The challenge of beauty, an art stop, in the village of Taverna, the birthplace of the great Mattia Preti, a famous 17th-century Italian artist and the most important in Calabrian history, whose works can be found in the Civic Museum in addition to paintings in the churches of San Domenico and Santa Barbara.

Carmelina and Francesca, two different generations united by an intense enthusiasm, are the cornerstone of the company, set in the Savuto hills. Preserving and transforming the products of the land and fruit, with the recipes and methods of the past, encapsulating unique stories, fragrances and sensations.

A movement of emotions that animates the young people of the association, determined to encourage an entire community to take care of their land, the paths, valleys and mule tracks, then telling other people about them through sport. Hiking, archery, orienteering, climbing, there are activities for all. Like Marco and Alessio, these young people believe in a future where you can choose to stay or return, generating a stream of beauty and values.

Fire, Water, Earth, Air, properties and transformations, a journey to the centre of the Earth. Engaging experiences for all ages: from scientists to adventurers, amidst expanses of forest right down to the lake. Guided tours, school and family, restaurant and lakeside chalet.

In the village of Orsara, 900 metres above sea level, Maria and Francesco create prodigious products from the enchantment of nature. Honey from the hills, amidst centuries-old chestnut groves, and chestnuts and flour with which they prepare pastries and bread, according to traditional methods. A model of harmony with the environment, in which the unspoilt landscape becomes part of the company’s heritage and value.

Bold and outspoken, Verusca has the smile of someone who has fulfilled a dream. The farm, on a hill clad in olive trees and wild flowers, is her kingdom. Experimentation is her preference. Her olive oils, the fruit of dedication and respect for nature, engage with all the senses.

Very young, like her company, Alba tells the story of her fascination for bees with all her youthful energy. Enchanted by her grandparents’ dedication to nature and the land, she dreams of setting up her own workshop. Acacia, mixed flower and chestnut are the varieties of honey available.

Also known as the Church of Sant’Antonio, this building is located in the village’s historic centre. The imposing stone entrance portal on the façade is very beautiful. Don’t miss the 18th-century wooden altarpiece in Baroque style.

Work in the fields, domestic life and the relationship with spirituality: a snapshot of the history of the previous century. The museum is housed in the former Church of San Pietro and can be visited by appointment.

Essential and mystical, a sacred symbol for the community, this church was created by the mastery of local masons and adorned with pieces of fine craftsmanship. Such is its grandeur that it towers over the village.

Home of the Protectress, the Santuario looks like a 15th-century architect’s sketch with a Gothic-style portal. Engraved on a slab is an epigraph documenting the visit of King Charles V of Habsburg who, grateful for the hospitality, donated his cloak to the village. There are postcard views of the village from the portico.

At the centre of the village of Lupia di Scigliano, this B&B is a few steps from the Church of the Assunta. Quiet and with an authentic atmosphere, it offers four rooms in a historic building.

A 19th-century building with a beautiful view over the valley towards the sea. Comfortable rooms and a terrace where you can start the day with a fine breakfast. Comfortable rooms.

For the Greeks, this part of Calabria was Enotria, the “land of wine.” Savuto is a noble wine with a DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) label and an important history dating back to Phoenician times. The Istituto Agrario per l’Agricoltura (Agrarian Institute for Agriculture) is a meritorious structure that combines education and production, giving young people the task of expressing the narrative of this territory.

The Madonna appeared in a dream to the shepherd Giovanni Sposato, showing him the precise spot where to dig in the forest. In that place, the shepherd found a divine painting depicting the Madonna of Monserrato, and it was there that, at the end of the 18th century, a church was built, becoming a point of reference for the entire community still today.

Set in the woods between a rock face and the overhang dropping into the wild Bisirico valley, it was built in 1549 following the grace received by Pietro Telesio. The traveller from Cosenza, who with his horse fell down the cliff and faced certain death, turned his eyes to the sky and to the Madonna del Carmine. They were both saved, and he had a chapel built, which later became a favourite place for hermits.

