Mesoraca – Sersale

The stage starts at the Shrine of S.S. Ecce Homo of Mesoraca and ends in Sersale, city of the Presila catanzarese, featuring (on top of records of the Greek and Roman era) a number of Italo-Greek monasteries including the ruins of the Monastero Florense di Santa Maria d’Acquaviva. The trail crosses the chestnut forest of Monte Giove, the beech tree and pine forests of “Manulata” Fauna Oasis, and the Riserva Naturale Regionale Valli Cupe, with the Giants of Cavallopoli (centuries-old chestnuts) and the megalith “Petra Aggiallu”.

Chiostro Ecce Homo

Area

Sila Piccola

Difficulty

E – Also accessible via MTB

Distance

19,95 km

Travel time

8 – 9 hrs

Start

Mesoraca – Santuario S.S. Ecce Homo

Finish

Sersale – Centro d’informazione turistica

Difference in altitude

↑ 1100m ↓ 1400m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Fontana Ecce Homo
Fontanaincrocio Ecce Homo
Fontanacarcarula 1
Fontanacarcarula 2
Fontanamanulata
Fontana Donaglia
Fontana
Fontana Sersale

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Fiume Crocchio

Route

The stage starts at the Shrine of S.S. Ecce Homo. Along the descent, the trail arrives at a small track (where, on the last week of May, the village hosts a fair dedicated to the Shrine) that goes up Monte Forcone, with great panoramic views onto Crotone and Catanzaro. Following the trail through the chestnut trees of Monte Giove, hikers reach the “Manulata” Fauna Oasis in the municipality of Petronà: a natural reserve of beech trees and pine forests with many animal species. The route then takes to the area of Donaglie in the municipality of Cerva, where is a picnic area deep inside a pine forest. From here starts the track that takes to the Riserva Regionale Valli Cupe. In the last stretch of road before Sersale, hikers can admire enormous chestnut trees called “Giants of Cavallopoli” and the megalith Petra aggiallu (Bird of Stone).

Brief historical overview

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.

Donaglie

Sersale is a city of the Presila catanzarese founded on the 3rd of August 1620 by a group of 13 settlers from Serrastretta. The settlers received part of the Zagarise-feud of Baron Francesco Sersale (hence why the city was named after him). But the origins of Sersale are much more ancient, as attested by a number of Greek and Roman records and Italo-Greek monasteries, such as the monasteries of “Santi Tre Fanciulli”, “Santa Maria della Sana” and “San Nicola”. In the area of Monacaria are few small remains of the Monastero Forense di Santa Maria d’Acquaviva, built in 1194 by Gioacchino da Fiore and disciple Pietro da Cosenza. It is recommended to pay a visit to the Riserva Naturale Regionale Valli Cupe, defined by Belgian naturalist John Bouquet as “the best well-kept secret in Europe”. The natural reserve features canyons, centuries-old trees, monoliths and waterfalls. Pasta with potatoes is the most typical local dish. Large local productions of chestnuts, mushrooms and sweets such as the pittanchiusa and Easter pizzas. Main events in Sersale: the celebrations of the Madonna del Carmelo on the 15th and 16th of July, and the festival “Once upon a time in a village” on the 4th of August, to discover ancient crafts, art, music and flavours from the past.

Panoramic view

Map and elevation profile

Further information

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

[Sersale]

Cooperativa RAGA – guide – tel. +39 327 2461569
Pro Loco Sersale – tel. +39 0961 936842 –
Comune Sersale – tel. +39 0961 930911 – web: www.comune.sersale.cz.it

Where to eat

Extra: not verified

[Mesoraca]

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

[Sersale]

Farmhouse – Carrozzino Di Torchia Rosa – tel. +39 331 2976855
Farmhouse – Contrada Carrozzino – tel. +39 0961 936355
Pub – Pub Il Bistrot – tel. +39 333 5441325
Pub – Pub Royal – tel. +39 331 7388476
Restaurant – L’aurora – tel. +39 339 7694905
Restaurant – Casa Grande – tel. +39 0961 936341
Restaurant – Home Restaurant – tel. +39 339 7527086
Restaurant – Il Baroncino – tel. +39 333 4161281
Restaurant – Pizzeria Da Serafino – tel. +39 339 1229105
Restaurant – Pizzeria La Piazzetta – tel. +39 339 6952795

Last update: 2021-12-30