VISITING CALABRIA, FROM CROTONE, VALLI CUPE TO CAPO COLONNA
A tour to discover some of the most beautiful treasures of Calabria, exploring history, science, archeology, and nature
Itinerary: Crotone, Parco Pitagora, Santa Severina, Sila, Valli Cupe, Capo Colonna
Visiting Calabria, from Crotone, Valli Cupe to Capo Colonna
The region of 
Calabria is located in the southern part of Italy, at the tip of the Italian boot and just a stone's throw from Sicily. It boasts a wide array of historic and artistic places and outstanding archaeological findings. Also, Calabria has beautiful coastlines and crystal clear sea-water.
Crotone & Pitagora Park
Let's start out on this tour from an interesting site in Crotone, which is one of the main cities in Calabria. Together with a castle and countless churches, and religious and non-religious buildings, an important attraction of Crotone is Parco Pitagora pic n°5. Formerly known as Parco Pignera, this park is located on a hill in the south-eastern part of the city, and it is mostly dedicated to the findings and studies of Pythagoras. Pythagoras was a very famous philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, born in Greece in 570 B.C. In Crotone, he together with his followers had founded the famous school of Pythagoreanism. Parco Pitagora is formed by a garden with a museum and it is home to several works depicting the studies and the findings of this famous character.
Santa Severina
Around 30 km northwest of Parco Pitagora, you can visit Santa Severina pic n°2, one of the most beautiful Medieval villages in Calabria. This small town, located 320 meters above sea level, is halfway between the Ionic Sea and the Sila plateau which extends the National Park of Sila (pic n°3), founded in 2002 and recognized as an outstanding site by UNESCO. The National Park of Sila is home to many species of flora and fauna living in this unspoiled environment, a real paradise for all nature lovers!
The town of Santa Severina features a peaceful, picturesque historic center, with narrow alleys and nice shops. Here, you should have a walk along with the amazing Piazza Campo and take some time to visit the thirteenth-century Cathedral and Byzantine Baptistery, with frescoes dating back to the tenth-twelfth centuries.
Although this small town is rich in artistic and architectural beauties, the main attraction of Santa Severina is its castle, an imposing fortification that dates back to the Norman age (eleventh century). The castle is composed of a large, square fortification with four round towers on the corners. Thanks to the impressive structure, the bastions, the tower, and the intricate basement, the castle of Santa Severina is one of the most important examples of military fortifications in Italy. In the sixteenth century, the structure of the castle was modified by Andrea Carafa, and because of this, it is also known as the Castle of Carafa pic n°1. Today, the castle is home to the Archeological Museum which hosts the archeological findings of the surrounding areas and the caste itself. Visitors can also admire some archeological sites, such as a grotto, some necropolises, and a Byzantine church.
Calabria is located in the southern part of Italy, at the tip of the Italian boot and just a stone's throw from Sicily. It boasts a wide array of historic and artistic places and outstanding archaeological findings. Also, Calabria has beautiful coastlines and crystal clear sea-water. Crotone & Pitagora Park
Let's start out on this tour from an interesting site in Crotone, which is one of the main cities in Calabria. Together with a castle and countless churches, and religious and non-religious buildings, an important attraction of Crotone is Parco Pitagora pic n°5. Formerly known as Parco Pignera, this park is located on a hill in the south-eastern part of the city, and it is mostly dedicated to the findings and studies of Pythagoras. Pythagoras was a very famous philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, born in Greece in 570 B.C. In Crotone, he together with his followers had founded the famous school of Pythagoreanism. Parco Pitagora is formed by a garden with a museum and it is home to several works depicting the studies and the findings of this famous character.
Santa Severina
Around 30 km northwest of Parco Pitagora, you can visit Santa Severina pic n°2, one of the most beautiful Medieval villages in Calabria. This small town, located 320 meters above sea level, is halfway between the Ionic Sea and the Sila plateau which extends the National Park of Sila (pic n°3), founded in 2002 and recognized as an outstanding site by UNESCO. The National Park of Sila is home to many species of flora and fauna living in this unspoiled environment, a real paradise for all nature lovers!
The town of Santa Severina features a peaceful, picturesque historic center, with narrow alleys and nice shops. Here, you should have a walk along with the amazing Piazza Campo and take some time to visit the thirteenth-century Cathedral and Byzantine Baptistery, with frescoes dating back to the tenth-twelfth centuries.
