Discovering Italy's Authentic Villages in Calabria

Would you like to discover the true soul of Calabria? Visit hospitable villages that showcase their unique traditions, breathtaking landscapes, architectural beauty, and flavours and aromas handed down through generations? The association Authentic Villages of Italy has selected those that best represent the true essence of the region.

Let's discover the Authentic Villages of Calabria, places to experience, support and preserve.

In Calabria's largest province, Cosenza, with its 155 municipalities, there are many towns to visit, thirteen of which are listed among Italy's Authentic Villages. Let's go to the Pollino National Park and be captivated by Laino Borgo, a place of history and centuries-old traditions, embraced by the Iannello and Lao rivers, whose spectacular gorges can be explored by the most intrepid sports enthusiasts by kayak or canoe. The historic centre of Laino Borgo is enveloped in an atmosphere that seems timeless, with its numerous churches and stone portals created by local craftsmen. But what amazes every visitor is undoubtedly the Sacred Mountain, located about two kilometres from the town centre. It is a devotional complex that has always been known as the Shrine of the Chapels due to the presence of 16 small chapels, built and decorated in different phases. Let us now move on to Laino Castello, which until 1947 was part of Laino Borgo but is now an independent municipality, famous for its living nativity scene and the traditional 'ntinna', or procession of votive logs with oxen and tractors, which takes place in June during the festival in honour of St. Anthony. The historic centre is perched on the hill of San Teodoro and dominated by the Feudal Castle. An imposing fortress built by the Longobards to defend themselves from the Byzantine enemy.

Remaining in the Pollino National Park, Saracena offers hiking and trekking enthusiasts a series of spectacular itineraries through beech, pine and chestnut woods that lead to some of the highest peaks in the park, up to an altitude of 1,600 metres. The historic centre is a delightful and harmonious ensemble of narrow streets, open spaces, terraced houses and ancient palaces. Worth seeing are the 16th-century former Capuchin Convent, the Church of Santa Maria delle Armi, dating back to 1088, the ancient Church of Santa Maria del Gamio, home to the Museum of Sacred Art, and the Church of San Leone, patron saint of Saracena.

Canna is a village in the Upper Ionian Cosentino area bordering Basilicata, surrounded by expanses of olive groves. It is known as the Village of Music and Hospitality, and you will soon discover why: the band has been active for over a hundred years and musical events are held here that attract artists from all over the world, who are welcomed by the inhabitants of Canna. Montegiordano is the village of centenarians, because people here live well and long. This is thanks to the clean air, wholesome food, slow pace of life and authentic relationships that characterise everyday life in this village overlooking the Ionian Sea. You can drink excellent wine, explore the artisan shops and then visit the Piano delle Rose district, a few kilometres from the marina, where you will find a 17th-century Castle used by a noble Neapolitan family as a winter and hunting residence. A few hundred metres from the castle, on a beautiful plateau, stands the small Chapel of the Madonna del Carmine.

A castle overlooking the crystal-clear sea, a medieval village enclosed within some of the most beautiful walls in Calabria: Roseto Capo Spulico, overlooking the Ionian Sea, combines nature, art and culture, making it an Authentic Village waiting to be discovered. The Mother Church, the Baronial Palace, the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The romantic lovers' alley, described as 'the narrowest in Europe'. And then there is the majestic Castrum Roseti, the castle built by Frederick II, which is one of the symbols of Calabria throughout the world. Beauty is at home in Roseto Capo Spulico, so much so that De.Co. Cherry, one of the excellences of this territory, with its unique organoleptic properties, has been awarded the title of Most Beautiful Cherry in Italy and has become a staple ingredient in haute cuisine recipes.

Let's move on to Alessandria del Carretto, the highest village in the Pollino National Park. From its altitude of 1,000 metres, the view stretches from Mount Pollino to the Gulf of Taranto. The village is characterised by narrow streets coloured by murals and buildings with stone facades. You can visit the botanical garden and then enjoy the view. The village of Albidona will captivate you with its surprising vitality. A stroll through the historic centre, divided into districts, is an opportunity to visit the 17th-century Mother Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the ruins of the Castle of Castrocucco and the historic stately buildings that embellish the squares. Lose yourself in the narrow streets, guided by the aromas of traditional cuisine, where sausage reigns supreme. When talking about San Lorenzo Bellizzi, another Authentic Village in the province of Cosenza, one cannot fail to mention the wonderful Timpa di San Lorenzo, a Site of Community Importance and Special Area of Conservation of the 'Gole del Raganello' Nature Reserve. Here, the only tourism allowed is that which respects nature and is non-invasive, because these are true natural paradises whose balance cannot be altered.

Let us now discover five municipalities that have chosen to merge and become a single community, that of Casali del Manco, in the heart of the Sila National Park. There is so much to see in this area of about 170 square kilometres: Lorica, the village of Silvana Mansio, the steam train that crosses the woods, and the shores of Lake Arvo. A natural landscape of incredible beauty and biodiversity makes these places unique. The villages, distinct but with a shared identity, are treasure troves of art, culture and tradition. And flavours, of course. From Sila, we approach the city of Cosenza and find another Authentic Village, Zumpano. In the small and charming historic centre, we find Palazzo Valentini, built around the year 1000, which stands next to the Town Hall. The square is embellished with three sculptures by Giacomo Martinuzzi: the statue of St. George and the dragon, the statue of St. Nicholas of Bari and the fountain depicting the Church of St. George the Martyr. The Museum of Art and Ethnography (MAE) is located in the industrial area. The structure houses three different areas, covering centuries of Calabrian history ranging from contemporary art to ethnography, with an educational multimedia section.

