The Megaliths of Nardodipace, Calabria's Stonehenge

Immersed in the green lung of the Serre Regional Park, in the province of Vibo Valentia, there is one of the most evocative geo-sites in Calabria. These are the Megaliths of Nardodipace, named after the municipal territory that hosts them.

Known since time immemorial to the inhabitants of Nardodipace and the surrounding area, these megaliths (enormous blocks of semi-finished stone) have recently attracted the attention of national and international scholars.

Work of nature or of prehistoric man?

In the middle of the dense forest of the Serre Vibonesi, shrouded in nature and mystery, the Megaliths of Nardodipace stand silently like a miniature "Stonehenge".

When observed from close up, the Megaliths of Nardodipace appear as "triliths", megalithic constructions made of blocks with flat surfaces and some elements that hint at human assembly activity.

The care taken in the arrangement of the blocks, with contiguous joints used as lintels and pillars, and a series of carvings, lead one to believe that an ancient "organised" hand was already able to exploit the resources of these woods and create large structures for purposes that are still unclear.

The Megaliths of Nardodipace could fall into the category of semi-finished geo-sites, similar to those found in other areas of Calabria, such as the so-called "Giants of Campana" (CS), and the Mediterranean in general.

Whether they are of Pelasgic origin (pre-Hellenic peoples), as some scholars suggest, or the work of more recent interventions, the fact remains that the Megaliths of Nardodipace constitute a valuable example of the symbiosis between man and nature that has always characterised the Calabrian people and their relationship with the territory, particularly the mountainous forested hinterland.

An out-of-town excursion to the Megaliths of Nardodipace is the perfect opportunity for a long trek in the Serre Regional Park, combining a visit to other unmissable places in the surrounding area.

For example, the village of Old Nardodipace, not far from the geo-site, has all the charm of Calabria's historic centres affected by progressive abandonment. Situated halfway up the hillside, on the ridge overlooking the Ionian coast of Caulonia (RC), the old town centre tells a story of the past but is still capable of moving for the simplicity of the dwellings and the humanity that inhabited them.

Not far from Nardodipace lies the small "Capital of the Serre", which gives its name to the park itself: Serra San Bruno (VV).

Founded in the year 1000 around the original nucleus of the splendid Charterhouse of Saints Stephen and Bruno, Serra San Bruno is the epicentre of the woods.

A town with a great tradition of Calabrian craftsmanship (granite, iron, wood and textile work), as well as a spiritual one, rich in Baroque churches, Serra is the right place for a taste of local cuisine based on the prized Porcino delle Serre.