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The Arbëreshë villages.

1 – 3 Giorni
TYPOLOGIES

Activities Experiences

+ 2
PERIOD

Autumn, Spring, Summer

PAX

2-12 people, groups

from 25 €

Civita and Frascineto

The Arbëreshë population is an ethnic-linguistic community with Albanian and Greek origin who arrived in Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries to escape the invasions of the Ottoman Empire. The great emigration happened after the death of their national hero Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg in 1468.

The largest community is found in Calabria in particular in the province of Cosenza. Most of the villages of this community have kept the Catholic-Greek-Byzantine religious rite. In fact, Lungro is home to the eparchy, one of the two bishoprics established in Italy in 1900; the other one is in Sicily. The language has also been handed down through the centuries and derives from a dialect of southern Albania, called Arbërisht.

Some communities have lost their link with their culture, others have preserved their language and traditions, keeping them alive today.

Among these the Villages of Civita and Frascineto.

Civita, called the village among the rocks, is located in a unique position close to the Raganello stream gorge. In fact, from its belvedere you can admire the Canyon whose imposing rocky walls have been carved out by the waters of the stream. The view includes the plains of Sibari reaching the Ionian Sea. The hamlet is also known for its typical chimney pots with several shapes and the Kodra houses with a human faces which remember the paintings of the homonymous Albanian artist. Frascineto, the heart of the Arbëria in the Pollino National Park, is surrounded by the mountains of the park, including the Dolcedorme, the rocky wall of the Little Dolomites and the plains full of vineyards which produce an excellent Pollino DOC wine.

Both villages are famous for the Vallje, folk dances and songs that take place every Tuesday after Easter by wearing the precious and colorful traditional clothes.

What you can do

Daytour of Civita - The hamlet among the rocks

  • Guided tour of the village walking through the alleys of the old centre, admiring the famous Kodra houses and the decorated chimney pots, and the Ethnic Museum of Arbëresh culture which hosts objects, images and documents from the ancient history of this community.Visit inside the Baroque style cathedral dating back to 1600, where the iconostasis is the evidence of the Byzantine influence. Once on the belvedere, you can admire the Raganello Gorges and catch the shuttle service to the Devil Bridge.

Day tour Frascineto - in the heart of the Arbëria

  • Visit to the centre of the village characterized by small streets, whose houses are for the most part renovated and well maintained. In the centre the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, full of Greek-Byzantine icons and images. We continue with a visit to the Museum of Icons and the Byzantine tradition, the first in Italy with over 600 precious works on display (15th/20th century), coming from different parts of the eastern world.

Book this day tour

What you can add

The day tours to add with base in Civita

  • Canyoning in the Raganello Gorges.
  • Different levels of Trekking on the Pollino mounts.
  • Hinking to the Devil Bridge.
  • Visit to shops of typical products which include citrus spirits with a small tasting.
  • Tasting lunch for knowing the local dishes.
  • Live an experience to an environmental center dedicated to naturalistic falconry and to the knowledge of typical local products.
  • Taking part to the Vallje Event but only on the Tuesday after the Easter Day.

The day tours to add with base in Frascineto

  • Different levels of Trekking on the Pollino mounts.
  • Sport climbing on the Frascineto-Eianina cliff.
  • Attending the Rite of Dressing with traditional dress.
  • Visit of The Arbëreshe Costume Museum.
  • live an experience at the Experimental Divulgative Archeology centre.
  • Taking part to the Vallje Event but only on the Tuesday after the Easter Day.

Ask for your quote

We can make your tour with more days and the activities listed above.

Civita

Frascineto

Le Vallje

Where they are situated

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    A Gift for your Christmas in Calabria!

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