Walking along the Ancient Royal Road of Calabria

The first stop for those who choose to travel along the Royal Road of Calabria in our region is the medieval village of Laino Borgo, in the heart of the national park and Nature Reserve "Valle del Fiume Lao", one of the favourite places for sports enthusiasts who, in addition to trekking, want to experience the thrill of rafting in Calabria and river excursions. The historic centre of Laino Borgo, one of the smallest in Italy, recalls the glorious passage of the Longobards in Calabria, right on the ancient "Capua-Regium" road (which later became the Royal Road of Calabria) and offers visits to the Mother Church of the Holy Spirit and the Shrine of the Madonna dello Spasimo, also known as the "Shrine of the Chapels", one of the Marian shrines venerated in Calabria. Laino Borgo is one of the places to visit during the Easter rituals, when the Judaica takes place on Good Friday, a long procession of figures re-enacting the Passion of Christ.

The second stop on the Royal Road of Calabria route is Campotenese, a hamlet of Morano Calabro. This place is known as the Provence of Calabria. Do you know why? If you visit in summer, between the end of June and the end of August, the scent and purple colour of the fields immediately reveal the reason: we are in the heart of the Campotenese Lavender Park, one of the main lavender cultivation areas in southern Italy. A particular species of native Calabrian lavender grows here, Lavanda Loricata (whose name recalls the Pino Loricato, symbol of Pollino), also known as "Loricanda". The visit allows you to admire around 60 varieties within a single single-species botanical garden, each illustrated in a simple way for enthusiasts. Taking a photo with your bouquet of Loricanda is a must!

From Campotenese to the historic centre of Morano Calabro, the third stop on the Royal Road of Calabria, the walk is a bit rough but short. One of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, Morano Calabro is known as the "Pollino Nativity Scene", both for its distinctive medieval settlement, which rises from the ancient district of San Nicola to the ruins of the Norman Castle, and for the famous Living Nativity Scene of Morano, which brings Christmas to life every year with hundreds of participants. The yellow and blue majolica tiles of the dome of Santa Maria Maddalena indicate the main religious building in the village, which houses a precious Madonna degli Angeli by Antonello Gagini (1505) and the Chapel of San Silvestro. Don't miss the Museum of Agricultural and Sheep Farming History and the Pollino Naturalistic Study Centre 'Il Nibbio'. Has trekking along the Royal Road of Calabria whetted your appetite? We recommend trying the village's typical dish: Stoccu e Patèni, delicious stockfish with potatoes and dried peppers.

The itinerary along the Royal Road of Calabria ends in the town of Castrovillari, aptly known as the "Capital of Pollino" and "City of Carnival", home to the most important historical carnival in the region. The historic centre is identified with the ancient district of Cìvita, home to the monumental Aragonese Castle, designed by military engineer Francesco di Giorgio Martini; the 13th-century Franciscan Protoconvent, founded by Pietro Cathin and the main multifunctional centre of culture and art (home to SiMuCCà - Castrovillari City Museum System) and the Church of San Giuseppe (16th century), inside which you can admire a 16th-century fresco of the Madonna of Constantinople and two important paintings. In addition to the carnival period, Castrovillari offers an important spring event, the Primavera dei Teatri festival, dedicated to contemporary theatre, and the International Folklore Festival in summer (during which a summer version of the carnival is also held).