Oliveto – Hotels between local history and walking trails

When looking for a hotel in Oliveto, it is worth exploring two sides of the town: its parish and church history, and the walking routes shaped by olive groves and the Fiumara. The name Oliveto probably also refers to olives and olive groves. This makes local history and the landscape distinct themes to consider for a stay.

Local history and religious connections

Until the Second World War, Oliveto was referred to in official parish documents as Valanidi Inferiore. The parish of Oliveto, also known as Valanidi Inferiore, was canonically established by a decree dated August 6, 1789. The name Oliveto probably derives from the dialect forms “livi” for olive and “livitu” for olive grove. A historical description of the first settlement adds to this connection: it lay between the Vallone Cilea, also called O Srittu, and the banks of the stream; at the time, the area was rich in olive trees.

The Church of San Pietro in Contrada Paterriti, in the hamlet of Oliveto, is one of the churches with a subsidiary function. The Congrega Maria SS. del Monte Carmelo is also associated with Oliveto and the postal code 89134. These church connections sit alongside the older name of the town and the history of the parish’s establishment.

The first church in the village of Valanidi Inferiore in Contrada Oliveto, described by Mons. Pontari, was rectangular, 21 meters long and seven meters wide. It ended in an apse, faced west, and had nine windows and a tiled roof. An earlier church also had a main altar dedicated to the Madonna della Consolazione. The earthquake of December 28, 1908, destroyed the church of Oliveto.

Religious events are also part of the town’s history: in 1933, a monumental cross, a Calvario, was erected on Monte Pettodoro at the initiative of the parish priest Felice Lopresti and the people of Oliveto. The community of Oliveto also took part in a pilgrimage route dedicated to the Madonna della Consolazione.

Landscape, walks, and local connections

A walking route described in a 2024 excursion program passes through numerous olive groves and offers particularly wide views of the Fiumara Valanidi valley. It crosses the Fiumara, which separates the territories of the municipalities of Motta San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria, and then returns to Oliveto. Olive groves, valley views, and the crossing of the stream give this route its distinctive sequence of landscapes.

Another circular E-type walk leads from the hamlet of Oliveto to the Castello di Sant’Aniceto in the municipality of Motta San Giovanni. The two routes differ in their described courses: one returns to Oliveto, while the other leads to the castle in Motta San Giovanni. This can help you decide, when planning your trip, between an outing that returns to its starting point and a route with the stated destination.

Wine-growing also provides a regional connection: Oliveto lies in the area where the red wine Pellaro may be produced as an IGT wine. Together with the probable origin of the town’s name and the historic olive-growing landscape, this offers another perspective on the local connection to olives and agriculture.

If you are looking for a hotel in Oliveto, these different themes can shape your stay in different ways. The church history offers connections through place names, parish history, and historic architectural styles; the walking route descriptions highlight specific landscape features and different routes. This can help you decide whether local history or trails through the landscape should play a greater role in your trip.

Discover more destinations: San Lorenzo, Sant'alessio In Aspromonte, Gioiosa Ionica, Condofuri Marina, Camini, Palizzi, Spropolo, Portigliola

For the full travel overview: Reggio Calabria.