Petilia Policastro – Mesoraca

The stage unravels between the Shrine of Santa Spina (featuring the relic of one of the thorns from Jesus Christ’s crown) and the Shrine S.S. Ecce Homo (with a 1630s wooden sculpture by Frate Umile da Petralia). Hikers will also be able to admire the ruins of the Abbazia Cistercense of Sant’Angelo del Frigillo, near the Vergari river. Along the shores of the river are also charming natural basins, caves and waterfalls of the Parco Fluviale del Vergari.

Conca

Area

Sila Piccola/alto Marchesato Crotonese

Difficulty

E – Also accessible via MTB

Distance

12,5 km

Travel time

4 – 6 hrs

Start

Petilia Policastro – Santuario della Santa Spina

Finish

Mesoraca – Santuario S.S. Ecce Homo

Difference in altitude

↑ 760m ↓ 820m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Fonte Santa Spina (39°06’15”N 16°46’07”E)
Sorgente San Zosimo (39° 04’ 43” N 16° 46’ 27” E)
Fonte Ecce Homo (39°04’26”N 16°46’51”E).

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Fiume Vergari

Route

Brief historical overview

Petilia Policastro is an ancient village, probably of Byzantine origins, that continues to rely to this day on sheep farming and wood industry. It features the famous convent of Santa Spina, where it is kept a relic of one of the thorns of Jesus Christ’s crown. The relic comes from France and it is worshiped every year by locals on the second Friday of March, during the procession of the Calvary.

Conca Carrozzella

Mesoraca was founded in 1600 b.C. by the Oenotrians. It is an important village of the Crotone area and its name means “land between two rivers”, the Vergari and the Reazio. The Shrine of S.S. Ecce Homo was built in the 15th century over the ruins of a Basilian coenobium – also visited by San Zosimo, Catholic Pope from 417 to 418 AD.
The Shrine features the Sacred Effigy of S.S. Ecce Homo: a wooden sculpture by Frate Umile da Petralia dating 1630, one of the most worshipped icons of the area. There are many other places of historical and artistic interest in the territory of Mesoraca such as the “Dudici Grutte” (twelve caves), also used in the past as Basilian laure (small hermitages), and the Chiesa del Ritiro, in late baroque style. The most popular gastronomical product of local cuisine is chestnut bread, a sweet dish made with chestnut flour traditionally eaten towards the end of May; the pitta ’gniritata cu sarde, an oven baked pita with stuffed crust that can be eaten also with sardines, is also very tasty.

Cloister of Ecce Homo

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guide of reference for the stage: Emiliano Cistaro +39 324 8790055

[Mesoraca]

Convento Ecce Homo
Comune Mesoraca – tel. +39 0962 489450 – web: http://www.comune.mesoraca.gov.it/ – mail: ufficioaffarigenerali@comune.mesoraca.kr.it
Pro Loco Mesoraca – tel. +39 392 2043699 – web: www.facebook.com/prolocodimesoraca – mail: prolocomesoraca@virgilio.it
Associazione La Maruca – tel. +39 324 8790055 – web: www.lamaruca.it – mail: associazionelamaruca@gmail.com

Where to eat

Extra: not verified

[Mesoraca]

Fastfood – Co.Se.C Pasti Da Asporto – tel. +39 333 9153739
Religious hospitality – Monastero Ss Ecce Homo – tel. +39 327 2459029 – mail: francescobramuglia@gmail.com
Restaurant – Pizzeria Da Carmine – tel. +39 0962 45189 – mail: schipani.carmine54@pec.it
Restaurant – Pizzeria Paradiso – tel. +39 0962 45393

Last update: 2025-03-30