Rossano between the Codex Purpureus and Sila Greca

Rossano combines cultural heritage with a mountain landscape accessible via the “La Montagna” route and the forests of Sila Greca. This creates a destination where manuscripts, sacred history, religious artistic tradition and nature-based activities appeal to different interests. The most important impressions can be found in Rossano itself and at destinations in the surrounding area.

The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis

The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is a Greek uncial manuscript from the 5th or 6th century. It contains the Gospels according to Matthew and Mark.

The pages of the codex are reddish in color and written in silver and gold ink. The Gospel book also contains 14 miniatures depicting the life and teachings of Christ. This allows material, script and image to come together in your viewing experience.

Museum with multimedia access

The Museo Diocesano e del Codex in Rossano has an area dedicated to the Codex Purpureus. The museum’s two tours are supplemented by multimedia aids and virtual applications. A multimedia viewing station in the Codex room allows visitors to view all the miniatures of the valuable Gospel book in very high resolution.

Cathedral and sacred traces

Archaeological work beneath Rossano Cathedral uncovered the remains of at least three sacred buildings dating from the 6th to the 12th century. These archaeological traces add an architectural perspective to the view of Rossano’s religious history.

The Icona dell’Achiropita is a wall fresco of the Madonna traditionally regarded as not created by human hands. In Rossano, alongside the history of the codex, you will therefore encounter a religious artistic tradition with its own significance.

Route and mountain landscape

The “La Montagna” route begins in the historic center of Rossano. Along the route, the forests of Sila Greca are considered rich in flora and fauna. This focus will appeal to you if you are not planning your stay exclusively around culture, but also want to include nature observation and trails in a mountain landscape.

In the area around Rossano, excursions to the Giganti del Cozzo del Pesco Oasis can be organized via paths and mule tracks. Alongside the “La Montagna” route, this gives you another specific destination to consider for a nature-based excursion when planning your trip.

A festival date in May

In the mountains of Rossano, a festival in honor of S. Onofrio is celebrated on the third Sunday in May.

When choosing your hotel, you can therefore first decide which aspect of Rossano should be the focus of your trip: the Codex Purpureus and the Museo Diocesano e del Codex, the archaeological traces beneath the cathedral and the Icona dell’Achiropita, or the mountain trails, forests, excursions and festival date in May described above. This keeps your accommodation choice aligned with your interests without reducing Rossano to just one attraction.

Further destinations for orientation: Rossano Stazione, Lattarico, Nocara, Scalea, Guardia Piemontese, Mandatoriccio, San Donato Di Ninea, Colosimi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.