and includes the hamlets of Redipiano and San Benedetto in Guarano, as well as numerous smaller towns. Near San Pietro is Monte Margherita, dedicated to the memory of a woman killed by a man named Raone, probably a local brigand capable of instilling terror and imposing duties and tests of courage to pass through the inaccessible territories under his control.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of San Pietro in Guarano – www.comune.sanpietroinguarano.cs.it

This is a sacred building built in the late 19th and early 20th century by architect Pisanti, who was responsible for the restoration of Cosenza Cathedral. The church in question is located in the centre of San Pietro in Guarano and has a single hall conformation with a rectangular apse. Worthy of note is the high altar made of wood, the balustrade in front of it and the bronze gate – from Cosenza Cathedral – dating from around the mid-18th century, a gift from Archbishop Capece Galeotta. The façade, divided into two levels by pillars in classical style, has four empty niches, as well as a grandiose round-arched portal framing the main doorway, which is accompanied by a 2001 painting depicting the Madonna of Jerusalem with Child. The church also has a bell tower with a clock and harmonious mullioned windows.

It is the oldest religious building in San Pietro in Guarano. Its origins date back to the 14th century, when the monks built it and dedicated it to their patroness, the Blessed Virgin of Consolation. The building has a clean and monastically simple style: its classical Latin cross plan is flanked by a square-based bell tower. Inside, the space is divided into three naves where works of great spiritual and artistic value are located. In the left aisle one can see the original crucifix, placed there by the founding monks, in the central aisle a marble altar with Baroque decorations recently restored, while in the right aisle there are paintings depicting sacred subjects. The more observant will notice in the paintings holes caused by bullets that Napoleon’s troops fired into the church in 1806, the date of the bloody suppression of an anti-French revolt. This damage was not repaired, but left as a testimony to the heroic defence of their cultural and religious heritage, courageously carried out by the locals. Also noteworthy is the reproduction of the Grotto of Lourdes in the left aisle.

Situated in the heart of Sila Grande, at an altitude of 1,200 m, the Camigliati Tower is a typical example of an 18th century Silan baronial residence. It is a completely restored monument of national interest, immersed in the green of a private park of about 60 hectares and surrounded by trees, streams and flowering meadows. Work on the monument only took place recently, after decades of neglect since the land reform of 1950. Today, the structure has regained its former glory: for a time, in fact, the tower was the only luxury hotel in the entire Silan area. Since 2001, it has become a cultural centre for the development and promotion of the area, inserted within the broader project called ‘Parco Oldcalabria’. Immersed in a landscape of incomparable beauty, monuments such as this one represent the bulwarks symbolising the strength of the landowners in their struggle with the peasants who cultivated the local land.

Info and contacts:

www.torrecamigliati.com

Camigliatello is one of the centres of the Sila Grande with the greatest vocation for tourism. The name derives from the Scamigliati, religious men who did not wear shirts under their habit. Characterised by a built-up area of beautiful mountain architecture surrounded by lush larch pine forests, the entire centre of the town falls within the Sila National Park and is characterised by its typical breathtaking mountain views. Camigliatello is also a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, with slopes dedicated to alpine and cross-country skiing and the modern cableway of Mount Curcio. In summer, too, there are many opportunities for outdoor activities for hikers, thanks to a dense network of trekking trails of varying difficulty, and long itineraries that can be covered by mountain bike. Other points of interest in the area include the archaeological areas in the hollows later used to create artificial lakes: remains of Neanderthal Man settlements and Neolithic fishing and farming villages, as well as evidence from Greek and Roman times, have been found in these areas.

Info and contacts:

Camigliatello Turismo – www.camigliatelloturismo.it

The Tasso Biogenetic Nature Reserve, the former natural ‘silo’ for shipbuilding timber, comprises 223 hectares of unspoilt forest, with the typical Sila larch pine towering in number and size of trees. Protected today as it was then, the Tasso Nature Reserve is home to the Silan wolf, the famous predator that is one of the symbols of Sila, but also to the small driomio, a rodent similar to the dormouse. A dedicated birdwatching area within the reserve allows even the most inexperienced observers to come into contact with sparrow hawks, scops owls, woodpeckers, lizards and crossbills, which can be admired immersed in their natural habitat.

The nature reserve is famous for preserving the famous Giants of the Sila, i.e. fifty-six monumental specimens of laricio pine over five hundred years old, up to 45 metres tall and over two metres in diameter at the base. Inside the reserve, now managed by the FAI, there are other younger specimens of larch pine, as well as various wild apple, beech, chestnut, quaking aspen and sycamore maple trees. These plants represent the last remnants of the oldest forests of Sila, which originally populated the entire plateau and were progressively cut down in the period following the Unification of Italy for industrial needs, and later after World War II to repay the American and British allies in timber. The name Fallistro means ‘dark, hollowed-out place’. A silk spinning mill operated on the site until 1910.

