Stage n.51
Guardavalle – Bivongi
Area
Serre
Difficulty
E – Also accessible via MTB
Distance
12,2 km
Travel time
3 – 5 hrs
Start
Guardavalle
Finish
Bivongi
Difference in altitude
↑ 490m ↓410m
Accessible
From April to November. It is advised against winter time due to the possibility of floods of the river Assi.
Springs and fountainheads with waypoint
No
River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)
Fiumara Assi
A panoramic stage across the valley of the two fumare, Assi and Stilaro, where hikers will discover the two beautiful villages of Guardavalle and Bivongi. It is highly recommended to pay a visit to the monastery of San Giovanni Theristis, dating back to the XI century, featuring interesting Byzantine and Norman architectural details: an oasis of prayer and tranquillity, where a small community of Romanian orthodox monks still lives to this day.
Monastery of San Giovanni Theristìs
A panoramic stage across the valley of the two fumare, Assi and Stilaro, where hikers will discover the two beautiful villages of Guardavalle and Bivongi. It is highly recommended to pay a visit to the monastery of San Giovanni Theristis, dating back to the XI century, featuring interesting Byzantine and Norman architectural details: an oasis of prayer and tranquillity, where a small community of Romanian orthodox monks still lives to this day.
Monastery of San Giovanni Theristìs
Area
Serre
Difficulty
E – Also accessible via MTB
Distance
12,2 km
Travel time
3 – 5 hrs
Start
Guardavalle
Finish
Bivongi
Difference in altitude
↑ 490m ↓410m
Accessible
From April to November. It is advised against winter time due to the possibility of floods of the river Assi.
Springs and fountainheads with waypoint
No
River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)
Fiumara Assi
Bivongi
Route
Panoramic stage across the valley of the two fumare, Assi and Stilaro, where hikers will discover the two beautiful villages of Guardavalle and Bivongi. The trail starts in Guardavalle and moves towards Bivongi across a country road on a sheer cliff over the valley of the Assi, a fiumara with a wide riverbed almost entirely dry during summer time. Along the way are olive trees, holly oaks and eucalyptus. The mountain sides are of sedimentary rock and, in spring time, it is possible to catch sight of the European bee-eater carving its nest in the stones. Upon reaching the valley floor, after crossing the river, the trail goes uphill on a track that leads to the monastery of San Giovanni Theristis, dating back to the XI century, featuring interesting Byzantine and Norman architectonic details: an oasis of prayer and tranquillity, where a small community of Romanian orthodox monks still lives to this day. Back on the track, hikers will continue their journey towards Bivongi and will get the chance to visit, just before the fiumara Stilaro, the remains of the Basilian monastery of S.S. Apostoli (property of the Chartreuse of Santo Stefano del Bosco since 1096). At the Stilaro, crossing the “Vina” bridge, hikers will see on their right hand side the little village of Bivongi.
During winter time, if crossing the fiumara Assi proves to be too difficult, it is recommended to follow the SP road to Bivongi instead.
Brief historical overview
As suggested by its name, the village of Guardavalle (“Look/valley”) was used in the 16th century as a strategic lookout post to spot potential pirates’ raids along the coast. The main church, with its exquisite carving decorations, and the Madonna del Rosario di Tommaso Martini are worth a visit.
View onto Monte Consolino
The city centre of Bivongi underwent a vertical architectural development throughout the centuries, so much so that houses have up to five floors, often made up of a single room, linked together via external sets of stairways. All crammed together, the houses are separated by characteristic narrow alleys called “viniadi”. The village, however, isn’t short of imposing palaces, like the building belonging to ex land owners (even though, being part of the feud of the Chartreuse of Serra San Bruno, there was no “aristocracy” here per se). The Abbot of Serra San Bruno would come to Bivongi once a year to collect the taxes and take care of the most pressing issues. The people of Bivongi would organise a great market for the occasion. The same tradition is kept alive every summer with the festival “Mercato della Badia”, during which artisanal shops are opened and all ancient crafts are celebrated (such as silkworm weaving and broom manufacturing). It is also a chance to taste some of the most typical local dishes (like pasta with goat meat and zeppole) accompanied by exquisite DOC wines from the renowned vineyards of Bivongi. The people of Bivongi are worshippers of the Virgin Mary and they celebrate on the second Sunday of September the festivity called “Our Mother” (“Mamma Nostra”).
Bivongi: Piazza del Popolo
Map and elevation profile
Further information
Guides of reference for the stage: Giorgio Pascolo +39 327 0007533 and Emanuele Valenti +39 333 8205164
[Bivongi]
Comune Bivongi – tel. +39 0964 731185 – web: www.comunebivongi.it
Altre Informazioni Trekking Stilaro – tel. +39 333 8205164 – web: www.trekkingstilaro.org – mail: escursioni@trekkingstilaro.org
Pro Loco Bivongi – tel. +39 335 6223422 – web: www.prolocobivongi.com – mail: info@prolocobivongi.com
Where to sleep
[Bivongi]
B&B – Borgo Della Longevità – tel. +39 0964 731017
B&B – Le Tre Sorelle – tel. +39 389 1697949
Where to eat
[Bivongi]
Restaurant – Trattoria Paninoteca Valenti Antonio – tel. +39 0964 731154
Restaurant – Pizzeria La Pietra – tel. +39 347 5187708
Restaurant – Millevoglie Bar – tel. +39 0964 731790
With thanks to Regione Calabria for the Contribution to the project.
Last update: 2024-08-06
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Project realised with the contribution of Regione Calabria
Project realised with the contribution of Regione Calabria