Corigliano Calabro: Castle Hill, Museums and Pilgrimage Routes

Corigliano Calabro can be explored through its buildings and collections as well as its pilgrimage routes and nearby coast. The Castello Ducale di Corigliano Calabro is located in the immediate vicinity of the town and was built as a military fortress in 1073. In the historic centre, the Ponte Canale, dating from the 15th century, connects the castle hill with the hill of the San Francesco complex.

Castles, Churches and Fortified History

The Torre di Schiavone (Torre Cupo) served as an observation point for coastal defence. At the same time, it forms part of the 16th-century fortifications and is of historical and artistic interest.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore was built towards the end of the 10th or at the beginning of the 11th century. The Chiesa di Sant'Antonio di Padova was established in 1459 by Luca Sanseverino, Prince of Bisignano. Another historical trace leads to the Romitorio di San Francesco: the small church commemorates San Francesco di Paola's stay in a hut during his visit to Corigliano from 1476 to 1478.

The Chiesa di Santa Chiara, nicknamed “delle Monachelle”, was built between 1757 and 1762 and contains a painting by Nicola Domenico Menzele from 1762 as well as an organ from 1735.

Museums and Art Collections

The international Museo “Raccolta di arte presepiale” is located in the immediate vicinity of Corigliano Calabro. It comprises hundreds of works selected by the collector Giacomo Felicetti over a period of three decades. The collection is divided into four geographical areas: Calabrian art, the nativity tradition of all Italian regions, and European and non-European art from Africa, Asia, America and Australia.

The Museo Castello Ducale was inaugurated after extensive alterations in 2002 and opened to the public under this name. Among other things, visitors can see the monks' prison, the 19th-century kitchens, the Sant’Agostino chapel, the Salone degli Specchi, the dining room, the main tower and the moat.

The art at the Castello also includes the Pinacoteca di arte moderna Nelle sale del Castello. It displays six large-format paintings, not all of which have been attributed. The collection concludes with the triptych “Madonna delle Rose” by Domenico Morelli, which was probably commissioned by Baron Luigi Compagna.

Pilgrimage Routes and Different Stage Lengths

For longer hikes, there is the Via dei Monasteri of the Cammino di San Francesco di Paola. It leads from Paterno Calabro to Corigliano Calabro, is 135 km long and comprises six stages. The Via per la Francia of the same Cammino begins in Corigliano Calabro and leads over 71.6 km in three stages to Monte Sant’Angelo near Castrovillari. The different route lengths and numbers of stages help you compare the two options described according to the time available.

Seafront Promenade, Beaches and Local Cuisine

Several beaches are located around Corigliano Calabro: Spiaggia Fabrizio, Marina di Schiavonea, Spiaggia Momena and Spiaggia Salicetti. Marina di Schiavonea also offers a walk along the seafront promenade.

Local cuisine can be discovered at the Sagra del pesce azzurro in Schiavonea. The event takes place at the beginning of August; fish specialities from the region can be sampled there, from fried dishes to more elaborate meals.

The Museo Minimo is also located in the immediate vicinity of Corigliano Calabro. The Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori is likewise nearby and is classified as a monastery.

More Destinations

Lattarico, Sibari, Fagnano Castello, Zumpano, Tarsia, Cleto, Marina Di Mandatoriccio, Buonvicino

To the overarching travel overview: Cosenza.