Discover Aiello Calabro between the sea and the mountains

Aiello Calabro lies in the hills of the Tyrrhenian hinterland of the Province of Cosenza, between the sea and the mountains. Elevations range from 70 to 1,100 metres. This gives the town a distinctive landscape combined with a rich architectural and festival culture.

Landscape between the Sea and the Mountains

The woodland landscape of Aiello Calabro extends from cork oak stands on the coastal-facing hillsides to formations of Calabrian pine and silver fir on the slopes above 1,000 metres. The succession of elevations shapes the landscape just as much as its location between the Tyrrhenian hinterland and the mountains.

One of the natural excursion destinations is Casellone, which is equipped for outings and picnics. For your planning, this aspect of the landscape can be combined with the town's cultural attractions, without limiting Aiello Calabro to a single type of trip.

Architecture with Many Historical Layers

The preserved remains of Aiello Calabro Castle are located on a rocky promontory above the town. Archaeological excavations at the castle have uncovered rooms.

Palazzo Giannuzzi Savelli is one of the most significant architectural components of Aiello Calabro's cultural heritage. Palazzo Viola is a 16th-century building. Its defining details include a Baroque wrought-iron balcony from the 17th century, a marble coat of arms and a decorated tuff-stone portal.

Religious buildings also reveal the town's different historical and craft traditions. The Cybo Chapel was built in 1597 by Pietro Barbalonga with the assistance of Tuscan stonemasons and contains an altar made of green and black Calabrian marble. The Church of Madonna delle Grazie has tall flask-shaped windows, a sculpted tuff-stone portal, a single-nave layout and stucco decoration.

Aiello Calabro also has a museum of peasant civilisation. The municipal theatre is embedded in the rock face and looks out towards the mountain horizon, from which the sea can be seen. The town's folk theatre tradition is called “’a racchia”.

Festivals, Crafts and Flavours

The relics of Saint Geniale arrived in Aiello Calabro on 26 July 1667 and were permanently transferred in 1808 to the collegiate church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the town's mother church. The San Geniale festival continues to be celebrated on 5 February and on the first Sunday in May. These fixed dates give the town's religious history a recurring place in the annual calendar.

Aiello Calabro's historic craft tradition includes the production of damask and silk fabrics. This is connected with silkworm breeding, which has been practised there since ancient times. The local character is therefore evident not only in palazzi and churches, but also in textile techniques and their long tradition.

The typical dessert of Aiello Calabro is u ’nginèttu, a pastry covered with a sugar and egg-white glaze. Cured meats and cold cuts are associated with the local cuisine of Aiello Calabro. The Savuto Valley around Aiello Calabro is also associated with the production and tasting of Savuto wine with a controlled designation of origin.

More destinations for planning your trip

More destinations: Marano Marchesato, Cutura, Tortora Marina, Morano Calabro, Lattarico, Torremezzo Di Falconara, San Marco Argentano, Marina Di Mandatoriccio

To the overarching travel overview: Cosenza.