Longobucco – Bocchigliero

This stage of the Cammino Basiliano runs entirely in the Greek Sila territory, starting from the “mythical” village of Longobucco – identified by some historians as Temesa, the ancient city rich in mining quarries quoted by Homer – and finishing in Bocchigliero, a village of ancient origins that some historians believe to be the original Bruzia Arento.

Erbuzietto

AREA

Sila Greca

Difficulty

E

Distance

32,7 km

Travel time

8 – 11 hrs

Start

Longobucco

Finish

Bocchigliero

Difference in altitude

↑ 1000m ↓ 950m

Accessible

From April to November

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

No

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Yes

Route

Cenni storici

The name Longobucco derives from the latin longa bucca (long cave/cavity), with references to the gorge of the Trionto stream. Some historian identify Longobucco with Temesa, the ancient city rich in mining quarries mentioned by Homer in the first book of the Odyssey. Both the citizens of Sibari and Crotone, during Magna Gaecia times, made use of the silver quarries of Longobucco for coin minting. Even Gioacchino da Fiore paid a visit to the Silan village in order to produce a series of stem glasses. The first records mentioning the Argentera (local name for the mining quarries) date back to the XII century. The work at the quarries intensified during Angevin domination, but declined once again in the second half of the XVII century. At the beginning of the 17th century a group of German miners took over the mining quarries and kept them active until 1783.
The Torre Civica of the XI century in the city centre has been converted to a bell tower and it is known locally as U Campanaru. Also worth a visit are the Chiesa Matrice, dedicated to S. Maria Assunta (featuring a collection of religious artefacts), and the churches of S. Maria Maddalena, S. Maria delle Grazie and dell’Addolorata. Many side chapels along the Trionto River, with sanzi (extraordinary rocky gorges) running along the banks. The village is renowned for the precious local craftsmanship of handmade textiles: for a deeper analysis on the subject, we recommend a visit to the Museum of Weaving. Among some of the most traditional dishes are: i ferriatti e grastatu (handmade fusilli with ragù), the sacchiattu (a “bag” of pork made with its own intestines), i vermiciaddi (fresh vermicelli pasta with pork meat ragù), i tagghjarini (tagliatelle), the carriciaddi (pita bread stuffed with sardedda, elder flowers), i fritti a biantu (sugar coated fried biscuits), the curpinedde (Christmas cakes stuffed with jam, raisins and nuts).

Longobucco: chestnut

Bocchigliero is a village of ancient origins that some historians believe to be the original Bruzia Arento. Bocchigliero has many churches and religious sites and is characterised by narrow alleys and very low housing with “half-built doors”. Among the main religious sites are the ruins of a Basilian-Norman parish from the XII century, discovered on the high grounds of Basilicò quarter (so called for the presence of Basilian monks) in the “Cozzo della Chiesa” area. During the first years of the XIV century, an icon of the Madonna sculpted on the rock was removed from the ruins and now rests on the altar the Chiesa della Riforma consecrated to the Madonna de Jesu. It is also highly recommended to pay a visit to some of the following point of interest: the waterfalls of Santa Croce; the natural reserve of Macchia della Giumenta San Salvatore (which extends over a surface of almost 323 hectare of land with vast areas covered in Pinus nigra laricio, alder, poplars and beech trees); the Basilicò Forest (500 hectares featuring extremely particular botanical varieties and trees of exceptional dimensions) and the Museo della Civiltà Contadina, where all the ancient farmers tools, now long forgotten, are on display.
The typical dish is the Bocchigliero è Maccarruni suraca e funuakki, or fresh pasta cooked with a distinctive local bean and wild fennel. Also popular the sardella preserved with red grounded pepper, also known as the “red gold” of Bocchigliero. Other specialities are the a nnuglia (also called “beggar”, a particular sausage made with pig’s leftovers), the sanguinaccio, the grisimuglie (pork rinds made from pig skin). Typical desserts include the chinulille (Christmas cake with raisins, nuts and honey) and the mustazzuoli (biscuits cooked with honey and flour).

Cerviolo Longobucco

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guides of reference for the stage: Flaviano Lavia +39 339 5290644 – +39 0983 522331 and Domenico Flotta +39 380 7948403

[Bocchigliero]

​Comune Bocchigliero – tel. +39 0983 92001 – web: bocchigliero.asmenet.it – mail: sindacobocchigliero@libero.it
Pro Loco Bocchigliero – tel. +39 348 6191262 – web: https://www.facebook.com/ProLoco-Bocchigliero-398093340587688 – mail: prolocobocchigliero@gmail.com

Last update: 2021-12-29