Info and contacts:

FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano – www.fondoambiente.it/luoghi/i-giganti-della-sila

Sila National Park – www.parcosila.it

The idea of building a narrow-gauge railway connecting the city of Cosenza to the port of Crotone, crossing the Sila plateau, was born as early as the end of the 19th century. Various political and bureaucratic vicissitudes, together with the progressive improvement of road connections, caused the realisation of the project to be delayed in time and only partially realised between the 1930s and the 1950s. Originally conceived as a support system for the transport of timber, the infrastructure later acquired an interest in tourism, although its operation was always on and off. Today, visitors to Sila can enjoy a short but fascinating experience moving between the stations of Camigliatello and San Nicola Silano: a short journey through space, but a real leap back in time, comfortably seated on the wagons pulled by an old steam locomotive. The service operates by reservation at different times of the year.

Info and contacts:

Sila Train – www.trenodellasila.it

La Nave della Sila is the local museum dedicated to the theme of emigration. Conceived by journalist Gian Antonio Stella, it was built by Sila architect Barracco. Inside, we find a reproduction of the classic steamship from the early 20th century that brought thousands of Calabrian emigrants to foreign lands. The museum was created from the transformation of an old cowherd and is part of the ‘Oldcalabria Park’ project, which represents a journey through history and the society that made the region of Calabria internationally known. Through blow-ups, and recordings of traditional folk songs, a narrator’s voice guides the visitor through the history of the men of Sila with great transport and emotion. The museum has several interactive sections with the task of leading the visitor to the discovery of emigration-related themes, such as the relationship with relatives left behind in the country of origin, the discovery of the new world, poverty, and homesickness.

Info and contacts:

www.lanavedellasila.org

The town of Acre is located at an altitude of 700 metres within a valley that consists of no less than twenty thousand hectares of land. Its peculiarity? It is spread over three hills, which are also prominently displayed on the heraldic coat of arms. One of the hills is Padìa, the ancient village, where the civic tower known as Rocca dei Bruzi stands out, while the other two summits are represented by Picitti (Greek quarter) and Odivella. In addition to the many religious buildings, frequently linked to the figure of Saint Angelo of Acre, we recommend a visit to the Castle of Acre and the many noble palaces in the area for their architectural merit.

Info and contacts:
Municipality of Acre – www.comune.acri.cs.it

Built in 1893 to a design by architect Guido Quercioli from Rome, the church, elected a Shrine after the proclamation of Angelo da Acri as a Saint of the Catholic Church by Pope Francis in 2017, was inaugurated with a solemn celebration on 17 July 1898. The church is dedicated to Brother Angelo, born Lucantonio Falcone at the end of the 17th century, who was named Blessed for his miracles as early as 1825, by Pope Leo XII . The bronze door of the building is truly imposing: it weighs a good five tonnes! It is engraved with the seven virtues, namely faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, as well as a representation of Jesus with his Disciples, accompanied by the papal coat of arms. The church has a 32-metre high dome, surrounded by two bell towers of the same height. Inside, there are no less than twelve noble chapels, arranged in two rows. Between the second and third altars, there is the Chapel of St. Angelo with the bronze urn by Sabatini, placed on a raised sarcophagus housing the Saint’s remains, reassembled by the anthropologist Ettore Brandizzi. In the chapel, the mosaic, imitating the palaeo-Christian style of Ravenna, is an absolute must-see, composed of tesserae that in their harmony synthesise, thanks to the work of the artist Father Ugolino da Belluno, the Saint’s ideals. The interior of the basilica is also entirely frescoed with scenes depicting the miracles of Saint Angelo d’Acri.

The community of Acri expressly wanted to pay homage to the figure of Saint Angelo da Acri in order to pass on, as much as possible, his preaching work and his fervent Christian spirit, by setting up a small but evocative museum in the premises attached to the church. In it, visitors can admire the Saint’s relics, in addition to the remains and original habit preserved in the church: these are objects from the daily life the Saint led within the Capuchin order. Also noteworthy are the paintings, statues and ancient texts inside. Just a few steps from the museum is St. Angelo’s cell, known as the ‘solitary cell’ of the monastery, in which the pious man used to retire. This museum is a regular destination for many pilgrims who appreciate both its religious and artistic character.

The Castle of Acre, also called ‘Castel Vetere’, was erected to control the valley of the Mucone and Calamo rivers already in the Bruzi, i.e. pre-Roman, era. The Bruzi, or Bretti, were an ancient people of Italic stock who inhabited Calabria, as documented by sources from around 350 BC. The castle originally had a shape similar to that of a trapezium, with three towers placed in the highest part and a fourth in the lowest level of the defensive walls, guarding the drawbridge. The walls surrounding it are about two metres in diameter at the highest part, and four metres at the lowest. Since the early 20th century, the castle has been equipped with a cistern, for water supply in case of siege: it was about six metres high and twenty metres wide. From archaeological activities near the walls, several coins of Greek origin were found in 1999, some from Sybaris and others from Thurii: at present, this heritage is under the Archaeological Superintendence of the Sibaritide.

In the Middle Ages, ancient walls defended the Padìa district, forming a citadel that also included the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, another of Acre’s fundamental religious monuments, listed in the 13th-century ‘platea’ of Bishop Ruffino da Bisignano in 1269. Visitors can admire both the Romanesque and Baroque styles of the building. The vault, once painted, remained bare due to a fire in 1780. Inside the church, traces of an early Christian temple were also found by a specialised team between 2004 and 2007.