Cerisano is an Authentic Village of the Serre Cosentine that preserves the genuine flavour of the slow pace of everyday life typical of small communities, but at the same time offers a space for culture with refined and niche offerings in the fields of music, theatre and art. The historic centre is dominated by the elegant Palazzo Sersale, characterised by narrow streets and small squares and surrounded by the green countryside of the Serre Cosentine. We have arrived in Mendicino, a stone's throw from the city of Cosenza, at the foot of Mount Cocuzzo. It is known as the Silk Village due to its ancient tradition of silkworm farming, which can now be explored by visiting the Dynamic Silk Museum inside the old Filanda del Gaudio silk mill.

A model of sustainable, equitable local development that respects places and people and focuses on promoting local identities. This is the goal of the Authentic Villages association, which includes four municipalities in the province of Catanzaro. Let's start with Serrastretta, known as 'the village of chairs' for its artisan industry that continues the centuries-old tradition of making chairs from straw and wood. It is a village that maintains a strong sense of community and in the small historic centre, every family has someone who is part of the Choir of Singers, a folk music and singing group made up of both children and adults that performs at festivals around the world. The village is well-kept and always decorated with flowers and the characteristic chairs that are the symbol of Serrastretta (which become plant pots for the occasion). It has an almost fairy-tale atmosphere, enveloped in silence that spreads across the valley. Worth visiting are the synagogue, the only one in Calabria with its own rabbi, the museum dedicated to the singer Dalida, who had her origins in Serrastretta, and the beech forest, located a short distance from the historic centre.

Cicala is the Village of Smiles. This village is perched at the foot of the Sila Piccola, at an altitude of over 800 metres, among oak and chestnut trees. In the characteristic historic centre, you can admire several prestigious Art Nouveau buildings, the Church of the Immaculate Conception dating back to 1200, and the Baroque-style Mother Church of St. James the Greater, which houses two wooden altars. But what makes Cicala a special place, and has earned it the recognition of Dementia-Friendly Village, is its project for a day centre for people with dementia and Parkinson's disease.

From the mountains to the sea, continuing to follow the thread of beauty that characterises the Authentic Villages, we arrive at Miglierina, overlooking the gulfs of Squillace and Sant'Eufemia. This location offers breathtaking views of this village known for its ancient water mills. In the town centre, you can admire churches and noble palaces (inside Palazzo Arcuri there is an ancient oil mill with enormous stones for grinding olives), but the village's unique feature is the works of art created by the 'Maestri Miglierinesi' between the 18th and 20th centuries.

Gizzeria is a stretch of sea with ever-changing colours, chasing waves and spectacular sunsets. This municipality in the Catanzaro area is one of the most renowned beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast, a favourite destination for those who love to surf the waves and the venue for the world kitesurfing championships. Like many other towns along the coast, it has a more recently built marina area and a historic centre worth visiting for its churches, located at an altitude of about 700 metres, among citrus groves, olive groves and cultivated fields.

The wine route in Calabria leads to Crotone, home of Calabria's first DOCG (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) wine. This is the land of Cirò wine, which has its roots in the Magna Graecia tradition and unites the two municipalities of Cirò and Melissa, both Authentic Villages. The medieval village of Cirò has a historic centre characterised by narrow streets, open spaces and squares, overlooked by a castle with four towers. Opposite the Carafa Castle stands the Mother Church, dedicated to Santa Maria de Plateis. Wine is, of course, the defining feature of this municipality. To find out more, you can visit the Museum Complex, which houses the Museum of Wine and Rural Life, the Museum of Alchemy and the Archaeological Museum. Let's move on to Melissa, another Authentic Village in the province of Crotone, between the Ionian Sea and the Sila Grande. The historic centre can only be reached on foot and is characterised by narrow streets, caves and ancient churches. In summer, the coastal area is a prestigious tourist destination awarded the Blue Flag. In the hamlet of Melissa Tower, visitors will be enchanted by the Torrazzo, a crenellated tower that houses the Museum of Rural Life.

Nestled between the Aspromonte mountains and the Ionian Sea, Bovalino is an Authentic Village in the province of Reggio Calabria. The upper part of the village, Bovalino Superiore, is located on a hill in Crete and offers incredible views. Here you can admire the 12th-century Norman Castle with some sections of the surrounding walls and visit the numerous churches, including the Mother Church of Santa Maria ad Nives and San Nicola di Bari. Completed in 1525, the older crypt (known as 'Juditria'), once a Greek church dedicated to Our Lady of Odigitria, houses the Museum of Sacred Art. The most important work is a gilded brass reliquary, made in Rome in 1629 and containing 126 precious and rare relics. Every year, this church renews the magic of its artistic electro-mechanical nativity scene. Bovalino Marina, a renowned tourist resort that has been awarded the Green Flag for its child-friendly beach, has precious noble residences, the remains of an ancient watchtower, and is famous for its flower festival, which colours 500 metres of road and three squares during the celebrations of St. Francis of Paola.