Lungro – Arbëresh Culture, Church Art and Landscape

Lungro combines Arbëresh culture, Greek Catholic traditions and a distinctive location on the foothills. This creates a destination where the townscape, sacred art, history and landscape can be explored within a compact thematic area. Local cuisine is also part of this cultural profile: Shtridhëlat me fasule is a dish made from handmade pasta with tomato sauce and beans.

Arbëresh Traditions and Sacred Art

Lungro is an Arbëresh community and the seat of a Greek Catholic eparchy. Arbëresh religious traditions include the rites of Holy Week, known as Java e Madhe. The townscape is arranged around two central squares and characterized by typical Gjitonia, meaning neighborhood units. This structure makes the town’s cultural distinctiveness visible in its built environment as well.

The Cattedrale di San Nicola di Mira was built between 1721 and 1825. Its Romanesque-Baroque floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross; the cathedral is decorated with mosaics and frescoes. Its dome also contains a monumental Cristo Pantocrator. Architectural history, spatial design and religious art thus stand side by side in Lungro.

Cultural Center and Museum

The Casa della Musica “Vincenzo Straticò” is a versatile cultural center. It hosts music, theater and film events and promotes the Arbëresh language and traditions. In addition, the Museo diocesano di arte sacra dell’Eparchia di Lungro was opened on November 1, 2015. It is located on the ground floor of the Episcopio in three thematically organized rooms.

Foothills and Mountain Landscape

From the foothills on which Lungro is situated, the view extends across a large part of the Piana di Sibari to the Golfo di Sibari. Several landscape features considered mountains are also located around Lungro: Timpone del Pino, Serra Cuparelli, Monte Caramolo and Cozzo del Mangano. For your travel planning, this provides a clear connection to the landscape alongside the cultural focus.

Historic Places in the Surrounding Area

In the surrounding area of Lungro, S. Angelo and C.da Carocchia are considered ancient sites. Also in the area are the Galleria D'Arte Il Coscile Di D. Sancineto, which is considered a museum, and the Palazzo Gallo, which is considered a palace. These different place and building designations add to the picture of an area where sacred, historical and cultural themes come together.

The former salt mine of Lungro was restored together with the Museo Storico della Miniera di Salgemma and opened to the public. The former mining industry thus stands alongside the cathedral, museum, cultural center and cuisine as another historical reference point of the town.

Discover More Destinations

To compare other destinations, you can also include Terme Luigiane, Cleto, Marina Di Amendolara, Cetraro, Cantinella, Zumpano, Colosimi and Oriolo in your comparison.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.