The art of Stone Balancing in Calabria

You may see them from afar and be surprised by an unusual sight. Sculptures made of stones of different shapes and sizes, balanced on top of each other, almost defying gravity. Ephemeral but fascinating works of art, in which man and nature connect. It is called Stone Balancing and it is the art of balancing stones.

On riverbanks, beaches, lakeshores or wherever you least expect it, the skilled hands of often anonymous artists create works made of stone. They choose particularly evocative spots, enveloped in a silence that aids concentration.

Are you intrigued by this fascinating, relaxing and meditative practice? Would you like to try it for yourself? Here are some of the places where you can discover it in Calabria.

Stone balancing consists of stacking stones of various shapes and sizes on top of each other in a balance that appears to defy the laws of gravity.

It requires concentration and patience. Those who practise this activity claim that the slow connection with nature has a relaxing and regenerating effect and leads to a state of inner well-being. The stones must be chosen carefully and, in order to balance them, gravity must be exploited and they must be adapted according to their shape. Often, small stones support much larger ones, which requires maximum concentration and the ability to focus attention on the balance point of each individual stone.

The benefits are immediate: this outdoor activity allows you to get in tune with nature, calms the mind, reduces stress and helps you find inner balance. Stone sculptures are defined as ephemeral works of art because they are destined to be short-lived. A storm, wind or sea storm is enough to erase them forever, but their precariousness invites you to focus on the present, to experience the grace of the creative process and the magical atmosphere that Stone Balancing offers.

There are many ideal places for stone balancing in Calabria. The coastline is rich in smooth stones of all shapes and sizes. The banks of lakes, rivers and streams in Sila, Pollino and Aspromonte. Every unspoilt corner immersed in the silence of nature can become the ideal setting for a small open-air museum composed of fragile but fascinating sculptures.

This is what happens, for example, in San Lucido, on the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza, where a local artist creates hundreds of sculptures made from stones and places them on the beach and on the rocks. The sculptures are visible from the seafront and blend perfectly with the landscape, becoming part of it.

It is well known that Diamante is the city of murals, but some parts of its beach also become open-air museums. These are ephemeral but very evocative works: perfectly balanced stone structures, whose outline is better defined at sunset and which are incredibly striking to the eye. No strength is required, just delicacy and concentration, and stone balancing is becoming increasingly popular, not only among regular beachgoers but also among tourists.

Towers made of pebbles of different shapes and sizes, built in the most inaccessible places, among the rocks, lapped by the waves yet solid and resistant. The spectacle of Stone Balancing on the Ionian Sea is near the iconic fortress of Le Castella. The beauty of this place is enhanced by the stone sculptures, which blend in with the surrounding environment and invite observers to test their skills.

The wonderful bay of Caminia is a location that lends itself well to the art of balancing stones and has even been the setting for the Stone Balance Calabria festival. If you want to test yourself in this almost Zen-like practice, you can take advantage of the teachings of those who have been doing it for a long time and are happy to share the secrets of the art of balancing stones.

The river pebbles, smoothed by the clear, cool waters, are the ideal raw material for those who want to experiment with the art of balancing stones and its benefits. Stone Balancing has now become an activity that is increasingly practised in the mountains. The gravelly banks of the Lao River provide the backdrop for the sculptures, and the magical atmosphere, immersed in the sounds of the forest and water, invites calm and concentration. The most experienced teachers say that you have to move gently, choose the stones carefully, feel their weight and perceive their centre of gravity. It seems difficult, but - one stone at a time - the magic happens.