An ancient convent founded in 1584 on a pre-existing Basilian settlement. It is one of the first monasteries linked to the Capuchin reform, and it is dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie. It currently houses the enclosed order of Sisters, the Poor Clares.

Built in 1607 by Monsignor Mariano Perbenedetti and financed by the community of Diano with a tax on meat and other levies. It is the largest of Scigliano’s 27 churches; the high altar in Gothic style, a 17th-century tabernacle and a wooden organ are particularly noteworthy features.

An imposing structure along Via Popilia (Reggio Calabria - Capua) built between 131 and 121 B.C.: about 3.5 metres wide, 11 metres high and about 25 metres long, it is an important testimony to engineering that has survived in perfect condition for over two millennia. Together with Pons Aemilius, 179 B.C., and Pons Fabricius on the Tiber Island, 69 B.C., it is one of the oldest bridges in the world.

A 16th-century building with a plasterless façade in neoclassical style with a stone portal and triangular tympanum. Currently deconsecrated, it houses the municipal library and the council chamber.

Standing on the square, the Mother Church has a façade in local stone and three entrance portals. A place of worship and summer educational activities, it is an important point of reference for the local community.

A project dedicated to the land of the origins that meets, through love, the Caribbean, and generates genuine natural wines, healthy carriers of enthusiasm. In every bottle is the skilful work of an entire community that shares a vision of the future of memory. Guided tours of the vineyard and cellar upon prior booking.

Intimate, like a maze, the centre of the village unravels through minute alleyways that seem to spill out of the mouths of majestic stone portals. Fairy-tale faces and floral shapes design the arches, while wrought-iron loggias climb towards the sky.

In harmony with the style of the small village, the church portal emerges resolutely from the tuffaceous wall, as if swallowing up the square. Alongside, testifying to the deep wound of emigration, stands the headquarters of the Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso (Workers’ Mutual Aid Society).

“Handicrafts are riches to be treasured because they nurture traditions and unleash creativity,” says Federica, President of the Association, with the emotion of a woman in love. The mission is generating relationships and sharing knowledge between the elderly and the young, promoting a village that is alive, even in winter.

A community library that crosses borders and creates participation was the initial intuition of the young protagonists, the “Libramenti” committed to creating art events and promoting beauty to restore villages their dignity and vitality. “Contenti,” an open-air museum, is a dream that is about to come true.

Tradition means delivering and transmitting memory, in time and space, so that identity is experienced and witnessed as a value that creates sharing, encounters and cross-over creativity. What happens when the bearers of tradition, the elderly, meet the creative genius of the young is tangible in the streets of the town and in the faces of the people during a Felici & Conflenti event. A programme of activities that stirs body and soul, renewing feelings of sociability and sharing, in a sunny, cheerful and happy atmosphere.

Since the 1970s, this has been a meeting place for the community, where people can catch up with friends and sample the many interesting traditional dishes, with a special focus on fish recipes.

A guardian of memory, the Roperti family expresses authentic dedication to hospitality and local cuisine. For example, at the homemade Sunday lunch, guests are pampered with delicious traditional dishes and a courteous welcome that remains etched in the memory.

In the heart of the village, Angela and Mariano welcome guests with the care and friendliness of hosts inviting a friend into their home. The view from the terrace that overlooks the breakfast room, looking out over the lush mountain slopes, leads the mind to peace and tranquillity.

A location that recalls the authentic meaning of “church,” in which the community itself builds the sacred construction, whose name in dialect, A Madonna u ‘Ritu, refers to the district that unwinds beyond it, with alleys and small squares, in the upper part of the village.

A prodigious “great beauty,” built at the behest of the Virgin at the foot of the great oak of Visora. A place of community identity, both for locals and emigrants, and a pilgrimage destination where divine revelations have been handed down for generations.

Love for the Reventino mountains, locations, sentiments, people and stories inspire the project and the activities of Angelo Vigliotti, president and founder of the association: highlighting this splendid territory by involving the local community through responsible and sustainable tourism. An essential contact for getting to know the Re

A poet originating from the hamlet of Adami, Michele Pane emigrated to the United States in 1901. His Calabria would remain that of his childhood, linked to humble, simple, straight-talking people intolerant of the arrogance of greedy and corrupt barons. The association set up the Museo urbano (Urban museum), an itinerary hallmarked by Adami’s roots, houses and locations that still recount beautiful stories.