In the main urban centre, and precisely in Piazza Sprovieri, the visitor encounters the 13th-century Church of the Annunziata, characterised by its peculiar three-storey white stone bell tower, on the second of which stands an imposing circular clock. The plan of the building is typically Romanesque in the form of a Latin cross with three naves. Worthy of note inside are the works of Raffaele d’Alvisio, author of the fresco depicting the Evangelists that appears on the dome of the High Altar. The church sacristy also houses a valuable painting from the Byzantine era that was discovered during the latest restoration work: although it is the last remaining fragment of a much larger work, one can see the Deposition of Christ and part of the Gothic inscription illustrating it.

The sacred building was built in 1590 thanks to a donation by Don Antonio Le Pera, but was not opened to the faithful until 1594. The dedication is clearly dedicated to St Mary of the Angels. What gives it its name, however, is the statue – the Madonna of Needs – placed near the altar and given to the people of Acre by Saint Angelo in 1729. Attached to the church is the convent, which in ancient times comprised eighteen cells, the refectory, the pantry, the workshop and the guest quarters, where the Capuchin friars still work today. The cloister, which gives breath to the structure, is square in plan, with a double row of segmental arches, five on each side, supported by Doric columns. Worthy of note is a sort of impluvium, represented by a cistern for collecting rainwater placed in the centre, while on one side of the courtyard are depictions of episodes from the life of Saint Angelo of Acre, dating from around the 18th century.

The visitor can find it in the ancient Casalicchio quarter, where its origins date back to 1070, during the time of the Angevins. The sacred building, subject to reconstruction after a strong earthquake, has a clean, linear structure, on which a small brick bell tower now stands out, as well as a bas-relief representing St Nicholas holding a large key, just above the entrance door. The three-nave interior features an altarpiece depicting the eponymous saint in the centre. In contrast, the left aisle ends with the sacristy, while the right aisle ends with a small chapel dedicated to tombstones. The church is also rich in works of art depicting the Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Grace, Saint Rita and Saint Lucy.

The church was founded by parish priest Giacomo De Piris in 1521 following an apparition of the Virgin Mary to a local devotee. The woman, tired from work, invoked the Virgin, who, after revealing herself, asked her to dig a well to bless the land that had been soaked in too much human blood. In fact, about a hundred years earlier, in 1462, there was a bloody siege by the Aragonese army, right where the old Jewish quarter stood.

Unfortunately, little remains of the building’s original splendour due to a fire in the mid-19th century; it was later rebuilt, but inside you can still admire the well from which pure water gushes out every year in May. In front of this ancient little church on the Tuesday after Pentecost in 1737, Saint Angelo handed over the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows to the people of Acre as their patroness. This work of art, once restored, was placed and kept in the Small Church of Sant’Angelo.

PALAZZO SANSEVERINO FALCONE – The Sanseverino palace was built at the behest of Giuseppe Leopoldo Sanseverino, 9th Prince of Bisignano, and designed by a Roman artist as a summer residence. A park, surrounded by walls, was soon added to the original construction. The palace has a square ground plan with a 40-metre edge and a large courtyard inside. The building has four floors accessible by stone steps. As the building is made of ordinary masonry of “pietrame” and common mortar, since the 19th century there has been a slow but steady process of deterioration, which, combined with the state of neglect, has caused significant damage to the structure, until part of it collapsed around 1960. The east wing of the ground floor is characterised by a large hall with walls with niches, said to have been decorated in the past with splendid marble figures. In the centre of the same room are eight stone columns with capitals in late 16th-century style, probably reused from an earlier building. The second floor, also known as the piano nobile, where the family resided, is made up of many halls, rich in frescoes, while the third floor was used for servants and the kitchen. The palace came under the Falcone family after the nobleman Don Angelo Falcone married Princess Carmela Sanseverino. In the 1980s, the palace was donated by the Falcone family to the City of Acre and now houses the MACA, Acre’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

PALAZZO PADULA – The Palazzo Padula was built by the writer and poet Vincenzo Padula (1819-1893) in an area that was originally isolated. Its construction was, according to the artist, an emblem of the position achieved by the man of culture in Acre. For this reason, he had two pens and an inkwell carved into the portal of the building. The palace was equipped with loopholes, suitable for placing firearms, to defend against possible attacks by brigands, very frequent at that time. Today, Palazzo Padula is the seat of the municipal library of Acre and the Padula Foundation, promoter of the annual international award dedicated to the writer’s memory. Also noteworthy is the Acre Museum of Rural Civilisation, housed inside the building.

PALAZZO FERAUDO – The building, with a rectangular floor plan, has four floors and a total area of approximately 880 square metres. The palace commissioned by Dr. Giacinto Feraudo was built in the mid-19th century to a design by architect Mattia Mele from Luzzi.

PALAZZO ASTORINO GIANNONE – Erected in the ‘Casalicchio’ district near the birthplace of Saint Angelo d’Acri, the Astorino Giannone palace also includes the saint’s chapel. The Giannone family, who came from Bitonto, used the palace as a country residence until the beginning of the 18th century, from which time it was inhabited by the Astorino family. Inside, there are still 18th- and 19th-century furniture and paintings. The palace has a library of thousands of ancient volumes that were passed on, virtually intact, to successive owners.

