Territory

Tourist information

Catanzaro

This city extends across a large territory between Ionian Sea, in the South, and the Sila mountains, in the North. Founded by the Byzantine population in a location near the sea, but at the same time impregnable, it was firstly built to protect the territory from the Saracens. The old town is therefore characterized by narrow streets and overlooks the sea from the famous "Balconata di Bellavista”. This ancient part is connected to the South one through Morandi viaduct, one of the highest viaducts in Europe with one arch. Especially interesting to visit are the fountain called “Cavatore”, the park of the Mediterranean biodiversity and the park Villa Margherita. The local cuisine with the typical products of the area is delicious. The traditional speciality of the city, especially appreciated by the tourists, is the renown “morzeddu”.

Borgia

Borgia is a village in the Province of Catanzaro. It is located on a plateau at the right of the stream Fiumarella, at 341 metres above sea level, at 27 km from the main city and a stone’s throw away from our lodge to which it is very well connected. The place is rich in cultural attractions and traditions and it is one of the most interesting tourist destinations in the area.

Copanello

The crystal clear water and the white and fine sand make Copanello a pearl inset in the rocks.
In fact, this village is famous for its old town, its breathtaking landscapes and its beaches like gems in the rocks.

Soverato

Soverato is one of the most popular seaside sites of Calabria and its summer tourist flow is really remarkable. It is located at 35 km from Catanzaro in an advantaged position: at the far South of the gulf of Squillace, on a hill that sinks gradually in the sea with its wonderful shore. In the summer, Soverato offers many cultural events. The upper part of the village, up the hill, shows the remains of the old Soverato abandoned after an earthquake in 1783.

Tiriolo

At 690 km above the sea level and quite near Catanzaro and our lodge, Tiriolo is a very ancient site, whose origins are still the subject for fierce discussions. For example, Plutarch mentions that Tiriolo was built by Hieron, some other says that it was founded by the Athenian and the Enotrius about five years before the Trojan War.
It is evident that Tiriolo is a very important and ancient site where it is possible to taste its ancient culture and traditions treasured by the inhabitants.

Squillace

Squillace towers at 400 mt above the sea level. This site is famous for the centuries-old tradition of terracotta manufacturing and the production of amphoras of any kind and many other objects. The site was a very important centre in the Greater Greece. Its fortress, now reduced to a ruin, a part from some rooms used as prison, proves the ancient history that staged in its walls. Squillace is the bornplace of the renown Aurelius Cassiodorus, secretary and jurisconsult to Theodoric and the Italian Generals and patriots, the brothers Pepe.
The lower part of the place is located on the famous gulf of Squillace and it is a bathing site for many tourists.
It is characterized by the white and fine sand, the low seabed and the clear water.

Sila

The mountains called "Sila Piccola", which include the northern area of Catanzaro Province, is the part with most of the natural beauties of the whole mountain. The eastern part of Sila Piccola holds the original Calabrian tradition in the craftsman shops of iron manufacturing and handloom weaving whose typical products are the shawls called "vancali".

Taverna

The history of Taverna dates back to the legendary Greek polis Treis-Chenè, which was founded by the Greek settlers or refugees near the Ionian Sea. This village on the mountains is the born place of Mattia Preti, the renown artist and Knight of Malta to whom most of the beauties of the site are set down. In fact, the cathedral and the museum show his valuable masterpieces that attract thousands of people from all over the world.

Capo Colonna

In the 6th Century b.C., on this promontory rose the Temple of Hera Lacinia. Now the only remain is the base of a column (stylobate) on which rises one of the 48 eight-metres high columns that constituted the temple when it was first built. In ancient times, this Doric temple was one of the most important sanctuaries and the destination for pilgrims from all over the Greek world.

Stilo

This village is situated on the Ionic part of the mountains and its territory comprehends the Mangiatorella water spring. Stilo is the born place of the philosopher Tommaso Campanella, author of "The City of the Sun". The most important and famous building in Stilo in the church called Cattolica (7th- 10th Century). This elegant religious building is like a gem inset in the rocks. It shows Byzantine influences both in the structure (Greek cross plan inscribed in a square, five domes encased in cylindrical drums and semi-cylindrical apses) and in the refined polychromy of the wall decorations.

Reggio Calabria

Reggio Calabria is the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing centre of the region and it is situated on the eastern shores of the straits of Messina.
The city was firstly founded in the 8th Century b.C. with the name Rhegion as a colony of the Greek polis Chalcis. Later, in the first Century b.C. it became a Roman territory until in the Middle Age it became a Byzantine possession. The city experienced many Muslim occupations before being conquered by the Normans.
From the 1302 it became an Angevin territory and then passed to the Aragonian rulers. The city was devastated by the earthquakes in 1783 and 1908. The National Museum of Reggio houses a large number of Pinakès, the votive sculptures that represent the life of Persephone, and the Riace Warriors, the renown and unique bronzes.

Serra San Bruno

This village, situated at the mountainside of the Pecoraro mount, near the Ancinale stream, is one of the most interesting sites in Calabria. It is the casket of many architectural jewels among which there is the famous Certosa di San Bruno that attracts so many tourists. This building is the first Carthusian monastery in Italy and the second to be built by this monastic order. Its location is the picturesque Serra San Bruno wood.

Tropea

Tropea is the Tyrrhenian pearl situated on the so called "Costa degli Dei" (the coast of the Gods). It is peculiar for its countless narrow streets rich in art. The old town is full of life and stands, restaurants and local crafts shops. On any of the many viewpoints you may dream to touch with one finger the clear water full of flora and fauna. The shadow light games in Tropea can't be found anywhere else thanks to the waves that crash over the shore just 70 metres above.

Le Castella

Also about Le Castella there are some myths, but it is its thousand-years history of glory and misfortune that makes this place so fascinating and mysterious. The true origins of the place were lost over time and shrouded in mystery is also the presence, recorded until the 14th Century, of two or three little isles not far from the shore. In one of these islands, called Calipso or Ogigia, the Homeric goddess may have kept for a long time the sea hero Ulysses. The fortress, situated on the island and connected to the mainland through a thin strip of land, is the milestone of the area.