Gioiosa Jonica – Gerace

The stage is characterised by extremely unique geological and botanical features. The trail starts in Gioiosa Jonica and passes through the small municipality of Agnana (once a great mining hub with mines of brown coal and anthracite that are still open to visitors) and the Basilian Shrine of the Madonna di Prestarona, dating back to the 10th century. The trail ends in Gerace, one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”, featuring an incredible Norman Castle and a XI century Cathedral.

Cathedral of Gerace

Area

Locride

Difficulty

E – Accessible by MTB

Distance

17 km

Travel time

6 – 8 hrs

Start

Gioiosa Jonica

Finish

Gerace

Difference in altitude

↑ 570m ↓180m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Yes

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Fiumare Torbido and Novito

Route

A very interesting landscape where the white color of the marl mudstone stands out. Wide views both onto the coastline and mountains (Monte Scifo, Monte Castro, Monte Mutolo, Monte San Jeiunio).
From Gioiosa, the trail passes through Agnana, a small village featuring hot springs with salso-iodic water and where recently a small park has been set up around the baths of Roman era. The ring of Mount S. Jeiunio, starting from Passo di Ropolà at 458m, is around 3km away on the SP1 (in the direction of the mountain). In less than three hours, hikers can not only reach the top of the mountain (647m) but also complete the loop around the it and visit of the cave where S. Jeiunio (the “faster”) lived as a hermit. It is an extremely panoramic tour in the shadows of holly oaks and cork oaks though half of its course.

​There is another trail starting from the same point but going in the opposite direction, descending towards the gorges of S. Paolo and the fiumara of Gerace. The track reaches a monumental cork oak of 500-600 years old. The hike is characterised by extremely unique geological and botanical features. The landscape is typically mountainous (hill-height), Monte Campanaro is at 427m above sea level.
One last very interesting itinerary starts from the village and crosses the plain to reach the pre-hellenic necropolis of Stefanelli and the troglodyte village of Parrere (around 3 hours away).

Brief historical overview

The highest part of the city of Gioiosa Jonica shows features of a Medieval urban tissue preserved to this day. The thermal baths of the Roman Villa of Naniglio, the many churches and noble palaces are all worth a visit – in particular, Palazzo Amaduri, featuring an archeological collection and an art collection including a painting by Mattia Preti and an installation by Maestro Nicola Sacco (renowned local artist). On the 26th of August the village celebrates the festivity of San Rocco: the statue of the saint is carried around in procession while worshippers dance to the rhythm of tarantella. Three famous local dishes to remember: pasta with tomato sauce and fresh corn seeds, the ice-cream pezzo duro, and the cinesine, exquisite cream pastries. The village of Mammola is a few kilometres away (10km c.a.) from Gioiosa Jonica and offers many touristic attractions such as the Basilian monastic grange of San Nicodemo (the shrine is at 700m above sea level on Mount Limina, several kilometres away from the city centre) and the MU.SA.BA. Art Gallery of Nick Spatari.

Brooms in Monte Scifo

Agnana, piccolo comune che in passato fu un grande centro minerario, fu edificata attorno al 1343 nei pressi di un convento di monaci basiliani collocato in cima al monte Sant’Agnana. Sono tutt’oggi visitabili le cave dei giacimenti minerari di lignite e antracite. L’antracite, qui estratta, venne utilizzata per la costruzione della linea ferrata italiana (Roma-Frascati) nel 1882. Il primo treno a carbone, sulla Napoli-Portici, partiva fra le grida di gioia “Viva l’Italia, Viva la Calabria”.

Coal mine in Agnana

The Basilian Shrine of the Madonna di Prestarona, located in the area that goes by the same name within the Municipality of Canolo, dates back to the 10th century. Celebrations for the Madonna are held on the first Sunday after Easter, with a procession that reaches the Municipality of Gerace and thousand of worshippers that, at the end of the religious service, go camping in the fields around the area..

Gerace Castle

Panoramic view of Martone

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guides of reference for the stage: Mauro Rocca +39 320 0333351, +39 0964 390054 e Arturo Rocca +39 388 6586067, +39 0964 390054

[Gioiosa Ionica]

Comune Gerace – tel. +39 0964 356243 – web: www.comune.gerace.rc.it – mail: comunedigerace@postecert.it
Pro Loco Gerace – tel. +39 339 8930805 – web: www.prolocogerace.it

[Martone]

Comune Martone – tel. +39 0964 51356 – sito web: www.comune.martone.rc.it – mail: comune@comune.martone.rc.it
Pro Loco Martone – tel. +39 0964 51850 – sito web: www.prolocomartone.it

Last update: 2024-03-25