PALAZZO SPEZZANO – This is an ancient aristocratic residence dating back to the 18th century, which has belonged to the Spezzano family since its origins. The building is characterised by interesting architectural aspects that were even innovative for the period. The interior is divided into rooms, with efficient use of space, on three floors connected by a functional internal staircase.

PALAZZO DE SIMONE-JULIA – The structure in the historical centre of Acre was built in the early 17th century by the De Simone family and then passed on to their heirs, the Julia family. The building is an example of the ‘impalazzate’ houses, i.e. built in the shape of palaces, found in the historical centre of Acre. Its three-storey architecture reserved the role of storeroom for agricultural products for the ground floor.

Longobucco is 800 m above sea level and is located in the province of Cosenza, right in the heart of the Sila Greca, just 21 km from Lake Cecita. Despite boasting less than 5,000 inhabitants, this municipality is the third largest town in Calabria because it includes a large part of its territory that is part of the Sila National Park. In short, it is a pretty village nestled between the Sila Greca and Sila Grande, surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes that are home to countless animal and plant species. Around the inhabited area there is, since the Magna Grecia era, a large area of great mining importance linked to silver mining, which flourished in the past. According to some scholars, the roots of this village date back to that period! Indeed, it is possible to associate the description of the ancient city of Temesa with Longobucco thanks to Homer’s account in the Odyssey, precisely because of the conspicuous presence of silver mines along the Manna river. The entire territory of Longobucco, in fact, was rich in mine shafts, among which excelled the silver galena extracted and processed by Sybarites, Crotonians and Romans to mint their coins. Longobucco, in addition to natural beauty and real explorations into history, also offers monuments and traditions that are fully worth seeing to have an exciting experience of the area.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Longobucco – www.comune.longobucco.cs.it

The main watercourses of the plateau – the Cecita, the Lese and the Neto – originate from this splendid thousand-year-old forest, which extends to the east of Lake Cecita. The smaller watercourses, tributaries of the main rivers, develop among the roots of the alders, crossing with daffodils, rushes and ferns that populate the dense undergrowth. Soaring above the forest are the peaks of Altare at 1650, Pettinascura at 1708, Cozzo del Principe at 1629 and Serra Ripollata at 1682. The forest is thick and lush, and offers the suggestive ‘picture postcard’ alpine views typical of Sila. Try the Cupone – Cozzo del Principe – Fossiata – Cupone route. The departure point is the same as the arrival point. To do this, follow path No. 2 all the way and at the end, after about 9 km, take path No. 3, which descends to the river, skirting it for a few kilometres.

Brigandage was a complex and widespread social phenomenon in the Silan territory from the 18th to the 19th century. Its origin is to be found in the active resistance of groups of workers, artisans and peasants who, tired of suffering oppression and exploitation by local squires, took refuge in the woods and defended their territories with their teeth. Unfortunately, their good intentions were not understood and, as a result, these individuals, publicly labelled as outlaws, were persecuted and eliminated during the period of Italian unification. Having said that, there were many brigands and gangs that roamed the Sila mountains for a long time. The most important gangs were those of Antonio Santoro, known as ‘Re Curemme’, Domenico Sapia known as ‘Brutto’, Francesco Godino known as ‘Faccione’, Luigi Maio known as ‘Catalano’, Domenico Graziano known as ‘Turchio’, and Domenico Straface known as ‘Palma’ or ‘Il re della foresta’. Many of these brigands were originally from Longobucco, which was therefore the most active centre of this phenomenon for years. For this reason, on 24 September 2011, the town council inaugurated the Centre for Documentation on Brigandage, with the aim of collecting and preserving the most striking documents, thus providing a useful reference point for scholars, researchers and students wishing to learn more about it. The centre is located in the Franciscan Monastery – at the House of Associations and Cultures: the documents collected inside deal with the subject from different points of view, namely the social, military, political, literary, juridical and human points of view.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Longobucco – www.comune.longobucco.cs.it

The Museo dell’Artigianato Silano e della Difesa del suolo (Museum of Sila Handicrafts and Soil Defence), located in Longobucco, inside the former convent of the Franciscan Friars Minor, is an important bulwark for the dissemination of knowledge of the Sila territory and its people. The building that houses it, known as ‘dei Monaci’, is adjacent to the ancient church of Santa Maria Maddalena and was inaugurated in 1615 by one of the probable founders, Dr Benedetto Greco. From 1937 until the year 2000, the annual industrial vocational training course was held there, which later became a training and retraining school. In 2008, the former convent underwent restoration work and today, preserving its old style, it fulfils its role as the centre of Longobucca culture. The aforementioned museum structure is part of the project for the redevelopment of the area and its promotion as a destination for cultural, nature and sports tourism (with particular reference to the segment of visitors interested in protected areas, in order to enhance the link between historical-cultural, ecological-environmental and food-and-wine heritage). It is an ecomuseum, i.e. a cultural institution whose essential components are the territory, the population and the heritage, understood as everything to which the community has attributed sufficient value over time to be manifested. The aim is to make it more and more a true showcase, where to highlight the reasons for interest, to encourage nature tourism in the area, and to highlight the critical issues on which to draw public attention in order to encourage a more effective environmental protection policy. Inside the museum is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the tradition, arts and crafts typical of Longobucco, with a focus on local handicrafts.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Longobucco – www.comune.longobucco.cs.it