At Praticello in the heart of Decollatura. An ideal base for discovering the Reventino area. Traditional cuisine with a focus on mushroom recipe

A 4-star hotel with conference and meeting facilities, guest rooms and a swimming pool. Traditional hospitality and the Alchimia restaurant’s menu comprising specialities from land and sea.

A farm hospitality venue in a natural setting, offering accommodation, restaurant, swimming pool and adventure park. A family welcome from Angela and Giovanni, who know how to tell their own story of the local setting in ways that include excellent traditional cuisine based on the farm’s organic produce

A beautiful establishment in a green setting, with a swimming pool. The cuisine offers flavours that are a perfect expression of the ingredients. The house antipasti with vrasciole (croquettes) and courgette fritters are excellent; don’t miss the homemade pasta with sausage and bell pepper ragout, and the legendary grilled meats.

Delicious cuisine, courtesy and a welcoming atmosphere. Traditional dishes revisited with moderation and the use of local ingredients. Very interesting wine list. A green setting in a relaxing atmosphere.

Agriculture interpreted as a form of culture and knowledge of the land based on respect for nature and the ecosystem. Orto Corto is the brainchild of Carmine Gigliotti. When tradition meets awareness of the balance between man and the environment, food and lifestyle also improve in quality.

With his feet in the present and a radiant gaze towards the future, Giuseppe knows that preserving biodiversity and creating innovation inspired by tradition represents the farming of tomorrow. Like his grandparents, he dries chestnuts using the heat of fire; he gathers and prepares rare herbs for specialities such as Verna wheat biscuits with black aniseed.

The residence of the anti-Bourbon patriot and general Francesco Stocco, a point of reference for Garibaldi and a prime figure in the 1848 Calabrian uprisings. The palazzo is the result of a transformation of the original 14th-century fortress into a noble mansion.

This source of water comes from several springs on the slopes of Mount Reventino and is a symbol of the purity of these locations. With a fixed residue of only 39 mg/L, it is the lightest mineral water produced south of the Alps.

A dramatic crag that appears unexpectedly and resembles a strong and powerful giant. Legend has it that it is the throne of fairies, and in the tales of travellers and woodcutters from times past, there was apparently an opening here that led to the magical world of fairies. There are splendid views of Sila and the Reventino area.

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a strongly-felt tradition in Calabria. One of the most important festivals is the procession in Adami (16 July) with the wooden statue of the Madonna del Carmelo from the Abbey of Corazzo. The 16th-century Baroque church built by Carmelite friars is well worth seeing.

In a beautiful position between the hamlets of Passaggio and Tomaini, this church is an 18th-century highlight of the area. The façade is a monumental rendition of the traditional rapillo, the plasterwork made using river stone from the Reventino area, a distinctive element of local architecture.

An association combining the love of the local area and hiking, with the aim of promoting outdoor activities as a way of socialising and sharing, and as a tool for knowledge and dissemination. The objective is the rediscovery of unfamiliar locations, unspoilt landscapes and authentic villages that tell stories of life and express the identity of a microcosm that is still intact.

Simple and cosy, with a garden, in a beautiful location. 9 km from the village.

A farm hospitality venue that is a good expression of the human and natural values of the most authentic Calabria. A great sense of hospitality and a cuisine deeply linked to the land through high quality ingredients and skilful preparation by Chef Marco.

The right place for people who wish to experience Calabrian food and wine. Fine ingredients and traditional recipes, including reinterpretations by the talented Delfino Maruca, expert in expressing local culture. Stunning starters with cured meats and cheeses, tonnarelli pasta with fennel and walnuts, and chestnuts that are always a valued resource. Professionalism and great courtesy. Unmissable.

