San Donato di Ninea, the Welcome Village.

San Donato di Ninea is perched on a rocky spur in the Pollino National Park.

San Donato di Ninea

The village is located on the slopes of Cozzo Pellegrino and surrounded by beech, chestnut, oak, alder and Turkey oak woods. We start our visit from a chestnut grove with centuries-old trees. We are in company with Antonella who live there, lover of her village and member of Borgo di Ninevo Association whose main mission is the promotion of San Donato di Ninea thanks the help of a group of youth. She tells us how the chestnut is a business so important for this area becoming symbol of the local gastronomy. 

Century-old chestnut grove

Then we move to the inhabited part, one of its 2 historic centre of the village. In fact the curious thing of this place is the presence of 2 historic centres in the same Municipality. One is oldest and lies in the highest part, the other nearest the valley. After having walked among the alleys, we arrive in the square where the Church of the Santissima Assunta, a building dating back to the 10th century, overlooks. 

the Church of the Santissima Assunta

Here you enjoy a wide and breathtaking panorama which stretches to the whole Esaro Valley. 

Panorama on Esaro Valley.

The entire village looks like a long ribbon of houses that climbs up the ridge of the mountains. It was founded by the Enotri led by Ninevo (population prior to the Greeks), and its current name dates back to 1864 when the Government exhorted to choose a name for distinguishing it from other homonymous Municipalities: so they chose San Donato di Ninea.

San Donato di Ninea

Once a time it was named the basin of the metals due to the presence of some old mines nearby, which made it famous for the mining activity. In order to reach the other historic centre, the more recent one, you need the car, but we have decided to walk along a path which lines the village from which you enjoy a wonderful panorama. Wise decision!

The path which lines the Village.

Then we arrive in Piazza Mercato (Market square), beating heart full of commercial and tourist activities. In this square and among the alleys the Autumn Festival takes place every year during where you can taste typical products of the area, especially dishes based by chestnuts.

Roast chestnuts.

We finish our sightseeing with Saint Angel or Madonna of the Angel’s cave, a natural cave not far from the centre carved by the water during the past centuries. It is a place of worship, probably from the Lombard period (VI-VII century). Inside there is a fresco depicting San Michele and one the Madonna. Really the caves are two, one that can be visited through a medieval arcade, where the two frescoes are located and hermitage place for the Basilian monks; the second one, instead, keeps evidences of settlements from prehistoric times.

Going up to the St Angel’s Cave.

Antonella explains that the depicted Madonna in the fresco who sit down on a throne with the child, recalls two other figures kept in two villages adjacent to San Donato di Ninea. For this reason they tell about the 3 sisters who are the Madonna of Monte in Acquaformosa (CS), this Madonna dell’Angelo and the Madonna of Pettoruto in San Sosti (CS). 

Inside the St Angel’s Cave

It is Calabria that fascinates!

Brunella Brusco

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