Experiential Itinerary

The three villages, in history, have also represented a place of inspiration for many artists who, right here, wanted to leave a sign of their passage.

Visiting the three villages means embarking on an itinerary dedicated to lovers of authentic and artistic experiences.

In Castelsilano you cannot help but be fascinated by the streets of the murals: works created by local, national and international artists who have given color to doors, windows and walls, implementing a true fusion between art and tradition. This has transformed Castelsilano into a town of art and colors, in particular the Braille signage symbol of a culture accessible to all. A visit to the Ark of Girimonte is not to be missed. In the heart of the Sila Crotonese appears, almost out of nowhere, a structure totally made of stone, surrounded by greenery, which resembles a huge ark, created in the 70s by the Calabrian sculptor Giovanni Girimonte. The Ark gardens are wonderful and retain their original majesty.

The Sila municipality is also rich in events with a strong tradition such as the Donkey Race. The event originates from an ancient tradition that dates back to the 18th century. During the celebrations of the patron saint, between one popular game and another, these competitions were organized between the best specimens present in the villages, capable of involving and enthusing an entire population. Reliving this tradition today, redefined as the “Palio of the poor”, means paying a small but significant tribute to this eternal and faithful worker, a never forgotten symbol of the industriousness of the people of Calabria.

In August, the historic center of Castelsilano is transformed into an open-air stage to celebrate the identity of the village through a unique experiential path. “Rughe in Festa” to discover the suggestive “wrinkles“, the narrow streets characteristic of the town, in an event that combines culture, flavors and tradition. The event includes guided tours, tastings of typical products, food stands and entertainment with music, dances and folk songs.

The village of Caccuri is a real treasure trove of experiences starting with the prestigious Caccuri Literary Prize, which takes place every summer. During this event, the village comes alive with literary debates, shows and cultural events that celebrate literature and the arts. Now in its thirteenth edition, the award attracts intellectuals, journalists, writers every year who animate the Italian cultural debate and who land in one of the most evocative villages in the South. The Caccuri Award also aims to enhance the territory, thus becoming an attractive destination for a significant number of tourists. The public will have the opportunity to discover new literary talents, meet established authors and participate in stimulating debates that range over current and relevant issues.

The walk in the historic center crosses very special and fascinating spaces including the Vico degli artisti, a street where there are the dedications of famous people who arrived in Caccuri on the occasion of the award.

We conclude our experiential tour in the magic of Santa Severina. History that comes back to life, with characters and traditions, customs and traditions of a past time that still fascinates today. This is the Medieval Festival that takes place every year in the enchanting setting of the village of Santa Severina: a historical re-enactment of the daily life that took place in the village in medieval times that takes place every year in spring.

Among the most special events there is certainly “The Romantic Night” in one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Love and romance are celebrated and represented in the square of Santa Severina, in a strictly candlelit atmosphere, with many events: RomantiCanto and Tango Nuevo Trio. The moment in common with all the most beautiful villages in Italy is the midnight kiss, crowned by the launch of the sky of the numerous “romantic” balloons, strictly biodegradable.

Another event that makes the medieval village even more fascinating is “Calici sotto le stelle” which takes place in the splendid setting of Piazza del Campo. Calici sotto le stelle (also called “Calici di stelle”) is a trendy event on a national scale organized in the most exclusive locations with the same format between castles and medieval villages, by important associations such as “Wine Tourism Movement”, “Wine Route”, “Wine City” and “Association of Wine Municipalities of Italy”.

The poetry festival “A Sud di Ogni Altrove” takes place in the evocative and historic setting of the Castle of Santa Severina. The event, scheduled for September and October, aims to celebrate poetry as a fundamental tool for connecting passion, emotion and reflections in an era in which the value of the human seems to be lost.

Itinerary of experiential tourism and artists’ creativity

A journey through art, traditions and emotions in the villages of the Upper Marquisate of Crotone.

The villages of Castelsilano, Caccuri and Santa Severina offer much more than views and architecture: they are places where personal experience is intertwined with culture, art and the living soul of local communities. Places where you can experience the territory, participate, be inspired and take home much more than a memory.

