Gimigliano: Churches, Green Stone and Hiking Trails

Gimigliano lies on the southern slope of the Sila Piccola. Green stone is a recurring feature of the townscape and its churches. There are also museums and trails leading to different destinations. If you are looking for a hotel in Gimigliano, you can first consider whether churches and local history or the hikes described here should play a greater part in your stay.

Green Stone in the Townscape

The historic center has a medieval street plan, with distinctive stone palaces and a ducal palace. The local variety of green stone can be seen in churches, streets, palaces, balconies, boundary and retaining walls, steps, and decorative features. As you take in the townscape, you will encounter the material in many different forms, not just on individual buildings. Gimigliano’s green marble was also used for the grand staircase of the Chiesa del Gesù di Napoli, the floors of the Reggia di Caserta, the winter choir and niches of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, and the central square of San Pietroburgo.

Churches and Their Works of Art

The Chiesa del SS. Salvatore was built around 967, approximately when the town was founded. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta has two 16th-century altars made of green marble. The church also preserves a baptismal font made of Gimigliano green marble by local stonemasons, as well as a wooden statue of Saint Joseph. The origins of the Basilica Santuario Madonna di Porto are associated with the year 1751. It houses the “Cona” by Pietro Gatto, featuring a fresco of the Madonna di Costantinopoli. Together, the churches showcase different aspects of local religious art: stonework, a wooden statue, and a fresco.

Museums and Local History

The Museo della Pietra di Gimigliano plays an important role in presenting the town’s history and cultural roots. A visitor route through Gimigliano includes a visit to the museum. It starts at a former quarry for green marble from Calabria and is run in collaboration with the Pro Loco. There is also a museum dedicated to a historic olive mill, which is part of the local community’s memory and identity. The two museum themes thus lead to different aspects of local history: the tradition of stone and the community’s shared memory of a historic olive mill.

Hikes with Different Destinations

The official SI U15 hiking stage runs from the Santuario Madonna di Porto to Villaggio Mancuso. It crosses the dam of the large artificial reservoir Lago Passante and then enters the outer reaches of Parco nazionale della Sila. Another route is the mountain trail from the built-up area of Gimigliano to Monte Gimigliano. The trail offers views of the mountains of the Reventino, Serre, and Sila ranges, as well as the Ionian Sea. SI U15 is described by its start and endpoint and its route across the dam toward the park; the mountain trail, by contrast, focuses on the summit destination and the views. You can choose between them based on your preferred destination, without combining the two descriptions into a single route. If you plan to take the trail to Monte Gimigliano, check its current accessibility in advance.

Discover more destinations: La Petrizia, Montauro, Curinga, Marcellinara, Santa Caterina Dello Ionio, Soverato Marina, Gizzeria, Copanello

For the main travel overview: Catanzaro.