Paola between Sanctuary, Old Town and Sea

Paola lies on a terrace at the foot of the Catena Costiera and overlooks the sea. Marina di Paola has a long sandy beach. Above the Tyrrhenian coastal strip stands the Castle Tower on a sloping rock formation; the cylindrical structure rests on a square bastion. The coast, historic architecture and religious culture thus shape different sides of the town.

When choosing a hotel, you can first decide whether your days should focus mainly on the sea, the historic center, the sanctuary or hiking. This allows you to tailor your accommodation planning to the experiences you are seeking in Paola.

Historic Center and Religious Architecture

Paola’s historic center is accessed through the monumental San Francesco di Paola Gate; it leads directly to Piazza del Popolo. The Pisciarieddi Fountain is located in front of the Church of the Madonna di Montevergine. The Birthplace of St Francis of Paola is now a chapel in the town center. The Santuario di San Francesco di Paola is a destination for pilgrimages. Its basilica church still features a Gothic floor plan and contains the saint’s relics. The Church of the SS. Rosario provides a different architectural accent with its elaborately designed Baroque interior.

The Santuario and Its Special Sites

The history of the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola dates back to the 15th century, approximately to the years 1435 to 1452. Below the sanctuary lie two rocks one above the other, the Pietre del Miracolo. The “zona dei prodigi” comprises places associated with miracles attributed to San Francesco di Paola. The grounds of the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola also include the Devil’s Bridge and the Fonte della Cucchiarella, a spring from which pilgrims draw water. A cave below the sanctuary served Francesco as a retreat for meditation and prayer. Beneath the main altar of the Chapel of San Francesco is an urn containing five bone fragments.

Festivals, Museum and Historic Routes

The Festa del 4 maggio is celebrated in the first days of May and ends on May 4. On this day, the silver bust of Paola’s patron saint is carried on people’s shoulders through the town’s streets. The Museo Multimediale San Francesco di Paola conveys the saint’s life and character through virtual simulation, abstraction and fiction. The Percorso turistico in Paola connects historic monuments, cobbled streets and local traditions.

Hiking on the Cammino di San Francesco di Paola

For hiking enthusiasts, the Cammino di San Francesco di Paola offers four routes, a total of 318.3 kilometers and 15 hiking days. It runs mainly along municipal roads and local side roads; short sections follow state and provincial roads. The four routes and 15 hiking days help you assess the scope of such a stay and combine cultural and hiking interests.

A Distinctive Cuisine

There is also a distinct connection to Francesco in culinary terms: the Menù di San Francesco project is based on recipes from the “strettissimo magro” cuisine. They originate from a book published in 1880 by the Minim friar Gaspare Stanislao Delle Piane from the monastery in Genoa. The dishes omit meat, eggs, dairy products and products made from them, using vegetables, fish, mollusks and crustaceans instead.

More Destinations

More destinations: Maierà, Fiumefreddo Bruzio, Rocca Imperiale, Verbicaro, Campora San Giovanni, Orsomarso, Montegiordano and Santa Maria Del Cedro.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.