Oliveto among churches, olive groves and hiking trails

Oliveto combines sacred local history with a landscape in which olive groves and paths through the Fiumara Valanidi valley belong together. In the hamlet of Oliveto, the Chiesa di San Pietro is located in Contrada Paterriti, a church with a subsidiary function. There are also historical connections to the parish and the Madonna della Consolazione, as well as a regional wine connection to Pellaro. Those looking for a place with cultural traces and hiking opportunities will find various starting points here for their own trip to Italy.

Church and Local History

The older sacred history is particularly vividly illustrated by a former church building. The first church in the village of Valanidi Inferiore in Contrada Oliveto was rectangular, 21 metres long and 7 metres wide. It ended in an apse, faced west and had nine windows and a tiled roof. This former church contained a high altar dedicated to the Madonna della Consolazione.

Names and church history also lead into the past. Until the Second World War, Oliveto was known in ecclesiastical usage as Valanidi Inferiore. The parish of Oliveto was canonically established by a decree dated 6 August 1789. The Congrega Maria SS. del Monte Carmelo is associated with Oliveto under postcode 89134. The place name is probably derived from the dialect forms „livi“ for olive and „livitu“ for olive grove. The earthquake of 28 December 1908 destroyed the church of Oliveto.

Olive Landscape and Regional Wine Connection

The landscape explains another connecting thread of the place. Oliveto's first settlement lay in an area between the Vallone Cilea (O Srittu) and the banks of the stream; at that time, this area was rich in olive trees. Oliveto also lies in the area where the red wine Pellaro may be produced as an IGT wine. Local history, olive landscapes and a clearly defined regional wine connection thus come together.

Hiking among Olive Groves and through the Valley

Two different routes are relevant for hiking enthusiasts. One hiking route leads through numerous olive groves, offers particularly expansive views of the Fiumara Valanidi valley, crosses the Fiumara that separates the territories of the municipalities of Motta San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria, and then returns to Oliveto. A type E circular hike leads from the hamlet of Oliveto to Castello di Sant’Aniceto in the municipality of Motta San Giovanni. Monte Pettodoro adds another connection between the routes and religious references: in 1933, a monumental cross, a Calvario, was erected there on the initiative of the parish priest Felice Lopresti and the people of Oliveto.

Religious Tradition and Cultural Events

Religious ties are also reflected in the participation of the Oliveto community in a pilgrimage of the Madonna della Consolazione. During a festival in honour of the Madonna del Carmine, the group Etnosound performed as part of its live tour in the square in front of the Maria Santissima della Consolazione church in Oliveto.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

When choosing accommodation for your stay in Oliveto, you can focus your trip on these specific themes: church and parish history, the olive-grove landscape, hikes connected with the Fiumara Valanidi, or the wine connection to Pellaro. Would you like to follow the historical and religious traces, or focus on the routes and landscape connections?

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

For further trip planning, you can also include Brancaleone Superiore, Pellaro, Stignano, Lazzaro, Saline Joniche, Gioia Tauro, Seminara and Camini in your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Reggio Calabria.