The Basilian Way in the Greek Sila
Sila national park- Greek Sila
April/October
Stop 11-22/ 11 days/ 230 km
the stages 11/22 retrace the path in the Greek Sila in Cosentina area from San Demetrio Corona to San Giovanni In Fiore we will walk through chestnut trees, pine forests, villages rich in history, evidence and religious presence of great men
Itinerary
From Rocca Imperiale to Reggio Calabria, a way made by 73 stops developed in more than 1000 km of paths, rebuilt by following traces of ancient italo-greek monks inspired from Saint Basil’s life but also from very important pieces of roman, Greek and also Norman history. It’s the Basilian way: an adventure rich of art, history and religion developed on the mountains of Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte, the right way to know the real essence of Calabria.
Stop 11 – San Demetrio Corone/ Acri – distance 12.1 km
Stop 11 starts from the land of San Demetrio Corone, hamlet arbëreshë which has origin deeply linked to ancient Italo-Greek monks. This hamlet overlooks the Piana di Sibari and from here you can admire the entire Pollino’s mountain chain. In 955 Nilo da Rossano moved here and founded a monastery called abbey of Saint’ Adrian. Suffix “Corone”, added in 1863, is due to an important migratory flow from the city of Coron, in Greece. Since 1794 is the headquarter of Italo-Albanian college founded by Benedetto Ullano.
Stop 12 – Acri/Corigliano Calabro – distance 29.7 km
In this stop you can experience a stunning view on Piana di Sibari where the Ionian sea, the port of Schiavonea with the Pollino’s mountains meet the majestic Ducal Castle of Corigliano. The city of Acri is spread over three hills: the ancient hamlet of Padìa, the Torre Civica di Rocca dei Bruzzi and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The neighborhood of Picitti (Greek neighborhood) and Odivella goes until the summit of the Ancient Castle, a fortress which guards the deep Valley of rivers Mucone e Calamo, major tributaries of the river Crati. The majority of the territory is dominated by the Greek Sila, the rest is called Presila. A must to visit is obviously the church of San Francesco da Paola with his convent, built with the efforts of the most important families in the past: Sanseverino, Alimena di Montalto and Sprovieri. In the chapel are buried different princes of Bisignano and also the saint Francesco Maria Greco.
stop 13 – Corigliano Calabro/Rossano – distance 27,9 km
From the sanctuary of San Francesco da Paola, through amazing views on Piana di Sibari, Gulf of Taranto, the mountain of Pollino and also the port of Schiavonea, we’ll arrive in the extraordinary abbey Of Santa Maria del Patire, a basilian monastic complex built at the beginning of 11th century.The way continues until Rossano where is guarded the precious Codex Purpureus Rossanensis recognized by Unesco as heritage of humanities in 2015. Along the way we’ll walk through lysing woods, fields cultivated by ancient olive trees and also “Jardini” grown with citrus ruits. (Jardini means gardens).
stop 14 – Rossano/ Paludi – distance 14,5 km
A very suggestive stop in which eremitic caves and ancient monasteries are mixed with historical and artistic traces like the church Maria Santissima Achiropita: in the church is present the painting of Madonna Achiropita. IN THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF ROSSANO YOU CAN STILL ADMIRE THE PALAZZI GENTILIZI, THE NARROW PASSAGES AND THE CHURCHES AT THE ORATORY OF SAN MARCO. TO REACH THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF PALUDI, THERE ARE THREE STREAMS: CELADI, COLOGNATI AND COSERIE AMONG THE OLIVE AND CITRUS GROVES THAT LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINS OF THE GREEK SILA.
STOP 16 – Paludi/Cropalati/Longobucco – distance 28.5 km
FROM PALUDI TO CROPALATI UP TO LONGOBUCCO, BETWEEN RIBS OF MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS AND LUXURIOUS VEGETATION OF CHESTNUTS AND LECCI. ALONG THIS ITINERARY, YOU IMMERSE IN THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE GREEK SILA, THROUGH SITES WHICH WERE ALONGSIDE THE SILENCE OF THE BASILIAN MONKS: INTERESTING IS THE CROPALATI AREA FULL OF TUFF CAVES EXCAVATED BY MONKS TO PRAY IN. THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF CASTIGLIONE DI PALUDI, THE BYZANTINE’S PAINT ON THE TUFF CAVE OF THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA AD GRUTTAM, THE SWIMMING IN THE “VURGA” OF THE COSERIE TORRENT THE CHAPEL ALONG THE TRIONTO RIVER CROSSED BY EXTRAORDINARY ROCKY GORGES. THE HAND-EMBROIDERED FABRICS OF LONGOBUCCO ARE EMBELLISHED THIS STAGE: MEDIEVAL VILLAGE IDENTIFIED BY SOME STUDIOS AS TEMESA, ANCIENT CITY RICH IN MINERAL QUARRIES MENTIONED BY HOMER.