Although this small town is rich in artistic and architectural beauties, the main attraction of Santa Severina is its castle, an imposing fortification that dates back to the Norman age (eleventh century). The castle is composed of a large, square fortification with four round towers on the corners. Thanks to the impressive structure, the bastions, the tower, and the intricate basement, the castle of Santa Severina is one of the most important examples of military fortifications in Italy. In the sixteenth century, the structure of the castle was modified by Andrea Carafa, and because of this, it is also known as the Castle of Carafa pic n°1. Today, the castle is home to the Archeological Museum which hosts the archeological findings of the surrounding areas and the caste itself. Visitors can also admire some archeological sites, such as a grotto, some necropolises, and a Byzantine church.
Cupe Valleys (Valli Cupe)
After leaving Santa Severina, drive southwest and explore the magical environment of Valli Cupe (pic n°4). This natural site is located in the province of Catanzaro and it is about 10 square kilometers large. Valli Cupe is considered as one of the most beautiful natural areas in Calabria thanks to its particular morphology, as it is rich in canyons, gorges, monoliths, and waterfalls, as well as ancient trees and a wide variety of flora. Canyons and gorges can be up to 130 meters high, and it is possible to take long walks or to go trekking along the many paths that cross the park. Here, both kids and adults can live a wonderful experience in a magical place, surrounded by charming waterfalls and streams with crystalline waters, a wild nature, and breathtaking landscapes. Also, do not miss a visit to some of the most impressive natural attractions of the Valley: Canyon of Valle Cupe, Canyon of Barbaro, Canyon dell'Inferno, Canyon delle Timpe Rosse, Gorges of Crocchio, Campanaro Waterfall, and Waterfall of Rupe. Valli Cupe is the perfect destination for those who want to spend some time in full contact with nature!
After leaving Santa Severina, drive southwest and explore the magical environment of Valli Cupe (pic n°4). This natural site is located in the province of Catanzaro and it is about 10 square kilometers large. Valli Cupe is considered as one of the most beautiful natural areas in Calabria thanks to its particular morphology, as it is rich in canyons, gorges, monoliths, and waterfalls, as well as ancient trees and a wide variety of flora. Canyons and gorges can be up to 130 meters high, and it is possible to take long walks or to go trekking along the many paths that cross the park. Here, both kids and adults can live a wonderful experience in a magical place, surrounded by charming waterfalls and streams with crystalline waters, a wild nature, and breathtaking landscapes. Also, do not miss a visit to some of the most impressive natural attractions of the Valley: Canyon of Valle Cupe, Canyon of Barbaro, Canyon dell'Inferno, Canyon delle Timpe Rosse, Gorges of Crocchio, Campanaro Waterfall, and Waterfall of Rupe. Valli Cupe is the perfect destination for those who want to spend some time in full contact with nature!
Capo Colonna
Then drive east and reach again the seaside visiting the wonderful promontory of Capo Colonna pic n°6 overlooking the Ionic Sea. Placed in an awe-inspiring natural background, Capo Colonna is a very important Archeological Site, whose story is strictly linked to the past of Crotone. In fact, Crotone was an important Greek colony founded in the eighth century B.C., and here used to be located one of the most important temples of the empire. This temple was dedicated to Hera Lacinia, Zeus' wife and sister, protector of women, fertility, family, marriage, and nourishment. Unfortunately, today, just a single column of this great temple is standing, but visitors can still admire the archaeological findings around the park and in the museum.
We also have to mention the beautiful Calabrian seasides featuring warm, crystal clear water and many sandy beaches. So, in summer and if having more time to spend, we suggest visiting the coastlines too. Here, some ideas:
Scenic drive road along the Tyrrhenian coast in Calabria
From Tropea, the Pearl of Calabria, to Capo Vaticano
Departure: Crotone
Arrival: Capo Colonna
Length: Km 144
Some pictures of Calabria:
Castello Carafa - Santa Severina pic n°1; Santa Severina pic n°2; The National Park of Sila pic n°3; Valli Cupe (pic n°4; Parco Pitagora - Crotone pic n°5; Capo Colonna pic n°6; Le Castella: crystal clear sea water & The Aragonese fortress pic middle
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Id: 180
Tour: Visiting Calabria, from Crotone, Valli Cupe to Capo Colonna
Category: Country sightseeing tour
Published by/Copyright: Touring-Italy.net
Location: Seaside
Region: Calabria , Italy
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