What to see in Verbicaro, city of wine and of battenti

Known as the "Land of Wine and Hospitality", Verbicaro, in the province of Cosenza, produces one of Calabria's finest agricultural products, Verbicaro DCO wine, and is famous for the procession of the Battenti di Verbicaro.

In addition to Holy Week and the grape harvest, another perfect time to visit the town is in July, during the Infiorata di Verbicaro Flower Festival.

What is there to see in Verbicaro? Let's find out together, amid nature, folklore and food and wine!

A perfect synthesis of sea and mountain proximity, Verbicaro is part of the Pollino National Park and the Riviera dei Cedri Regional Marine Park, ideal to visit in any season of the year. A town of medieval origins, according to legend, Verbicaro welcomed a group of Basilian monks who settled on the slopes of the rocky spur on which the town stands, founding the Monastery of the Three Children ("Boni Enfantes"), from which the local place name "Bonifanti" is said to have originated. According to another hypothesis, the ancient place name could instead refer to the 'buoni fanti' (good soldiers), i.e. the valiant inhabitants of Verbicaro, who were able to defend themselves from Saracen attacks. The fact remains that the site of Bonifanti bears witness to the oldest origins of the town.

If you are wondering what to see in Verbicaro, you can start with a visit to this site, which still preserves some Byzantine frescoes in the Church of Santa Maria ad Nives (11th century). A trip to Verbicaro takes you through the town's main square, with a stop at the 16th-century Mother Church of the Assumption, rich in works of art: inside, you can admire two wooden organs and a collection of sacred vestments. Other churches worth visiting are those of San Giuseppe, del Carmine, S. Maria La Nova and Loreto, as well as the Shrine of San Francesco di Paola. Among the historical monuments, the Clock Tower, the Old Fountain and the granite portals, the work of local craftsmen, stand out.

What to see in Verbicaro and its surroundings in terms of nature? You are spoilt for choice! Hikers should not miss the numerous CAI Trails which, starting from the town centre, pass through some of the most beautiful spots in the Pollino: from the Abatemarco river valley, stopping at the Canal' u Suard Refuge, to the spectacular Cretaceous Geosites, geological evidence of over 65 million years, in Malipurtusi, Sgretola and Schiena dello Zigrino.

Among the "Wine Cities" in Calabria, Verbicaro offers its visitors an excellent glass of Verbicaro DCO, a quality wine that is part of the "Terre di Cosenza DCO" wine circuit. To discover all the secrets of this native grape variety and the winemaking process behind it, simply visit the Ecomuseum of Wine and Rural Life. Housed in the town's former prison, the museum is a place dedicated to the collective memory of the community, which collects, preserves and promotes the heritage of rural life. The themed rooms, equipped with information panels, illustrate aspects related to the history of wine and the environment, as well as religious rituals, the role of women in society and local traditions. Verbicaro wine is a product to be enjoyed all year round, paired with Calabrian meats, cheeses and cured meats, but autumn is the perfect season to take part in the local initiatives that enliven the village (festivals, guided tastings, etc.).

What to see in Verbicaro in spring and summer? The seasons of "rebirth" are dedicated to the main religious rituals: the famous Battenti di Verbicaro (or Vattiènti) and the Verbicaro Flower Festival, on the occasion of the Feast of Madonna delle Grazie. The procession of the Battenti di Verbicaro takes place during Holy Week (the night between Thursday and Friday) and is one of the oldest and most controversial rituals of Calabrian Easter. It is a unique procession of flagellants dating back to 1751, in which men dressed in red, barefoot and with bare legs, beat themselves with the cardìllo (a piece of cork with nine sharp glass spikes stuck into it) until they bleed, thus simulating the Way of the Cross and the Passion of Christ.

Another tradition not to be missed, in July, is the Verbicaro Flower Festival. Linked to the feast of the Madonna delle Grazie (patron saint of the town), like other Calabrian flower festivals, it consists of an extraordinary floral composition that embellishes the streets and the churchyard. Every year, in early July, the Verbicaro Flower Festival is associated with the unique Zigni torchlight procession: trunks and large branches of Pollino Pine carried on the shoulders in honour of the Madonna. Halfway along the route, the pagan torchlight procession meets the Christian procession, giving rise to a moment of great popular devotion.