Colosimi: Forests, Trails and Churches

Colosimi can be discovered through its wooded landscape and its religious and historic buildings. Watercourses and hiking trails shape the area; churches, a statue of the Virgin Mary and a monument offer insights into different aspects of the town. This gives you starting points for choosing what to explore in Colosimi based on the topics that interest you during your stay.

Forests, Water and Hiking Trails

Most of the area around Colosimi is covered by forest. The municipality is also one of the municipalities in the Sila Biosphere Reserve. Watercourses and hiking trails add to this landscape; rest and refreshment points are designated along the trails. This gives the surroundings a strong connection to nature and combines the landscape with practical reference points for your planning.

The Cammino di San Giacomo Maggiore in Calabria is divided into nine stages and is about 141 kilometres long. The route is intended to follow only public paths and provincial, municipal and local roads, both within and outside built-up areas; private property should not be crossed. The planned route and approximate overall length give you an initial idea of the trail. Check the route conditions before setting out.

Churches, Traditions and Historic Traces

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is Colosimi’s main church. It houses the statue of Maria SS. Assunta, the town’s patron saint. Her feast is celebrated on 15 August. The church, statue and feast day thus form a shared religious focal point: in one place, you can take in both the main church and the veneration of the patron saint.

A different theme is represented by the Monumento ai caduti. The sculpture depicts an allegory of victory and shows a sword, along with laurel and oak leaves. It was created by Ottavio Colosimo, a sculptor from Catanzaro; the work is dated to the 1920s or 1930s. Its imagery and dating make the monument a distinct point of interest if you are interested in the town’s sculptural memorials.

Different periods of construction can also be seen in the districts and hamlets. The Chiesa della Madonna di Loreto in the district of Ischi dates from the late 17th century. In Rizzuti stands the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie, dating from 1735; the Chiesa della Madonna Immacolata e di San Vito in Arcuri dates from 1752. The Chiesa della Santissima Trinità in Coraci is dated to the 17th or 18th century. These examples can be distinguished by period without reducing them to a single phase of construction.

Further historical points of interest add to this overview: Palazzo Mascaro is an 18th-century palace on Piazza Plebiscito. The Chiesa di Santa Barbara in Carrano and the Chiesa della Madonna Immacolata in Trearie, by contrast, both date from the early 20th century. Together with the older churches, they show a broad range of dates among the buildings.

The history of the routes is also part of the town’s character, with a clear historical connection: the ancient mule track between Colosimi and Parenti was once the only connecting route between the two towns.

Choosing Colosimi as a Place to Stay

If you are looking for hotels in Colosimi, first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on the landscape or on the churches and historic buildings. These are two different ways to experience the town: the forests and hiking trails offer a focus on the landscape, while the churches, feast day and monument bring its religious and architectural history to the fore. For specific accommodation details, check the information provided by each hotel listing.

Discover more destinations: Sibari, Marano Marchesato, Cerchiara Di Calabria, La Bruca, San Lorenzo Bellizzi, Vaccarizzo, Scalea, Longobardi.

For the broader travel overview: Cosenza.