Weekend in Pietrapaola: from the village to the sea

The town of Pietrapaola, in the province of Cosenza, is a small centre halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Sila National Park. Probably of Brettian origin, the ancient Italic ethnic group that inhabited these places before the arrival of the Greeks, Pietrapaola Paese encompasses the historic centre in a panoramic position, while Pietrapaola Mare is one of the most popular seaside destinations in summer.

Marina di Pietrapaola, on the beautiful Costa degli Achei, boasts a clean and well-equipped beach, perfect for family holidays.

Ready to discover what to see in Pietrapaola? 

We start from Pietrapaola Paese, which appears to be set in the rock and has the structure of a fortified village, a veritable stronghold overlooking the sea and perched on the cliff known as ‘’Timpa di Castello‘’. The ancient origin of this territory is demonstrated by a series of very important archaeological finds, including the Caves on Mount Orgia, interpreted as a rocky necropolis, and the remains of classical walls in Contrada San Martino, as well as the most imposing remains of the so-called Hannibal's Walls (4th-3rd century B.C.). Pietrapaola Paese is also overlooked by a second cliff, ‘’del Salvatore‘’, which preserves a splendid testimony of rock art inside the Prince's Cave.

Pietrapaola: what to see walking through the village streets? We are welcomed by the Colonel's Arch, one of the main entrances to the town, followed by the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, of medieval origin, with a beautiful rose window by local craftsmen, and the Cemetery Arch, where a number of epigraphs recall the looting and devastation suffered during the Turkish-Saracen attacks (1644). At the exact centre of Pietrapaola Paese stands the Freschia Fountain, with two apotropaic masks, while the Maio Fountain, just outside the village, is a spring immersed in greenery.

Among the things to see in Pietrapaola are the works resulting from the ‘’Abracalabra‘’ art residency project, conceived by Daniel Kemény, which has hosted around 35 artists over the years. In Piazza S. Demetrio, for example, there is a Lego sculpture by the artist Jan Vormann, while in Via Roma there are written works by the philosopher Marion Renauld.

Moving down the coast, we reach Pietrapaola Mare (or Pietrapaola Marina) and discover the perfect combination of hilltop village and beach just a few kilometres away. Pietrapaola Marina is the economic and tourist centre of the village, with a built-up area dating back to the 1960s and a clean and well-kept seafront.

Pietrapaola Marina is also the seaside destination for those seeking relaxation but also services and summer fun: the beach is characterised by thick sand and pebbles, washed by a sea that changes depending on the time of day.