Morano Calabro: History, Church Art and Pollino

Morano Calabro between History and Pollino

Morano Calabro combines a late medieval layout with a striking hillside location: the densely packed houses fill the slopes of a hill against the backdrop of Pollino and two other peaks. The Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo stands in the upper part of Morano Calabro near the castle and may date back to around the year 1000.

Rising above this historical setting is the Castello of Morano Calabro, preserved as an impressive recently restored ruin. In the first half of the 16th century, it was remodelled and expanded by Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, Prince of Bisignano and feudal lord of Morano. The ruins of the Convento di Colloreto in the area of Morano Calabro date back to a building erected in 1545; the convent was abandoned around the 18th century.

Art and Sacred Architecture

Several churches preserve tangible evidence of the town's history. The Chiesa di San Bernardino in the historic centre is a 15th-century church with a valuable coffered wooden ceiling and a Gothic portal. The Chiesa di San Nicola consists of two building sections on different levels: the upper church was built between 1450 and 1460, while the older lower level is dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The marble sculpture Santa Caterina d'Alessandria by Pietro Bernini is dated 1591 and is kept in the Chiesa dei Santissimi Pietro e Paolo in Morano Calabro. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena is regarded as a church museum documenting the historical and artistic heritage of Morano. Its sacristy also houses the polyptych by Bartolomeo Vivarini, dated 1477.

Museums with Regional Connections

The Museo di Storia dell'Agricoltura e della Pastorizia is housed in the 18th-century Palazzo Salmena. It comprises nine educational museum sections with artefacts, archival material, written sources, local maps and historical photographs. Agriculture and pastoral history therefore do not remain merely abstract terms, but become tangible through different groups of objects and documents.

Near the Castello Normanno-Svevo of Morano Calabro, the Museo Naturalistico Del Nibbio displays collections of mammals, birds, insects, minerals and fossils. Its themes range from the wildlife and flora to the geology and palaeontology of Pollino.

Walking Routes, Cycle Route and Festival Culture

For orientation in the historic centre, the municipal Passeggiata n. 3 leads through the oldest medieval area of Morano Calabro, uphill to the Castello and the Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo. The regional Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria is associated with a new starting point in Morano Calabro and runs along the former route of the Ferrovie Calabro-Lucane towards Castrovillari. After climbing to 1,050 metres near the Piana di Campotenese, it descends towards Morano Calabro.

The Festa della Bandiera is part of the recurring festival culture. It takes place every year for three days around 20 May as a historical re-enactment associated with a legendary battle from 1096. Handmade pasta varieties such as cavateddri, rascateddri and lagane are associated with Morano Calabro. Moretto del Pollino is a local cheese associated with Morano Calabro.

More places for your travel planning: Acri, Tarsia, Frascineto, Intavolata, Fuscaldo, La Bruca, Cerchiara Di Calabria, Rose.

For the broader travel overview: Cosenza.