Tour of Angevin Calabria: destinations not to be missed

Let's start from the town of Rossano, in the municipal area of Corigliano-Rossano, on the Ionian coast of Cosenza. Although Rossano is known as The Byzantine due to its Eastern origins linked to Saint Nilus and the splendour of some Greek-Byzantine artefacts listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (such as the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, the ancient illuminated gospel book), its name is also linked to that of the Angevins in Calabria. In particular, that of the marvellous Cathedral of the Madonna Achiropita, whose splendour is evident in the Angevin period of Calabria: inside, there is a wonderful fresco of the Virgin Mary, precious floor mosaics and an important structure decorated in gold and Cyprus stone. The Cathedral of Rossano was enlarged at the request of King Robert of Anjou, whose commission is proven by the restorations carried out in the 1950s and the archaeological excavations of the 1990s, which attest to its complete reconstruction in the Angevin style.

From the Ionian coast of Cosenza, we move to the Tyrrhenian coast to visit another important stop in Angevin Calabria: the historic centre of Altomonte, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages. A crossroads of stories and influences that have left important artistic and cultural traces, Altomonte is a jewel of the Calabrian Middle Ages. It is no coincidence that the central square of the village is occupied by one of the greatest expressions of the Angevins in Calabria: the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione. Built in 1330 in Gothic-Angevin style by the local feudal lord Filippo Sangineto, this monumental religious building is one of the most beautiful examples of Angevin Calabria: the large rose window in the centre of the façade and the imposing bell tower are its symbols. Inside, the Chapel of the Princes of Bisignano and the Sangineto Mausoleum, with its precious sarcophagus, offer plenty of reasons to be moved.

Continuing south along the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza, we stop in the panoramic village of Scalea, one of the Angevin sites in Calabria, due to its connection with an important historical figure: Ademaro Romano (Scalea 1280-1345). He was one of the most important admirals and advisers to Robert of Anjou, and his remains are still preserved today in the Church of San Nicola in Plateis (or Church of Sotto), in a mausoleum that is a splendid example of Calabrian Angevin-style marble sculpture. The village of Scalea was a strategic centre for the Angevins in Calabria, who contributed to the restoration of its Norman castle.

Among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in the province of Reggio Calabria, Gerace is a must-see for those who want to discover the beauty of Angevin Calabria... and more! A Byzantine and then Norman stronghold, Gerace represents another important hub for Mediterranean economies, arts and cultures. The Angevins, present since 1254, certainly contributed to the reconstruction of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi under Charles II of Anjou (1294) and his successors, who left their Neapolitan artistic influence on it.

Among the Angevin castles in Calabria, the one that stands atop the village of San Giorgio Morgeto, in the province of Reggio Calabria, with the Aspromonte National Park in the background, is well worth a visit. Although the origins of this ancient fortress are Byzantine (9th-10th century), like almost all the defensive structures in the area, the castle and the village have been influenced by subsequent developments, in particular the adaptation to the war machines introduced by the Angevins in Calabria. In the registers of Charles I of Anjou, dated 1265, San Giorgio Morgeto is listed among the lands of the "Executioner of Calabria" and its castle entrusted to an official called "castellanum".