One of Longobucco’s historical and monumental assets is the Matrix Church, typically Baroque but built on an earlier medieval structure, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and since 1960 a Marian Sanctuary. The fascinating marly limestone façade with partly Baroque and partly Romanesque decorations makes a strong impact on the visitor. Inside, the church contains many works of art, such as the wood carvings created by carvers from Serra San Bruno, as well as the two large frescoes in the choir (The Nativity and The Adoration of the Magi), painted by Cristoforo Santanna da Rende, one of the greatest Calabrian artists of the 18th century and inspired by human models from Longobucca. The most precious heritage is, however, the wooden icon in relief, depicting a black Madonnina with Child, known as ‘dei Carbonai’. The work, placed on the altar of the Chapel of the Assumption, was made by artists from Sila around the 12th-15th centuries.

The area around Longobucco is steeped in the legends of its ancient brigands. One of the most famous tells of a young bride kidnapped and robbed of all her wedding gifts. It is the story of the ‘Stone of the Bride’ or the ‘Treasure Stone’, reported by leading local and national newspapers. The famous stone really exists and stands out like a jewel surrounded by greenery, which can be visited by trekking enthusiasts. Behind its legend lies the hiding place of a much larger booty, hidden by brigands: to find it, it would be necessary to go there alone, and moreover at night, following specific directions received in a dream. Since this is not easy to do, no one has yet managed to unearth the secret passage that would allow access to the aforementioned riches… Perhaps this is why such a destination is so coveted and visited.

Called the town ‘of silvers and looms’, Longobucco has always been a place of great interest for the tradition of textile processing. Over the centuries, the women who lived there became so expert at working with textiles, such as raw silk, waste and wool, that their artefacts are still considered true works of art today. In Longobucco, we find the Broom Museum, named after Eugenio Celestino, which exhibits various processed textile artefacts, such as bedspreads, carpets, tapestries and documents the entire processing cycle from the plant to the yarn. The museum traces the entire cycle of broom processing, including steeping, beating, threading, carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. On display are ancient textiles, tapestries, bedspreads and carpets of exquisite workmanship. Traditional Longobucco weaving is, in a very close way, intertwined with the Celestino family, whose master Eugenio, as early as the 1920s, with surprising entrepreneurial skill, realised the importance of the artistic weaving that the women of Longobucco practised at family level, and therefore decided to set up a true craft enterprise that would put this excellence at the centre.

Info and contacts:

www.mariocelestino.it

The bell tower of Longobucco was built as a watchtower for enemies; therefore, it is isolated and characterised by a functional architecture, as much as square, with masonry in exposed tuff blocks, resting on a base of large granite pebbles cemented with lime. All the materials from which the building is made were most likely found in the mountains and streams surrounding the village. The bell tower is located in front of the Matrice Church and consists of three superimposed dice – the third of which is slightly smaller – simply divided by string-course cornices. With regard to the tower’s historiographical data, a number of citations have been found in the artistic literature, including one by the architectural historian Arnaldo Venditti, who likens Longobucco’s bell tower to the much more famous bell tower of the cathedral of Melfi, a work signed by Noslo di Remerio in 1153.

“U Sacchiattu’ is a unique typical product of Longobucco.

To prepare it, the front leg of the pig is taken, between the foot and the thigh, and all the muscle is extracted, leaving the rind intact; it is cut into small pieces, then sprinkled with salt and black peppercorns; the mixture is then put back into the rind and sewn together with kitchen twine, both at the bottom and at the top; to make the sewing, despite the leathery consistency of the rind, a shoemaker’s awl is used.

The preparation is totally artisanal and requires time and patience. u sacchiattu is not currently on sale, but it is hoped that soon, thanks in part to the action of the Gal, which with the Terre di Calabria project has drawn up the production specifications, it will be marketed in restaurants and shops.

In the vicinity of Bocchigliero, the Basilicò forest represents a biogenetic reserve that occupies a particularly important area from a floristic point of view. A visit to it in springtime is a real spectacle: anemones, orchids, campanulas and primroses dazzle with intoxicating colours and scents. There is no shortage of shrub species such as dog rose, laurel, broom, holly, heather, butcher’s broom, but there are also many trees such as oak, maple, ash and linden.

It is a characteristic village located in the heart of Sila on an elevated spur, a good 870 metres above sea level. In all probability, the urban agglomeration was born as a Roman colony during the Second Punic War, on the ruins of a citadel fortified by the Bruzi, but the archaeological sites found attest to important human settlements even earlier. The term Bocchigliero derives from the Roman Bocchilieurus, meaning land inhabited by shepherds. Due to the economic difficulties typical of the area at the time, many of the inhabitants emigrated elsewhere, causing the population to shrink from around 4,000 to its current 1,300 inhabitants. The municipality is surrounded by greenery: in addition to the Macchia della Giumenta Reserve, the Basilicò Forest, home to extraordinarily large tree species, is definitely worth a visit. The Laurenzana stream and the waterfalls of the Falconara valley and the Basilicò stream are also of great value. In the historical centre of the town, of medieval origin, the Mother Church, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Jesu, the Municipal Picture Gallery and the Museum of Agriculture are worth a visit.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Bocchigliero – www.comune.bocchigliero.cs.it