A green resource offering a magical atmosphere ideal for people who love outdoor excursions. Well worth a day’s visit at the heart of the Reventino-Savuto environs. The picnic area is very beautiful. Green in late spring and summer, ablaze with yellows and reds in autumn, silver in winter. An enchanting location.

Rossella Fazio’s haberdashery workshop, where, amidst fabrics and yarn, she uses her skilful hands to weave stories on the loom, presenting contemporary weaving works rooted in an ancient history but above all in the feminine soul of the town of chairs.

Serrastretta is also part of the origins of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, aka Dalidà, one of the greatest international pop music performers from the 1960s to the 1980s. At the House Museum located in the village, her life is described by records, photographs, posters and writings.

An accurate reconstruction of the domestic and working environments of farmers and craftspeople. Great attention is paid to the woodworking tradition on the part of fhalignami (carpenters) and seggiari (chair-makers). The chairs of Serrastretta originated from the beech forest of Mount Condrò, a stone’s throw from the village, the place of origin of the wood used by the chair makers, skilled in the production of the 13bis, a traditional chair assembled without the use of glue or nails: the 13 parts make up the skeleton of the chair built uniquely using wood jointing techniques.

The 18th-century church has a beautiful portal sculpted grey granite. The stuccoes and works of art such as the green stone baptismal font and the altarpiece painted by Zimatore and Grillo reflect the artistic ferment of the 1700s.

A 17th-century homestead restored by five Benedictine nuns, today it is a house offering hospitality and spirituality for individuals and groups. In addition to 20 beds, it offers various activities such as vegetable gardening, painting and a weaving workshop (cotton and linen).

Barbara Aiello, the first female rabbi in Italy, lives here. Her father, a musician, left Calabria for America in 1923 when he was 10 years old together with his mother and three younger sisters. Barbara was born in 1947 in the USA, and graduated in Pedagogy and Psychology. After a period in Milan, she returned to Calabria to help Jews in southern Italy rediscover their Hebrew roots. The small Synagogue is part of her home and is a place of peace and outreach in the heart of Serrastretta.

A restaurant and pizzeria inspired by Calabrian culinary traditions. Welcoming and friendly. Advance booking recommended.

The Chiodo family turns farming and the rearing of geese, chickens, pigs, cows, horses and above all Alpine chamois goats, into art. They produce an extraordinary milk with which Franco “invents” goat cheeses of the highest quality.

Hiding places, books, memories and testimonies of the brigandage that once typified these locations are fundamental features of the Museo del Brigante (Brigandry Museum), where you encounter the figure of Giosafatte Talarico, the “Robin Hood” of Panettieri who evaded capture by the police from 1820 to 1845.

Bread, as the name of the village suggests, is a symbol for shared values involving substance and spirit. In the past, the village had many bakeries, while today it has an outstanding location, a fully-functioning reconstruction, the Museo del Pane (Bread Museum), which accurately evokes the bakery’s interiors.

This is the mother church of Panettieri with a simple façade featuring three portals. The triple-nave interior conserves an 18th-century statue of San Carlo Borromeo by the Neapolitan school, two statues of the Madonna del Rosario and Madonna Addolorata, and early 20th-century paintings by Giorgio Pinna da Nicastro.

A point of reference for the Carlopoli community, travellers and cycle tourists. It is located on the town’s main street (Via Bellavista). Don’t miss the ice cream and granitas.

A point of reference for local accommodation, a stopover point for tourists and travellers. Eugenia and Gino have hospitality in their blood. Family atmosphere, courtesy, breakfasts with local products.

A farm hospitality venue with flats in a natural setting on the outskirts of Carlopoli. You can experience the Sila atmosphere, at a stone’s throw from oak and chestnut groves and centuries-old forests. An excellent base from which to explore Sila and the Reventino-Savuto area.

The dream of Giuseppe Sirianni and Gino Mancuso gave rise to La Jumara, a farm hospitality venue dedicated to trout farming. “Enabling the local area to develop by means of a resource that in mountain culture constitutes an important asset.” Today, La Jumara is a landmark for people seeking genuine, zero-mile products.

