Civita between the Raganello Gorge and Arbëreshe culture

Civita combines an impressive natural environment with an unusually diverse cultural history. The town lies within the Gole del Raganello nature reserve and in the heart of a national park. In the historic centre, the houses are built entirely of stone. This brings the landscape, townscape and historical heritage together within a compact thematic area.

Raganello Valley and Ponte del Diavolo

The Gole del Raganello begin at an altitude of 750 metres near the Lamia spring and end 13 kilometres away near the Ponte del Diavolo. The Raganello Valley is a deeply incised river valley with rock walls more than 100 metres high. A notable feature of this landscape is the single-arch, humpbacked Ponte del Diavolo, which crosses the Raganello at 260 metres above sea level. It is considered one of the area's most important attractions and a good viewpoint.

Canyoning and torrentismo can be practised in the Gole del Raganello. The Raganello Valley is also considered suitable for birdwatching. The species found here include golden eagles, peregrine falcons, kestrels and Egyptian vultures. Civita therefore appeals not only to travellers interested in culture, but also to those who would like to include gorges, rocky landscapes and wildlife observation in their trip to Italy.

Stone townscape and Arbëreshe traces

A characteristic element of Civita's settlement pattern is the “gjitonia”. This refers to a microstructure centred on a small square where the lanes converge. The Arbëreshe houses also contribute to the town's distinctive appearance: they feature a large fireplace called a “vatra”, consisting of a large hood with a suspended oven.

Churches, chapels and earlier traces of settlement

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta was built in the mid-17th century and has a late Baroque interior. In 1988, the Latin altar there was replaced by an iconostasis made of walnut and olive wood. The twelve icons on the entablature originate from an iconographic school in Athens and were painted by Ernesto Kominos in 1992. The Cappella della Consolazione dates from the 16th century.

Civita also contains archaeological remains of human settlements from the Bronze Age at the sites of Mater Chiesa and Palmanocera. Ruins of Byzantine chapels can be found in the districts of Piano di San Martino, Spirito Santo and Piano della Chiesa. These sites make it clear that Civita's history has been shaped by very different periods.

Castello di Kruja

The Castello di Kruja is a replica of the castle of Kruja in Albania, built in 2000. It houses a picture gallery with paintings about Civita and the Arbëreshe ethnic group. Today, the Castello di Kruja serves as a congress centre and offers an impressive view of the Raganello. Together with the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, the Cappella della Consolazione and the stone houses, it forms a cultural focal point for exploring the town.

More destinations for planning your trip

If you would like to consider additional destinations for your trip to Italy besides Civita, you can also explore Acri, Camigliatello Silano, Tortora Marina, Cariati, Cutura, Spezzano Albanese, Parenti and Frascineto.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.