Holiday apartment in Petronà: Sila nature and olive-growing culture

Petronà brings together nature, history and local culture. Anyone planning a holiday apartment stay in Petronà can choose to focus their vacation on the landscape, local history or regional cuisine. As a municipality in the Province of Catanzaro, Petronà is part of the Sila National Park area and lies on the southeastern slope of the Sila Piccola plateau. In spring and summer, centuries-old chestnut trees create a green setting around Petronà. On clear days, the view from Petronà extends to the waters of the Ionian Sea surrounding Capo delle Colonne.

Holiday apartment in Petronà between Sila and local history

The Roverella del Ceraso is a monumental downy oak in Ceraso, Petronà. Its trunk circumference at the base is 4.10 metres, and it is 30 metres tall. The first modest houses of Petronà were built in the first half of the 18th century in the present-day historic centre, the Rione Valle, in the territory of Mesoraca.

Churches, festivals and living traditions

The Chiesa Madre di San Pietro e Paolo was built in 1796. The Chiesa della Cona – the Santuario della Madonna di Costantinopoli – dates from the second half of the 18th century. It served as a refuge for shepherds who drove their flocks from the coast of the Marchesato towards the Sila mountains. Devotion to the Madonna della Cona, the Madonna di Costantinopoli, remains deeply rooted in Petronà to this day.

The festival of Santi Pietro e Paolo takes place in Petronà every year on 29 June. It includes a solemn Mass followed by a procession through Petronà. Palazzo Colosimo is used as a centre for sociocultural activities. The Chiesa dell’Arietta and the Ex Seminario Arcivescovile are among Petronà’s attractions. The language of Petronà is considered distinctly Silan. The shepherds and farmers of Petronà are regarded as bearers of agricultural and pastoral traditions; shepherds from the Sila plateau also spent time in Petronà.

Nature experiences and designated trails

The Oasi Faunistica Manulata is home to deer, donkeys, horses and peacocks, among other animals. It offers walks and picnics in a natural setting. It includes a hill lake and Calabria’s largest stork park, the Parco delle Cicogne della Calabria. The Sentiero CAI Calabria: Zagarise–Petronà is designated as a hiking trail. Stage 31 of the Cammino Basiliano reaches the Oasi faunistica di Manulata in Petronà.

Olive-growing culture as a local flavour

Olive growing is a historic feature of Petronà’s landscape and is one of the area’s important local crops. The olive groves of Petronà produce extra virgin olive oil, considered intense and fragrant. Old oil mills, small family-run mills and centuries-old olive trees bear witness to an olive oil culture deeply rooted in the community of Petronà.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Petronà, these themes can determine your preferred travel style: nature and wildlife at the Oasi, walks and picnics, churches and festivals, or olive-growing culture. This allows you to tailor your choice of accommodation to your own interests without reducing Petronà to just one facet.

More destinations for your planning

More destinations for your planning: Sant'andrea Apostolo Dello Ionio, Falerna, Soveria Simeri, Isca Sullo Ionio, Borgia, Gizzeria Lido, Lamezia Terme and Pianopoli.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Catanzaro.