Rogliano, the hamlet of the 12 churches.

Rogliano is situated in the heart of the Savuto Valley, nearby Cosenza.

Panorama of the Rogliano hills.

It is surrounded by hills planted with orchards and vineyards, in a good position halfway between the mountains of Sila National Park and the Tyrrhenian Sea coast. In this area they produce a delicious Doc Calabrian wine, called Savuto. There are several theories about the origins of this village.

The alleys in Rogliano

Some historians say that its origins back to around 980, when some inhabitants from Cosenza took refuge in the neighboring mountains of the Pre-Sila to escape the Saracen raids, making independent hamlets called Casali. Chi dice che derivi da Rublanum da rubedine terrae , cioè terra rossa; chi, invece, sostiene che il nome sia legato alla terra fertile.

Also for the origin of the name Rogliano there are several theories: somebody says that the ancient name Rublanum is from the Latin word rubedine terrae which means red land; someone else, instead, claims that this name is linked to the fertile land.

San Pietro e Paolo Church

In the 1638 an earthquake destroyed almost everything and when they rebuilt the historic centre it take the shape of a horseshoe, divided in 5 districts: Serra, Spano, Donnanni, Cuti and Forche. Each one has got its parish, its main square with a fountain, its noble palace and several narrow alleys called rughe. 

San Giorgio church

Rogliano is called The Hamlet of the 12 churches, including the San Pietro e Paolo Cathedral which was destroyed by the earthquake in 1638 except the major bell, and the San Giorgio Church, the oldest in the village and declared National Monument. Very unusual is the San Giuseppe Church, never completed and consecrated which now host the Sacred Art Museum.

The Museom of Bread at the Cuti Bakery

In Rogliano there are many traditions handed down to the present day, such as the craftsmanship of wrought iron, leather and wood which made it very famous. Great value have the handmade Nativities and the zampogne (a  kind of bangpipe) made by the local master and musician Sandro Sottile who welcome you in his small work shop playing his folkloristic music and showing his artisan work. 

Mrs Pina of Cuti Bakery

Another big and important local tradition is the making bread, handed back by the Cuti Bakery, whose name is from the homonymous district in Rogliano. The Cuti Bread has become the excellence of the Calabrian gastronomy and sold all around Italy. Thanks to Mrs Pina‘s vitality and passion, the owner of this family-run business, it was set-up the Bread Museum in an area of the small factory, an exposition which tell more about history, traditions, costume and old jobs of this land. In addition to the visit of the Museum, you can take part to a guided tasting of bread and the other products of the bakery.

Some products by Cuti Bakery

Very interesting is the visit of Tenuta Bocchineri , a natural oasis not so far from the centre of Rogliano, 3 hectares of land with the botanical garden, woods and paths surrounded by spectacular nature. Here it was settled a small Museum of Peasant Civilization and, along its paths, you can admire a centuries-old oak considered monumental tree.

Here you can do glamping staying at a Treehouse, a small wood building on the tree, very simple but with a forniture which makes it comfortable, or choosing a nice Chalet in the woods. 

Tenuta Bocchineri Treehouse

It’s a Calabria which surprise you!

The centuries-old oak

Brunella Brusco

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