Visit to the Grange of Sant'Anna in Montauro

Do you love medieval sites surrounded by nature? Then you absolutely must visit the Grange of Sant'Anna in Montauro, in the province of Catanzaro, on the hill overlooking the Costa degli Aranci.

We are a stone's throw from the seaside resort of Soverato, immersed in an area that still bears traces of the passage of Cistercian monks, amid legends and mysteries to be unravelled.

Let's start from the beginning: do you know what a grange is? If you don't, let's find out together!

The word "grange" derives from Latin and means "granary". Specifically, the Grange of Sant'Anna (or Grange of Montauro) represents one of the largest grain storage and sorting complexes in medieval times, located along the Ionian coast of Catanzaro known as the Costa degli Aranci. In the 16th century, it was a reference point for the agricultural system of the area, although it belonged to the Cistercian Order of the Charterhouse of Serra di San Bruno. The last one, which today falls within the Serre Regional Park in the province of Vibo Valentia, was founded in the year 1000 by San Bruno di Colonia (founder of the Carthusian Order) and passed to the Cistercian administration for a short period. When ownership changed hands, the coastal fiefdoms were organised for wheat production, giving rise to the complex system of "grange".

Today, the Grange of Montauro stands imposingly among the golden hills surrounding the historic centre, immersed in silence and nature. After a long period of neglect, its ancient history was brought to light by an archaeological excavation conducted by the Superintendency, under the direction of archaeologist Chiara Raimondo, who restored the Grange of Sant'Anna to its monumental dignity, despite it having been reduced to ruins by the earthquake of 1783.

The original structure included a set of warehouses used for storing grain and a real farm, with all the outbuildings and systems necessary for harvesting and processing agricultural products: mills, oil mills, wine presses, food and tool stores. In addition to the service buildings, there was the Church of Sant'Anna and a residential building. The most recent history of the Grange of Sant'Anna involves its sale in 1808 to Baron Emmanuele De Nobili and in 1852 to the Diocese of Squillace.

Today, the Grange of Montauro is identified by its fortified perimeter, rectangular in shape, and the remains of a large building with four square towers at the corners and an entrance gate on the west side. All sides of the structure feature loopholes and large windows. Among the gems that can be admired while walking through the archaeological site is the ancient holy water font of the Church of Sant'Anna, which bears the engraved "Solomon's knot" (a symbol that some enthusiasts have linked to the passage of the Knights Templar).

Part of the history of the Grange of Sant'Anna is preserved in the historic centre of the village, among the streets and buildings of Montauro, starting with the Church of San Pantaleone. Inside, in addition to the relics of the patron saint, there is a fresco depicting the imposing complex of the Grange of Sant'Anna in its entirety, dating back to the 18th century. Another key place for understanding the dynamics of the production system is the Grange Museum, housed in the premises adjacent to Palazzo Zizzi. Here, the remains and main artefacts unearthed during the excavation are on display: some original ceramic tiles, typical of Squillace craftsmanship; one of the two skeletons found in the underground rooms of the crypt; Neapolitan majolica; bronze candlesticks and medals depicting various saints, including St Bruno.

A stroll through the historic centre of Montauro also allows you to admire other monuments and artefacts dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, such as the granite portal of Palazzo Bindi and the façade of Palazzo Madonna, now home to the Municipal Library.