A day in Cicala, the Village of Smile

The aroma of roasted chestnuts, smoking fireplaces, the Silane breeze caressing the stone houses and that slow pace typical of southern villages, which tells of a simple and authentic everyday life.

People stop to chat in the square, greeting each other from afar with a wave, while the village is enveloped in the embrace of a fairytale landscape of oak and chestnut woods. Welcome to Cicala, the Village of Smiles.

Nestled in the Catanzaro hinterland, Cicala is located at an altitude of 830 metres and has just over 800 inhabitants, but it is in this tiny village that a project of enormous social significance has taken shape, for which it has been awarded the title of "Dementia-friendly village". It is here that the 'Antonio Doria' day centre for dementia and Parkinson's disease was established, with an innovative method that promotes active participation and the reawakening of bodily memory in patients with neurological problems.

Cicala is a village with strong traditions and an ancient history. In 1783, it was razed to the ground by an earthquake, and in 1806, it was besieged by the French. Visiting the picturesque and lively historic centre, you will discover that it is embellished with splendid Art Nouveau noble palaces. There are two religious buildings worth visiting: the Church of the Immaculate Conception, dating back to 1200 (now deconsecrated), and the Baroque-style Mother Church of St James the Greater, which houses two precious wooden altars. San Giacomo is the patron saint of Cicala and every year, on 25 July, the statue of the saint, made of pear wood and carved in the round, is carried on the shoulders of the faithful during the procession. Faith, devotion and traditional rituals coexist alongside the experimentation of virtuous ideas and projects.

Cicala is the Village of Smile, which has also earned the Flowering Town quality mark for its social projects, environmental protection and digital innovations (such as a tourist app). What's more, from an energy efficiency point of view, it is a completely self-sufficient town. Small shops and craft workshops keep the historic centre alive and provide the inhabitants with everything they need. The stone-paved streets preserve history and memory, including the precious memories of Alzheimer's patients, the guests of the day centre, who, accompanied by carers, move peacefully in these safe spaces and maintain the gestures and habits of their daily lives, from coffee at the bar to chatting in the square.

Tradition and innovation, ancient and contemporary dialogue in this place, whose rural economy is historically based on the cultivation and processing of chestnuts and wood from trees. The native fruit is renowned for its quality, its aroma and flavour are the symbol of this territory with ancient traditions. Every year from 5 to 8 September, a Chestnut Festival is held to celebrate it in all its possible forms.

Visitors to Cicala will discover a warm welcome and the authentic flavours of traditional cuisine, ancient recipes jealously guarded so as not to contaminate them. The centuries-old oak and chestnut woods surrounding the historic centre are a symbol of the unspoilt nature that makes this area unique. Days dedicated to trekking and tastings guide visitors on a journey of discovery of all the village's special features. Clean air, outdoor walks, history, culture and traditions. This village in the heart of the Sila knows how to win you over.