The Museum of Peasant Civilisation in Bocchigliero performs a very important didactic function due to the presence of tools and utensils related to the old local trades. In addition to this, four hundred historical photographs can be admired inside the museum that help in the reconstruction of customs, social life, work in the fields of the past and the performance of religious festivals. The Farmers’ Museum presents unique exhibits that unfold in different sections: shepherd and farmer, interior of a farmhouse, natural fibre processing (silkworm, broom, spinning and weaving with textile expo), bread-making, blacksmith’s tools, donkey breeding and use, shoemaker, carpenter, musical instruments and wine production.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Bocchigliero – www.comune.bocchigliero.cs.it

At the centre of numerous tales and superstitions, the Incavallicata stones stand majestically near the village of Campana. They are two large sandstone stones, of different shapes, which seem to depict a 6-metre high elephant and the legs of an even more imposing warrior respectively. In the same area stands a whole hill in the shape of a whale and a sculpture depicting a snake with a total length of about 10 metres. The hypothesis is that we are facing the largest prehistoric sculptures in Europe! Doubts about their genesis tickle the imagination of tourists: were they man-made, or shaped by time and weathering? The statues, rediscovered a few years ago, were already known in the past. In a 17th-century writing, Bishop Francesco Marino describes one of the sculptures as ‘the great colossus that fell to the ground because of earthquakes’. Furthermore, in an ancient map of Calabria, dated 1603, the Incavallicata is referred to as Il Cozzo dei Giganti. Little more remains of the Great Colossus today than the indefinitely shaped base, while the statue of the Stone Elephant is clearly visible. Scientifically speaking, there are many hypotheses about their origin, although at present no certain answer has been given and the dating and nature of the statues is still being studied. There are two main theories: the first is that they were made at the time of King Pyrrhus’ arrival in Italy, the first to bring elephants to Calabria; the second is that the statues are prehistoric sculptures and that the elephant depicts a Palaeoloxodon antiquus, a pachyderm with straight tusks that lived in Calabria in prehistoric times, as shown by the findings on the southern shore of Lake Cecita, in Campo San Lorenzo, near the municipality of Spezzano della Sila.

Campana is the village that you do not expect to find and that surprises you with its echoing desolation. An incredible place, where you can only find a living soul if you are able to listen to your own! Once you have ventured into the narrow streets, you get as far as you can go with your car and it is there that a shiver can run down your spine to awaken memories and ancient legends. Leaving the car in the last square of the inhabited village, dominated by the church of the Madonna di Costantinopoli and Palazzo Rizzo, now the site of a rest home, the visitor can push on to a part of the village that anyone would avoid at night. From there begins a street, called Calaserna, along which one gradually sinks into the decay of what has long since been abandoned to itself. Lovers of photographs of deserted buildings will be enraptured: glassless windows, crumbling walls, open doors to dark, empty rooms are everywhere! Continuing on, there is a short, narrow alley named after none other than Herodotus, which bears witness to the mention of this village in the works of the famous Greek historian. Moving further on, one passes an archway topped by the Norman Tower that once formed the entrance to the village. From here, the buildings become even more ghostly: although they are more recent buildings than the tower, they are in a far worse state than it. During the second half of the 20th century, in fact, the population largely abandoned Campana to move elsewhere, emigrating to the north, as well as abroad. Their houses, most likely not built to last, have been eaten away by the weather and worn away by time.

San Giovanni in Fiore is the largest municipality in Sila. It has about 18,000 inhabitants and is located in the vicinity of the Alta Val di Neto and the Montenero mountain district. It enjoys a beautiful record; in fact, it is the most populated Italian municipality above 1,000 metres. Its population centre is linked to the figure of Abbot Gioacchino da Fiore, a 12th-13th century exegete monk, who founded the monastery of San Giovanni in Fiore there, bringing many people from neighbouring places. The majestic Florense Abbey, one of the architectural jewels of the area, is dedicated to him. In memory of the religious figure, the International Centre for Gioachimite Studies was founded here, a body recognised by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, which studies and works to collect all the abbot’s writings. San Giovanni in Fiore is also linked to the historical figures of the Bandiera Brothers, Italian patriots who were captured in its vicinity in 1844. The municipality currently hosts the administrative headquarters of the Sila National Park, located in the hamlet of Lorica, belonging to the Silana Mountain Community.

Info and contacts:

www.lacapitaledellasila.it

The Florense Abbey represents the first nucleus of the settlement of San Giovanni in Fiore. It was erected between 1215 and 1230 in an area specially chosen by its founder, Joachim of Fiore, and is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The need for its construction arose following the burning down of the original Protocenobium (also known as the Abbey of San Sebastiano) in Iure Vetere. The abbey represents one of the largest and most important religious buildings in the whole of Calabria, around which the town of San Giovanni in Fiore developed. The religious building is characterised by a large nave that ends in a flat apse with four circular windows. It is worth visiting the crypt, where the remains of Joachim of Fiore were originally kept, later moved to the side chapel of the church. The crypt, an essential element of this architecture, is part of a larger underground system, which has now partly disappeared. On the ground and first floors of the east wing of the Abbey, the ancient traditions of the Silan peoples are narrated in the permanent exhibition called the Demological Museum of Silan Economy, Work and Social History.

