In the village of Santa Severina, among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy

Fancy a trip out of town in the province of Crotone? Come and discover the village of Santa Severina, among The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy in Calabria.

Situated halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Sila mountains, on the tuff hill overlooking the Neto river, the village of Santa Severina is famous first and foremost for the monumental Castle of Santa Severina, one of the best-preserved visitable castles in Calabria.

Let's find out now what to see in Santa Severina, what to do and what to eat in Santa Severina on a weekend or day trip.

A visit to the village of Santa Severina

A visit to the village of Santa Severina can only start from the panoramic top of its castle.

After restoration work in the 1990s, the Castle of Santa Severina can be visited all year round and houses the interesting Archaeological Museum, where it is possible to admire the finds unearthed during excavations within the walls: a tomb below the Byzantine necropolis and a coin from the 3rd century BC have been picked out from the original acropolis of Siberene.

The Castle of Santa Severina welcomes us in its original form, with a square keep and four cylindrical lateral towers flanked by four more projecting bastions.

In the 16th century, it was the nobleman Andrea Carafa who laid siege to the town for many months, conquering the castle thanks to the help of an internal "traitor", a certain Mastrogiurato, who is said to have entered the fortress through a secret alley. 

Continuing our visit to the village of Santa Severina, we discover the large central square and the historic quarters: the Grecìa, of Byzantine origin, with the houses clinging to the panoramic spur, and the Iudìa, the old Jewish ghetto.

What to see in Santa Severina among the alleys of the village? Certainly the important Byzantine Baptistery, the only one of its kind in Calabria, circular in shape with frescoes dating from the 10th-12th centuries, and the Cathedral of Santa Anastasìa (13th century).

Don't miss the Monastery of the Madonna of Calabria, the Municipal Garden and the Municipal Library.

The best time to visit Santa Severina, one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy? On the occasion of the Medieval Festival, the historical re-enactment that takes place every year between May and June: for the occasion, the village of Santa Severina welcomes you with dozens of figurants wearing typical medieval costumes (of Norman fashion), flag-wavers and acrobats, juggling shows and tastings.

If you are a sportsman and love nature, one of the best ways to reach and visit the village of Santa Severina is by bike, along the charming Val di Neto Cycle Path.

The route covers a total length of 38 km, touching on 6 municipalities in the Crotone province that combine the charm of the valley with the beauty of historical and archaeological sites.

What to eat in Santa Severina

Has the trip whetted your appetite? Don't worry, you've come to the right place!

Among the things to eat in Santa Severina are some ancient dishes, not to be missed by those in search of the authentic flavours of Calabrian tradition.

A few examples? One of the local specialities is "sàuza", to be enjoyed in spring, often associated with the Medieval Festival: it is a delicate mint-scented broad bean soup, flavoured with a dash of vinegar and served warm, accompanied by pork belly. 

Another typical product of the village of Santa Severina is the aranciàru, a prized native orange variety that boasts a centuries-old cultivation and organoleptic properties that make it healthy and delicious to the palate.

Finally, the whole area gives rise to one of the most renowned wines of Calabria: the Val di Neto IGT wine, which we sip with a farewell toast before leaving the cosy village of Sanata Severina.