Acri: Discover Culture, Nature, and Local Cuisine

Acri can be discovered as a destination through its rural culture, sacred architecture, art, and the woodland landscape above the town. Museums, historic churches, the heritage of Beato Angelo, trails in the surrounding area, and local cuisine come together to create a varied stay for those interested in culture and nature.

Museums, Art, and Rural Life

At the Museo della civiltà contadina di Acri, six exhibition rooms tell the story of rural and artisanal life. Around 500 objects are preserved there. The Museo del Risorgimento “G.B. Falcone” uses panels and historical photographs to vividly convey important moments from the 19th century.

Since 2006, MACA has housed the permanent collection of Silvio Vigliaturo. It is located in Palazzo Sanseverino, which was built between 1707 and 1717 and decorated by Donato Vitale and his students. The Museo dei costumi Arbereshe provides another cultural highlight: it is dedicated to the traditional clothing of Italy’s Albanian minority.

Churches and the Heritage of Beato Angelo

The Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata was first mentioned historically in 1269 by Bishop Ruffino. Its Romanesque layout has the shape of a Latin cross with three naves. In the left aisle there is a crucifixion considered a small masterpiece. Work carried out in 2004 and 2007 confirmed the early Christian dating of the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore through numerous discoveries.

The Basilica del Beato Angelo da Acri has a 32-metre-high dome and two bell towers of the same height. Twelve noble chapels are arranged in two rows; the central chapel contains a watertight urn made of bronze and glass with the reconstructed body of the saint. The Basilica di Sant’Angelo is a Baroque church and is considered the most important place of veneration in Acri.

The birthplace of Beato Angelo in the Casalicchio district was converted into a chapel in 1930. The Museo del Beato Angelo is housed in the Capuchin monastery. Palazzo Padula was once the residence of the writer and poet Vincenzo Padula. The Torre del Castello Normanno, also called Torre di Padia, likewise points to the past: it was once a watchtower and part of the Norman castle that ruled Acri. The tower preserves an 18th-century clock mechanism made by local artisans.

Forest Trails, Outdoor Experiences, and Cuisine

Parco Serra Crista lies above Acri at an altitude of around 1,125 metres. Its forest consists of black pines and chestnut trees and is crossed by panoramic trails. In the area around Acri, there are also trails in Sila National Park, as well as opportunities for trekking, skiing, canyoning, and other outdoor sports.

Acri’s cuisine includes handmade cavati with meat or mushroom sauce as well as patate ’mpacchiuse. The Festa di San Giuseppe on 19 March offers a festive glimpse into local life: the statue forms part of a procession at the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata, accompanied by celebratory masses and market stalls on Corso Pertini and Piazza Matteotti.

Discover More Destinations

Also explore Torremezzo Di Falconara, Parenti, Nocara, Grisolia, Calopezzati, Palombella, Belmonte Calabro, and San Lucido.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.