Welcome to the kingdom of Carlo Arcuri, who dedicates his life to a Calabrian expression of excellence: the Black Pig. Up here, pigs live in extensive spaces with perfect environmental conditions so they can move around and feed in a natural manner. The cured meats are of the highest quality and are well worth a trip.

A landmark venue in Castagna whose homemade pasta, fresh produce from the Piccoli family’s vegetable garden and mushrooms from these forests have become legendary. The flavours of this territory are enhanced by the authenticity of this family-run trattori

Calabrian food and wine at an establishment outstanding for its versatility: trattoria, pizzeria, rotisserie, sandwich shop and bar. A true passion for pizza and Calabrian flavours with tasty recipes that delight the eyes and palate.

Pizza, appetisers and sandwiches at this venue that utilises Calabrian products. First course recipes include paccheri pasta with sausage and chilli pepper strands. Calabrian courtesy and hospitality.

The pizzas made by the Spilotro sisters embody the variety and quality of an incomparable area. Filomena’s pizzas tell the story of the local surroundings through art, passion and sensitivity. The Reventino-Savuto pizza is extraordinary: primosale goat cheese, mountain potato, black pork cheek, walnuts, seasoned pecorino cheese wafers and honey. Haute cuisine and great authenticity.

At the dawn of the third millennium, Luca Gentile, inspired by a foggy autumn, began making limoncello and nocino together with his wife Pasqualina. L’Eremita, made using 21 herbs, is the first liqueur to portray the intensity of the Reventino-Savuto area worldwide. In fact, in 2022 it won a distinction at the World Liqueur Awards in London as one of the best liqueurs on the planet.

A 19th-century church that preserves a white marble stoup and baptismal font dating back to the early 17th century and two important 18th-century works: a fine sculpture of the Madonna with Child and Flaming Heart, and a painting by Francesco Colelli depicting the Madonna of Suffrage with the Child and the Souls in Purgatory.

In 1998, the four Leo brothers founded the company that epitomises the purity of these locations. Leo is an oligomineral water with a low fixed residue and today it is a sustainable business that, in compliance with the industrial plan 4.0, uses energy-saving machinery, representing an innovative development of the production process.

There are no longer any monks, no rosaries are recited, there is no altar, but its mystical solitude is imbued with a spirituality as transparent as its roof of sky. And in that empty, austere space, a sign reminds us that “It is forbidden to trample on dreams.” Founded in 1060, it was rebuilt at the end of the 12th century by Cistercian monks. It experienced its most flourishing period with Abbot Gioacchino da Fiore in the first half of the 13th century. For many years it was a self-sufficient unit thanks to agricultural activities, cattle breeding, growing medicinal herbs and chestnut trees, an indispensable source of sustenance. The monks of Corazzo were farmers, breeders, blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, plumbers and engineers who transformed this location into an important “engine” for the local economy.

A favourite venue for breakfasts, aperitifs and quick lunches. Excellent pastries.

One of the most evocative spiritual locations in Calabria, the Santuario is an oasis of rarefied peace, in the green setting of the Piccola Sila, caressed by the waters of the river Corace. The painting of the Madonna of Constantinople, an image defined as acheiropoieton, not painted by human hand, and the ritual of the Cunfrunta, the meeting between the Madonna and St Joseph, are enchanting. Walking along the paths of the Corace River Park, you are immersed in the marvels of nature that takes the form of gorges and waterfalls, until you reach Cicala station.

Waking up in the woods is an experience worth trying at Cicala. Especially if Giacomo’s kitchen prepares Catanzaro-style morzello (morzeddhu), the spicy stew that is a symbol of simple Calabrian cuisine. The farm restaurant offers the family hospitality typical of a mountain village.

(currently closed for renovation, reopening in November)

Ancient traditions, handed down for three generations who, since 1931, have been involved in the processing and conservation of porcini mushrooms in oil and other products of the soil and the forest.

To taste a delicious Rome-style pinsa in Calabria, you have to go to Cicala, to Antonella’s charming bar in the heart of the village. From grandmother to granddaughter, recipes for local delicacies are handed down, such as crispelle (Calabrian fritters), sweet and savoury, exclusively hand-kneaded.

