Discover Santa Severina

Santa Severina sits on a rocky outcrop amid a broad valley. The town’s history, religious buildings and nearby Monte Fuscaldo offer different focal points for planning your trip. There is also a wine and food experience at Castello di Santa Severina.

Early history and Byzantine influence

Santa Severina was formerly known as Siberene. The town was probably founded by the Oenotrians, an Italic people who lived in the area before Greek colonisation. The former place name and the uncertain account of its founding point to an early period in the town’s history.

Under Byzantine rule, Santa Severina became an important religious centre and a metropolitan see directly dependent on Byzantium. The town is also the birthplace of Pope Zachary, who was pope from 741 to 752. Together, these connections offer a distinctive perspective on Santa Severina’s religious history, from the town’s Byzantine role to the life of a future pope.

Cathedral, baptistery and diocesan museum

The Concattedrale di Sant'Anastasia was built between 1274 and 1295 and preserves the old portal of the Stefanuzia building. Inside is an ambo made of Calabrian marble. An ambo is a liturgical reading desk; its central marble panel depicts Jesus among the teachers of the Law. The construction period, surviving portal and image offer different ways to explore the cathedral’s architecture and art history.

The Baptistery of Santa Severina dates from the 7th to the 9th century and was built in the Byzantine style. It contains eight reused granite columns. The baptistery also houses an almost intact 14th-century depiction of Saint Jerome doing penance. Different periods thus come together in one place: Byzantine architecture, reused columns and a much later depiction of the saint.

The Diocesan Museum was established in 1998 in the archbishop’s palace beside the cathedral, opposite the castle. It mainly displays historical and art-historical objects from the cathedral and the bishop’s see, spanning the early Middle Ages to the 20th century. The museum therefore complements the individual buildings with a broad view of the history of the Church over many centuries.

The landscape around Monte Fuscaldo

The landscape offers a different focus. From the summit of nearby Monte Fuscaldo, there are views of the Sila Plateau and Santa Severina. The trails around the summit pass through ravine-like valleys. Rare birds of prey live there, including Egyptian vultures, eagle owls and red kites. The views, valley formations and wildlife provide a nature-focused experience that differs clearly from the town’s historical themes.

If you are weighing up culture and nature for your trip, the information about Monte Fuscaldo offers a clear alternative focus: the historic buildings raise questions about local and religious history, while the mountain is all about views, trails and the birds of prey that live there.

Wine and regional specialities

The Enoteca Comunale Valle del Neto is located in Castello di Santa Severina. It offers tastings by prior reservation. Reservation arrangements and the programme may change, so check the current options in advance. The enoteca also showcases wineries at the castle whose wine-growing areas are touched by the legendary Neto River. The wineries represented may change.

The Feast of Saint Anastasia also includes food stalls where you can sample typical local products. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Choose the focus that suits your trip

When looking for a hotel in Santa Severina, you can start by considering what you want your stay to centre on: Byzantine and religious history, the landscape around Monte Fuscaldo, or a food and wine experience at the castle.

Discover more destinations: Marina Di Strongoli, Caccuri, Steccato, Sant'Anna, Le Castella, Crotone, Cutro, Petilia Policastro.

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