CASTELSILANO – The village of widespread art and popular identity

Mural Streets

In the last 10 years Castelsilano has been transformed into a real “museum town”, thanks to an artistic urban regeneration project that has involved over 50 local, Italian and international artists. The works are found not only on the facades of the buildings, but also on:

• carved wooden doors,

• walled windows transformed into paintings,

• entire walls transformed into “urban canvases”.

Many murals tell the agricultural and pastoral history of the village: the harvest, the transhumance, the donkey as a life companion. Others explore social themes (migration, loneliness, inclusion). There is a tactile path with Braille signage that also accompanies the blind in this artistic experience.

The Ark of Girimonte

The only example of environmental sculptural architecture in Calabria, it was created by the sculptor Giovanni Girimonte in the 70s. These are:

• a monumental structure in rough stone, which takes the shape of a biblical ark,

• entirely hand-built, without cement or metal,

• surrounded by a symbolic garden with native plants, religious sculptures and meditative paths.

It was designed as a work of reconciliation between man and nature and can now be visited by appointment.

Donkey Race – Palio dei Poveri

Event that takes place during the patronal feast of St. John the Baptist (end of June). The families of the village prepare the donkey as they would a racehorse: rosettes, colored saddles, fantasy names. The “palio” is run among the wrinkles of the town and involves the whole village in a choral festival. The tradition dates back to 1750 and represents a popular form of redemption and rural pride.

Wrinkles in celebration

The “wrinkles” (the narrow streets of the village) become the common thread of an event that unites:

• itinerant theater (with Calabrian companies),

• art installations in abandoned houses,

• stalls of traditional handicrafts,

• wicker, lace and preserves weaving workshops,

• performances of popular music and dances (tarantellas, accordions, tambourines),

• tastings of typical dishes prepared by the families of the village.

CACCURI – The village of words, thoughts and narration

Caccuri Literary Prize

Founded in 2011, it is now one of the most important Italian literary awards for non-fiction. The event lasts 4 days (usually in the first week of August) and hosts:

• Italian writers and essayists (past guests: Paolo Mieli, Massimo Cacciari, Concita De Gregorio, Michele Santoro, etc.),

• meetings, talks and interviews in the squares, courtyards and lounges of the castle,

• evening concerts and theatrical performances.

The public votes with a ballot for the winner, making the event participatory and popular. It attracts over 5,000 visitors every year.

Vico degli Artisti

It is a small alley in the historic center, set up as an “open-air gallery” where:

• autographed dedications of famous guests are affixed,

• each stone tells of a visit, a memory, a thought,

• There are verses of poems written on ceramics and wood.

Creative experiences

During the Prize, the following are activated:

• creative writing workshops for children and adults,

• scenic readings in the alleys,

• literary treks “in the footsteps of the characters” inspired by the narrative of the South.

SANTA SEVERINA – Where history becomes theatre and poetry

Medieval Festival (May-June)

Historical re-enactment that reconstructs the daily life of the village in the thirteenth century. The program includes:

• processions in medieval dress with over 150 participants,

• medieval market with ancient crafts (farriers, potters, apothecaries),

• knightly jousts in the square of the Castle,

• theatrical performances on the life of Robert Guiscard and the Norman princes,

• historical dances, falconers and fire shows.

It is one of the most anticipated events of the Calabrian spring.

The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy (end of June)

Santa Severina adheres to the national initiative of the Most Beautiful Villages, celebrating love with:

• square lit by candles and lanterns,

• concerts (e.g. tango, early music),

• poems recited by local actors,

• launch of biodegradable balloons at midnight, preceded by the “collective kiss”.

Goblets under the Stars (August)

In the charming Piazza del Campo, in front of the Castle, the wineries of the Neto Valley offer tastings accompanied by:

• jazz, soul or ethnic music,

• astronomical observations with telescopes,

• oenology masterclasses curated by AIS sommeliers.

The event is networked with the “Wine Cities” and is part of the national circuit of the Wine Tourism Movement.

Poetry Festival “A Sud di Ogni Altrove”

It takes place between September and October in the courtyard of the Castle and in other evocative spaces of the village. Hosts:

• contemporary Italian poets (e.g. Davide Rondoni, Milo De Angelis),

• collective readings, theater-poetry performances,

• school workshops and meetings on the relationship between word and landscape.