“Giving lustre to everything that surrounds us” is the principle that inspires the work of the Terra Mater Cicala Association, whose mission is to enhance the area through a variety of activities, from nature trekking to cultural excursions, food and wine events, and widespread tourist hospitality, European projects and territorial networks. Young people like Matteo and Erika, who turn an idea into a business, promote the culture of authentic hospitality in which the traveller becomes part of the project, experiencing emotions and sharing passions, choosing to return because shared dreams create happiness.

The company’s products, comprising the finest Mediterranean flavours, dominated by the Calabrian tomato, express the intense bond between the Muraca family and the local area. From grandfather Ferdinando, Kevin inherited the values that inspire the company; integrity, professionalism and a love of work and the land. A recipe that conveys Calabria to families all over the world.

Two generations have passed since Giacomo and Ivana’s dream, and the reason for the prestige they have gained lies in the “artisanal values” of their products, grown respecting the rhythms of nature, prepared following archaic and secret recipes. Genuine, traditional and innovative, the Muraca siblings transmit their values in their choice of products and labels, such as A sarsa da nunna (grandmother’s tomato sauce), which speaks of an entire territory and a family history.

A cornerstone for the community of Cicala, the Church of the Patron Saint is a place for cross-generational interaction and it is at the heart of traditional events. Here, history and legend weave narratives and relationships that generate values and nurture the local identity. It dates back to the 18th century and preserves two wooden altars from Corazzo Abbey.

Calabria on a plate with no compromises. Don’t miss the cavatelli with fresh crumbled sausage and porcini mushrooms, and the legendary mixed grill with veal, pork and lamb accompanied by m’pacchiuse (fried, literally “sticky”) potatoes.

Great food at the right prices. Appetisers and home-made pasta never disappoint. Recipes with land and sea fare. The potatoes are from the Sila district, always and in any case. Intense flavours, traditional recipes and Sila courtesy. Don’t miss the potato vrasciole (croquettes)!

From Bocca di Piazza, the road follows the wide open spaces of the uplands to reach Il Cariglio, another paragon of Sila hospitality and genuine cuisine. Don’t miss Rosanna’s homemade pasta! Here, Calabria and the inner beauty of Sila are expressed by the Perri family.

Spontaneity, simplicity and the great flavours of popular Calabrian cuisine. No frills and lots of substance. Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, fusilli with broccoli and sausage, roast lamb with potatoes, signature rotisserie and great sandwiches.

An ideal place for a stopover or a classic food and wine experience, Grandinetti Hotel is a family-run establishment that opened its doors to tourism in this area when it became popular for family holidays.

An ideal place for a break in the spectacular setting of Bocca di Piazza, surrounded by nature. A stone’s throw from the cycle path, it offers tables, benches and BBQs for fantastic grilled fare.

Don’t miss the experience on foot or by bike on the dirt road that from Bocca di Piazza enters the forest in a fairy-tale setting and winds towards Lake Savuto. The route of about 5 km encapsulates the most attractive aspects of the Sila environment.

The Bocca di Piazza uplands are a paradise for the mountain potato, which up here is an important resource for agriculture and the local economy. The Consortium of Associated Potato Growers is a point of reference for the promotion of the IGP Sila potato.

Lake Savuto is an area of naturalistic value and tranquillity, greatly appreciated by hikers; it is home to the ENEL hydroelectric power station with a penstock that feeds Lake Arvo in drought periods.

Fontenoce oligomineral water is an important resource for this mountainous area: with a temperature of 9°C at the source, it is light and crystal clear like the essence of these mountains. Production methods and ethos are inspired by environmental sustainability, and for cyclists it is an unmissable stop.

Pizza and local products in the fine building that housed the Leo wool mill in the 19th century. Today it is a venue for events and ceremonies, greatly appreciated by the local community.

Calabrian hospitality, a family atmosphere but above all a memorable pinsa (Rome-style pizza) making this location a point of reference in the area for everyone who loves simple, genuine produce, from starters to desserts. The Calabrian wine list is excellent.