STOP 17 – Longobucco/Bocchigliero – distaNCE 32.7 km
STARTING FROM THE MYTHICAL VILLAGE OF LONGOBUCCO (FROM THE LATIN “LONGA BUCCA” LONG CAVITY) WE ARRIVE IN BOCCHIGLIERO: A VILLAGE OF ANCIENT ORIGIN IN WHICH SOME STUDENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BRUZIA ARENTO. CHARACTERIZED BY NARROW ALLEYS AND VERY LOW HOUSES WITH DOORS HALF DONE, BOCCHIGLIERO BOASTS A NOTABLE PRESENCE OF CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES. AMONG THESE NOTABLE ARE THE REMAINS OF A BASILIAN-NORMAN ORATORY DATING FROM THE 12TH CENTURY. THOSE WHO GO TO THIS VILLAGE CANNOT NOT VISIT THE WATERFALLS OF SANTA CROCE, THE NATURAL RESERVE MACCHIA DELLA GIUMENTA SAN SALVATORE WHICH EXTENDS ABOUT 323 HECTARES AND THE MUSEUM OF COUNTRY CULTURE.
stop 18 – Bocchigliero/Campana – distance 17.2 km
Today we visit Kalasarna, a city founded by Strabone by the homerican hero Filotte or by Stefano di Bisanzio from Enotri then after occupied by Filottete. The name changed for a very big Bell (Campana in italian means bell) useful to gather the habitants to defende the hamlet from the Arab invasion. Probably the name changed during the norman occupation. From the ruins of a byzantine-norman oratory, to the surprising Giant of Stone and everything remind to us an ancient and majestic past. Between chestnuts and centurion oaks we’ll get lost in the beauty of this place.
stop 19 – Campana/Perticaro – distance 18.9 km
Red sandstone, oak woods, hay fields design the charming landscape in which is still praticated the transumanza (migration of cattle), an ancient pratcice thant is now heritage of humanities for Unesco. From Kalasarna we are now in Perticaro, an ancient hamlet located between scary sheers, for his nature it can be compared with a natural fortress. A must to visit is the medieval church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and also the San Donato Cathedral, bult in 11th century over a cript that originally was a byzantine basilic of 10th century. later we’ll visit Cozzo Nero, a near hamlet famous the ruins of ancient walls, then in Sant’ Elia we can find prehistoric graves.
stop 20 – Perticaro/Verzino – distance 6.5 km
The “macchia mediterranea” (literally translated as mediterranean scrub but mens the typical vegetation of southern italian regions) introduce the old path that peasants used to walk to arrive on the river Vitravo, in the kotron area, renomated for the massive presence of water mills. A mandatory spot is the Antica Vertinae, where in the past men used to live in caves linked between them by a system of paths. Verzino, built by Enotri, is also mentioned by Strabone, an ancient greek historian. Around 500 the hamlet passed under Krotonese domination that used the iron, sulfur and silver mines.
stop 21 – Verzino/Pino Grande – distance 17.4km
This stop in Basilian way arrives in Savelli, a modern hamlet in the plateau of Sila. Completely surrounded by coniferous woods, it was born from the transfer of Cosentini refugees after the earthquake of 1638. The settlement was supported by the princess Carlotta Savelli, from which the hamlet takes his name. The main street is properly conserved, which from the river Sanapite arrive to the center of the hamlet. All around in the hills there are many old water mills no more in use.
stop 22 – Savelli/San Giovanni – distance 24.2 km
Finally we’ll arrive in the most important center around the area. Here the majesty of the Florence abbey. San Giovanni in Fiore has 17.000 residents and it’s renomated for the craftmanship of wood and wrought iron and also for the hand-annoted armenian carpets. Here is the birthplace of Abbey Florense, one of the biggest religious building in all the region. His name derives from Gioacchino da Fiore (1130-1202) abbot and theologian mentioned by Dante Alighieri, the iconic italian poet, in his Heaven. Some typical dishes are the soup made with cabbage, potatoes and beans and also the Pitta Mpigliata.
The tour includes:
- Transfers by private car/minivan with driver from the place of arrival to the first stop and return;
- Overnight stays with breakfast;
- Telephone assistance throughout the booking of the tour;
- Medical/luggage insurance;
- Basilian walker’s passport;
- Certificate of the walker from the 7th stage;
- Guide of the basilian path where strictly necessary.
On request:
- Daily luggage transport (1 package of 15 kg) where required;
- Guides of the path for the entire duration.
For needs related to the particular historical moment, the organization reserves the right to modify the travel program, but ensuring the same quality of services.
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