Amaroni between forests, culture and honey

Amaroni lies on a rocky spur at the foot of Monte Carbonara and overlooks the Golfo di Squillace. Around the town, the hills display two clearly distinct landscapes: oak and chestnut forests grow on the steepest slopes, while the gentler slopes are dominated by olive trees, fruit trees and vineyards. In this way, the rocky setting, woodland and agriculturally shaped hillsides combine to create a distinctive townscape.

Nature along the Ferrera River

One particularly tangible natural area is Fontana Serra, a green area along the Ferrera River, just outside Amaroni’s built-up center and also accessible on foot. Near Sagracìa, in the Fontana Serra area, there are natural pools with waterfalls around five meters high. A path through the area follows the Ferrera to Mortariadhu. If you enjoy combining your stay with walking routes and landscape experiences, this is where water, the river’s course and the route itself become tangible.

Springs, museum and historic buildings

At the edge of the historic center lies Fontana Vecchia, a historic spring. It is also known as the “fontana degli innamorati” because young lovers used to arrange secret meetings there. Fontana Vecchia is also accessible to people with motor disabilities. In the historic center, a renovated former oil mill serves as a museum. Palazzo Canale was built in 1666 by Prince De Gregorio.

The Chiesa Matrice di Santa Barbara was destroyed by the earthquake of March 28, 1783. It has a 24-meter-high bell tower with a domed shape; the church also features frescoes bearing the signatures of the painters Zimatore and Grillo. The first records concerning the construction of the Chiesa Matrice di Santa Barbara in Amaroni date from 1793. The annual Festa patronale, celebrated on July 31 and August 1, includes the traditional folk dances “U Bagagghieddhu” and “A zzia Rachela”.

Regional products and honey

The municipal Fiera delle bontà e delle arti is an exhibition of outstanding artisanal and gastronomic products from the region. Honey also holds a firm place in Amaroni: beekeepers from Amaroni produce wildflower, chestnut, orange blossom, sulla and eucalyptus honey. Since December 2005, Amaroni has been a member of the National Association “Le Città del Miele”. Alongside nature and history, these themes give the trip a distinctly regional, culinary dimension.

Planning your stay

The Biblioteca Comunale Tiziano Terzani offers free book consultation and lending services. It has a study room, a reading room for small children and a multimedia room. When choosing a hotel in Amaroni, you can therefore decide according to your own focus: local history, routes along the Ferrera or regional products can be combined into different travel rhythms.

Provincial Road 162/2 runs through Amaroni. It connects the town toward the new connecting route to State Road Ionica 106 and the renovated Strada dei Due Mari (SS 280). The Strada dei Due Mari provides access to the A3 motorway, the railway station and Lamezia Terme International Airport. These transport connections are useful for practical orientation, while the destinations in the town and along the Ferrera provide the thematic framework for your days in Amaroni.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to add more places to your trip, you can also explore Cortale, Martirano, Copanello, Falerna Marina, Zagarise, Soverato Marina, Girifalco and Falerna.

Back to the main travel overview: Catanzaro.