Simbario: Churches, Local History and Nature of the Serre

Simbario lies in the upper valley of the Ancinale River on the Ionian side of the Serre and is one of the municipalities within the Parco Regionale delle Serre. At the same time, the area is considered to have an agricultural and pastoral character. If you choose accommodation in Simbario for an individually planned trip to Italy, you can focus on different themes, including culture, nature, family experiences and local festivals.

Churches and Historical Traces

The Church of Madonna delle Grazie dates from the period after the 1783 earthquake and has three naves. A possible attribution to Antonello Gagini has been proposed for a polychrome marble statue of the Madonna delle Grazie. The Church of the Addolorata is part of the historical and architectural heritage of Simbario’s historic centre. The Church of the Trasfigurazione is connected with the history of the Dominican presence in this part of Calabria since the Counter-Reformation.

The place name also dates back a long way: it appears in an official document from 1458, the “Liber Visitationis”. The Museo Etnografico is housed in an old nineteenth-century palace and preserves everyday tools found in cellars and attics. They serve as historical evidence of Simbario’s past. Traditional wool processing included the production of Arbascio, a coarse fabric made from particularly rustic wool.

A Family Experience with a Prehistoric Theme

Il Mondo della Preistoria is a theme park dedicated to the world of prehistoric animals. It includes a visitor route approximately 700 metres long, for which about one hour is planned. Five dioramas display 93 species of small prehistoric marine animals from the Ediacaran. The park also includes a fossil-digging area where children can try their hand at being palaeontologists.

These themes can appeal to different travel interests: the churches, museum and traditional handicrafts focus on culture and everyday life, while the park combines prehistoric displays with a manageable route and a children’s area. When choosing your accommodation in Simbario, you can consider these priorities alongside whether you would rather focus on local history, family time or the dates of the August festivals.

Festivals and Local Flavours

Simbario’s potato festival takes place in August as part of the Estate Simbariana events programme. The “de li vuti a Santu Roccu” festival also takes place in August during Simbario’s patron saint festival. Cuzzupi is a local sweet made from eggs, flour and sugar. The Via Crucis Vivente is associated for 2025 with the quality marks awarded by the Ente Pro Loco Italiane (EPLI) in the areas of faith, worship and popular tradition. For its fourth edition, Saturday, 28 March 2026, at 8 p.m. was scheduled.

Discover More Destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also view Sant'onofrio, Soriano Calabro, Zaccanopoli, Filadelfia, Pizzo, Filogaso, Maierato and Drapia.

For the broader travel overview: Vibo Valentia.