Cassano allo Ionio – Terranova da Sibari

The stage offers a great sight of particular relevance: the last glimpse onto the harsh and wild mountains of Pollino and the plain of Sibari. The trail moves from scattered plantations to organised areas of intensive farming of olives and oranges. Many important archeological sites enrich the landscape: cave dwellings, well assimilated arbëreshe communities, ancient villages: a stage filled with history, nature and organised human landscapes.

Terranova Nuova and Piana di Sibari

Area

Pianura di Sibari

Difficulty

T-E – Also accessible via MTB

Distance

22,24 km

Travel time

7 – 8 hrs

Start

Cassano allo Ionio – Municipio

Finish

Terranova da Sibari – Piazza San Francesco

Difference in altitude

↑ 310m ↓ 210m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Yes

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Yes

Route

The trail starts off in Cassano Allo Ionio, the “city of churches and fountains”. Before reaching Timpone Rosso, it crosses a clay terrace also known as “Pietre Pozzelle” (“Rock Puddles”), a toponym that tells a lot about this part of the Calabrian region: being an area characterised by strong and abundant winter rainfalls, but very dry summers, people used to organise systems to collect rainfall in order to have water also during warmer months of the year. Past the drinking trough (by the spring of a traditional and beautiful old farm, now abandoned), the route proceeds with a light descent towards the plain.
After a few hairpin turns it crosses Masseria Cosenza, continues beyond the junction on the Statale road for Sibari, and passes over the bridge on the Garda steam with a sharp turn right up the river bank. From the jetty, the trail returns on the Statale road and proceeds until the crossroad with Provinciale road number 166. Hikers will take the small track towards Masseria Toscano and carry on until Praineto (wild pear forest). The route then crosses the archeological site of Torre Mordillo and continues in the area of Strogolia: according to legend, a painter found an huge reptile blocking his way back home and promised the Virgin Mary to offer her a painting if he were to pass safely. The reptile went away and the painter drew on the naked rock a sacred icon still visible to this day: Santa Maria del Carmine.
The trail proceeds crossing a series of “Mandrie” (areas used as stopovers for flocks of sheep or similar) towards Spezzano Albanese. Before that hikers will see the “Frassino di Staffa”, a huge tree on the side of the road, shrouded in mysterious legends.
The route reaches the city quarter “Celje” in Spezzano: the toponymy (according to local historian Francesco Marchianò) refers to “cells”, or Basilian monks’ shelters. As a matter of fact, right after the crossroad a few meters on the right, there are a series of small caves used by monks in the past as hermitages. The path reaches the entrance of the graveyard with the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli shortly after; it passes in front of the Palazzo Municipale, reaches Largo Don Bosco, follows onto Via Plebiscito and arrives in Piazza Giovanni XXIII in front of the Church of San Pietro. Proceeding between small alleys, it reaches Madonna delle Grazie, main shrine for all citizens of Spezzano. After a short while, it is the turn of Piazza Garibaldi, heart of the city centre, then the Chiesa del Carmine, followed by Via Skanderberg, towards the Vallone delle Femmine. The trail continues in the direction of Casino Pontieri, an old building on top of the hill, until a crossroad. Here, hikers must take the small track on the right, in the middle of the olive trees: it’s the ancient road that the people of Spezzano used to reach the “Hora” (the city) of Terranova da Sibari.

Brief historical overview

Cassano Allo Ionio has very ancient origins: remains dating back to the Neolithic have been found a few kilometres away from the city. It has been a Oenotrian settlement, a Roman municipality, a Lombard administrative district, a Norman citadel and a Byzantine stronghold. The Cathedral, also known as Basilica della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria del Lauro, is the symbol of an ecclesiastic history that recognises Cassano as one of the oldest and largest diocese of Southern Italy.

The first document that attests the presence of a Bishop, dates back to the Roman Synod of 466 a.C. The Cathedral was founded during Byzantine times and sits on top of an old Romanic crypt, restored many a times throughout the centuries; today it features fine frescos on the vault, a 16th century wooden crucifix, and an icon of the Madonna del Lauro painted on naked rock. Next to the Cathedral is the episcope and the rich Diocesan Library, keeper of codex, platee, incunaboli and over 1500 volumes. The ex Diocesan Seminary hosts treasures of sacred art. From Piazza S. Eusebio hikers can see the brick structure of the Torre Campanaria. Just in front are Pietra del Castello (the ancient Colle Marzio), with the remains of the Norman castle sitting on an old Greek/Roman fortification. On the right side is the Torre dell’Orologio, a rare (if not the only) example of ancient clock operated by hand and a system of weights made of rock. A few kilometres from the city centre, on the slopes of Monte San Marco, is one of the most important karstic systems of Southern Italy: the Grotta di Sant’Angelo Inferiore (1325 m long), the Grotta di Sant’Angelo Superiore (1005 m) and the Grotta Sopra le Grotte di Sant’Angelo (233 m). The caves show signs of the presence of men since the Neolithic.

Costoni di Arenaria

Terranova da Sibari has an ancient history dating back to Magna Gaecia/Roman times, when a group of survivors, following the destruction of Thurio, sought refuge in a sheltered part of the hill with pre-existing urban settlements; they gave this small patch of land the name of “Terranova” (from “Thurium Novum” – New Thurio). After the Norman and Swabian era, Filippo Sangineto, Count of Altomonte, became Lord of the village: many palaces and building were constructed, and the village thrived under his reign and that of his heirs for many generations. The Sangineto’s rule ended in1381 when the last Sangineto, Giovanetto, left with no male issue, decided to hand the countship to his sister, Margherita. She married Venceslao Sanseverino, whose family held power in Terranova until 1546, when Pietro Antonio Sanseverino sold the village to the noble Spinelli family (who, in turn, held power until the XIX century).
Terranova can certainly be proud of its title of “Land of the two popes”, more so than any other village. According to Luigi De Blasi, it has always been a highly religious place, as attested by the numerous convents in the area and the twenty churches (considering both the “visible and the invisible ones”), such as the prestigious Church of S. Nicola, dating back to 1341, and that of S. Maria delle Grazie, known today as the Church of S. Antonio da Padova (1611), decorated with baroque art and later embellished with beautiful 18th century plasters.

Shrine in Spezzano Albanese

​Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guide of reference for the stage: Emanuele Pisarra +39 333 8732829

[Spezzano Albanese]

Comune Spezzano Albanese – tel. +39 0981 953075 – web: www.comune.spezzano-banese.cs.it – mail: protocollo@comune.spezzano-albanese.cs.it
Pro Loco Spezzano Albanese – tel. +39 0981 959740

[Terranova da Sibari]

Comune Terranova da Sibari – tel. +39 0981 955004 – web: www.comune.terranova-da-sibari.cs.it – mail: affgen.terranovadasibari@asmepec.it
Museo Museo Multimediale – tel. +39 0981 955004 – web: www.museoterranova.it – mail: info@museoterranova.it
Altre Informazioni Terranova da Sibari – tel. +39 0981 955004 – web: www.facebook.com/Terranova-Da-Sibari-Terra-Dei-Due-Papi-848465188512045 – mail: affgen.terranovadasibari@asmepec.it

Where to eat

Extra: not verified

[Terranova da Sibari]

Pub – Pub I Giullari – tel. +39 329 4034306 – mail: info@pubigiullari.it
Restaurant – Pizzeria La Romana – tel. +39 389 1656300 – mail: ristorantelaromana@gmail.com
Restaurant – Hostaria Antico Borgo – tel. +39 0981 955964 – mail: info@anticoborgo.online

Last update: 2024-10-15