San Floro – Squillace

A panoramic stage between two villages overlooking the Golfo di Squillace: from San Floro, land of figs and silkworms, to Squillace. The latter is an ancient village where Flavio Magno Aurelio Cassiodoro, Roman politician and writer born in 485 AD in the nearby Scolacium (important Roman colony founded in 123-122 BC over the ruins of the Greek city of Skylletion), founded the monastery of Vivarium, with annexed a library and a research centre for Bible studies.

Squillace: centro storico

Area

Serre

Difficulty

E – Also accessible via MTB

Distance

12,9 km

Travel time

4 – 5 hrs

Start

San Floro

Finish

Squillace

Difference in altitude

↑ 447m ↓772m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Yes

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

No

Route

Brief historical overview

San Floro was named after its patron saint. It is known as the “land of figs” due to its production of traditional dried white figs that uses a natural sun-dried pro-cess just like in ancient times. It also manufactures silk from the culture of silk-worm until the final product. While strolling along its city centre, it is worth vis-iting the noble palaces and the Church of San Nicola.

Cona lungo il percorso

In the city centre of Borgia it is recommend to pay a visit to the Chiesa Matrice di San Giovanni Battista and Chiesa del SS. Rosario, both rich in fine artworks. The ruins of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Roccella – built by Normans to-wards the end of the XI century and the first half of the XII century – are in Roccelletta di Borgia, within the Parco Archeologico of Scolacium (important Roman colony founded in 123-122 BC over the ruins of the Greek city of Skylletion). During summer time, a stage is set up near the majestic walls of the Norman cathedral for the event “Armonie d’Arte”, a beautiful music, dance and theatre festival (www.armoniedarte.com).

Ponte Ghetterello detto anche del Diavolo

Squillace, with its incredible location overlooking the gulf by the same name, is a village of ancient history. Among the main places of interest are the Castle of Norman origins, the Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta and numerous churches. Flavio Magno Aurelio Cassiodoro, Roman politician and writer born in 485 AD in the nearby Scolacium, founded here the monastery of Vivarium, with annexed a library and a research centre for Bible studies. A short while before the city centre, via a brief detour, it is possible to admire the Ghetterello bridge: a structure built in local stone (granite) with a pointed arch also known as “donkey’s back”. Squillace is also renowned for its local production of ceramic. It is possibile to purchase beautiful ceramic artworks in various shops of the village.

Castle of Squillace

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guide of reference for the stage: Marco Garcea +39 347 8051252

[Borgia – Stopover, near San Floro]

Comune Borgia – tel. +39 0961 952357 – web: www.comune.borgia.cz.it – mail: sindaco@comune.borgia.cz.it
Pro Loco Borgia – tel. +39 379 1655779 – web: www.facebook.com/prolocoborgia2017 – mail: prolocoborgia@gmail.com
Music, dance and theater festival: Armonie d’Arte – web: www.armoniedarte.com

[Squillace]

Comune Squillace – sito web: www.comune.squillace.cz.it
Altre Informazioni Squillace On line – sito web: www.squillaceonline.it/home.html

Where to eat

[Squillace]

Farmhouse  – Virgena – tel. +39 320 1687963 – mail: agriturismovirgena@libero.it

Last update: 2021-12-30