Lake Arvo is an artificial basin created in 1926-32 for hydroelectric purposes, damming the course of the river of the same name and the Bufalo and Fiego torrents. It is located at an altitude of 1278 m and occupies an area of 8 square kilometres, making it the second largest in Sila, after Cecita. The dam that generated it is made of compacted earth and clay, a unique case in the entire region. As with the Cecita, Lake Arvo also fits harmoniously into Sila’s mountain environment and has become a centre of attraction for tourists over the years. It lends itself well to water sports such as canoeing or wind surfing, is swimmable and is rich in countless species of fish, both native and introduced, of interest to sport fishing enthusiasts. Among other activities, available to outdoor enthusiasts are several equipped mountain bike trails and numerous trekking routes of varying difficulty.

Located on the northern shore of Lake Arvo, at an altitude of 1314 metres, is Lorica, an unmissable destination for visitors to the Silan lands. Among the most renowned tourist resorts in the area, Lorica has various attractions, first and foremost the nearby Lake Arvo, with its countless opportunities for sports and tourism and its enchanting landscapes. Among the various attractions are imposing larch groves, well worth a visit, that line the town and descend along the mountain slopes to the shores of the lake. Another must-visit is the SilAvventurA park, which allows young and old alike to venture safely along acrobatic routes through the peaks of the Sila fir forests, amidst suspension bridges, ladders and acrobatic experiences. A boat service powered by electric batteries also operates on the lake. Among the attractions not to be missed is the bobsleigh track set up near the hamlet of Cavaliere.

The town’s name betrays an ancient origin: the lorica was in fact the ancient armour of the Romans, who inhabited the Sila territories at the time of the Punic Wars, and who extracted pitch for their warships from the wood of the Sila.

Information and contacts:

Sila National Park Authority – www.parcosila.it

Proloco Lorica – www.prolocolorica.it

Loricaly – www.loricaly.it

The village of Pietrafitta, located at about 700 metres above sea level, originated in the 10th century, along with many other Cosenza hamlets that were established in 986, following the Saracen invasions. Gioacchino da Fiore lived here from 1189 until his death, which occurred on 30 May 1202, while he was overseeing the restoration of the small church of San Martino di Canale. In 1553, the village was shaken by violent internal quarrels, which were bloodily suppressed by the viceroy, who had as many as 18 people hanged in the central square, and another 16 cut in half. The reason, probably, was that numerous inhabitants of the village had the reputation of ferocious brigands.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Pietrafitta – www.comune.pietrafitta.cs.it

The village’s name derives from the foot-shaped hill on which it was built. It is an ancient territorial district of Cosenza, and is part of the ancient ‘Casali del Manco’, that group of small villages located on the slopes of the Presila. The original centre dates back to around the year one thousand, when a group of Cosentines took refuge at the foot of Mount Tenna, on the banks of the Cardone river, to escape the raids of the Arab Abulcasino. The town was the birthplace of Michele de Marco, aka ‘Ciardullo’, a dialectal poet and playwright. It was once called the ‘Toledo of Calabria’, because like the Spanish city it boasted a large number of blacksmiths and knife grinders specialised in the art of blades and knives.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Casali del Manco – www.comune.casalidelmanco.cs.it

Built in the 16th century according to a rectangular plan, with two naves and a single apse, the church of S.M. di Monte Oliveto features finely decorated stone arched structures inside. The portals of the façade are also of particular artistic value, also embellished with ancient decorations, some dating back to the 16th century. Inside, there is also a precious polyptych by Ippolito Borghese, called “Madonna with Child and Angels”, dating back to 1612.

The convent, which has a rectangular base, was built in 1617 on the remains of the cenoby of the confraternity of Santa Maria della Pietra, placed on a rock of considerable size. Legend has it that it was St Francis of Paola himself who insisted that it be built on that solid base, against the wishes of the labourers. The imposing structure was originally on four levels, of which only the first two remain: the ecclesiastical building on the first level, and the convent on the second. It is assumed that the other floors functioned as an extension of the living quarters and warehouse. We recommend a visit to the rectangular-plan cloister – around which the functions of the convent revolved – decorated in the interior walls with remarkable frescoes. The church, rectangular in plan with a single apse, features an interesting sculpted tuff arch. Underneath the structure is a thirty-metre tunnel, known as the ‘Lamia’: two ancient water troughs for donkeys can be found inside, over which an underground spring still pours clear, fresh water. In 1799, a mill was annexed to the structure, used by the brothers to be as self-sufficient as possible in the production of food for the brethren. The entire structure, with the passage of time, suffered extensive damage. Recently renovated, it has been used as a cultural centre to host concerts, plays, conferences, meetings and private ceremonies. The convent is also home to the Cosenza municipal library, as well as the ‘C.O.R.E’ restoration school.

The settlement, built on a rocky ridge above the confluence of the Cardone and Fiumicello streams, is in a strategic position, well sheltered and not visible from the Crati valley. Its birth, like other Silan villages, is closely linked to the need for refuge from the Saracen invasions of the 10th century. Surrounded by a splendid chestnut grove, the centre boasts one of the most beautiful squares in the entire area, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, which is characterised by a large century-old poplar tree. On the territory of Serra Pedace are the hamlets of Silvana Mansio, San Nicola Silano and Righìo. A centre rich in cultural ferment, every year it presents the ‘Presila Jazz’ festival and the ‘International Philosophy Festival of Sila’. It is also home to the Sila Environmental Museum, in Via Pandette, at the Municipal Library. If you follow the road dedicated to John XXIII, you will come across a splendid votive chapel and then arrive at a square adorned with three fountains from which pure and refreshing waters flow.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Casali del Manco – www.comune.casalidelmanco.cs.it

Casole Bruzio, is the historical centre of the municipality of Casali del Manco, formed in 2017. From a historical point of view, the foundation of the village with the name Triginta Casulae took place between the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd century B.C., by the Bruzi. Certainly from 986 onwards, the town was populated by groups of Cosentines who took refuge in the hills to escape the Saracen invasions. From the second half of the year 1000, it was incorporated into Spezzano Piccolo, then passed under Spanish rule, later becoming a fief of the Casole, Tirelli, Lupinacci, Massimilla, Basile, Grisolia and Ponte families. After several vicissitudes including raids and plagues, on 25 January 1820 Casole Bruzio became an autonomous municipality, remaining so until the 2017 referendum that saw it annexed to Casali del Manco. Today, the urban agglomeration appears divided into two nuclei, the second of which is developed near the church of Santa Marina, probably built around the year 1000. Civil buildings include the Casole or Tirelli palace.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Casali del Manco – www.comune.casalidelmanco.cs.it

Located on the Presilan hillside between the Caricchio and Cardone valleys, Spezzano Piccolo was founded, like the other villages in the area, by groups of people from Cosenza who took refuge on the heights to escape the Saracens. Among the villages on the plateau that fall within the municipality are Croce di Magara, la Sculca, Neto Ferraro, la Sculchiella, Righio, Ariamacina and Macchia di Pietro. Among the various hamlets of the main town, the one that should not be missed is Macchia, a small centre of about one hundred inhabitants, characterised by ancient and narrow alleys of medieval origin.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Casali del Manco – www.comune.casalidelmanco.cs.it

Already existing in the Presilan strip at the time of the Saracen invasions in the 9th century, Celico gave asylum to many Cosenza refugees fleeing Arab raids. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the first Jewish centres in the area, hence its very name derives from the Hebrew ‘Kel-LK’ and means ‘long and narrow vase’, underlining the particular conformation of the settlement, which takes precisely this shape, stretching along a rocky ridge to the left of the Cannavino stream. The town is best known for being the birthplace of Gioacchino da Fiore, a Christian theologian and mystic, and Gioacchino Greco, the famous 16th century chess player who invented some of the game’s best-known moves, namely the Greek Gambit and the Greek Defence.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Celico – www.comune.celico.cs.it

Like the other settlements in the area, Rovito was founded around the 10th century by people from Cosenza fleeing Saracen invaders. The municipality’s territory includes an area with altitudes ranging from 300 to 1475 metres above sea level. The ‘Vallone’, below the urban centre, is historically famous for the figures of the patriot brothers Attilio and Emilio Bandiera, who were shot there by the Bourbons in 1844. The town is also known for being the birthplace of the philosopher Tommaso Campanella and Bartolo Arnone. The latter built the palace of the same name in Colle Triglio. Rovito owes much of its fame to the numerous pipe-making workshops, whose briar has been harvested for generations on the surrounding hills and subjected, after a special boiling recipe, to subsequent seasoning.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Rovito – www.comune.rovito.cs.it

The Church of St Barbara, characterised by its Romanesque style, was built in the 15th century. The imposing religious building underwent heavy alterations in the Baroque period. The interior has three naves, with quadrangular tufa pillars alternating with round arches. The nave ends in a square apse covered by a hemispherical dome structure, a 17th-century reworking of the original layout. Noteworthy are the 18th-century carved wooden altar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and contemporary oil paintings on canvas, as well as a valuable 16th-century stone baptistery supported by a lion statue. The exterior of the church reflects the three-nave division of the interior, presenting a raised central body and two lowered side bodies. The façade has a large central stone rose window and two side windows at the portals below.

Situated at about 650 metres above sea level, in the south-western area of Sila Grande, to the right of the Crati River, Lappano is a small town of about a thousand inhabitants, lying in an elevated position with respect to the road that runs alongside it, and just a few kilometres away from Cosenza. The centre is periodically animated by various events related to handicrafts, wine production and religious festivals of particular interest to tourists. Lappano enjoys an exceptional panoramic view that gives it an evocative atmosphere, the intensity of which is further enhanced by the waterfalls along the River Corno, located nearby.

Info and contacts:

Municipality of Lappano – www.comune.lappano.cs.it

This majestic 16th-century religious building, declared a national monument in 1958, has a three-nave layout divided by square stone pillars with round arches. The 17th-century high altarpiece is finely crafted, in inlaid wood and painted canvases. On the outside, the façade, which features a carved stone arch and portal, is accompanied by an 18th-century bell gable, contemporary with the side altars and windows.