Holiday apartment in Belmonte Calabro: Old Town, Sea and Culture

Belmonte Calabro combines a historic center on a rocky hill with churches, traces of fortifications, a river landscape and a marine natural area.

Discover the Old Town and sacred buildings

The historic center of Belmonte Calabro lies on a rocky hill, developed around the castle and is characterized by old houses and narrow, winding lanes with steps. The Old Town is still largely surrounded by defensive walls. Historically, three gates led into the town and to the castle: the Porta di Mare, the Porta di Terra and a side gate in the north, which is still visible. The Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta stands next to the castle esplanade and is a 16th-century sacred building.

Churches with art and history

An oil painting by Francesco Basile from 1794–1795 hangs above the main altar of the Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta. It depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. The Chiesa del Purgatorio dates from the 14th century and was the parish church of Belmonte Calabro until 1585. It houses a blue silk banner in the shape of a triangular sail, which was associated with the Rosary procession of a Rosary confraternity made up of fishermen. The Chiesa del Carmine is connected to a monastery dating from 1562; beneath the floor of its apse is a crypt from 1586 containing the tomb of Torino and the first Ravaschieri.

Monastery, fortification and museum

The Convento dei Cappuccini was built in 1606 by Maria Ravaschieri. It preserves a cloister with an arcade and vaulted ceilings, a fountain in the center of the courtyard and a portico with two old sundials. The Palazzo del Rivellino was built in 1627 as a fortification around an existing square tower that had been built by Torino Ravaschieri in 1579.

Memorial sites and views

The Centro Culturale Informatizzato houses a municipal museum commemorating the history and culture of the people of Belmonte Calabro. The Mausoleo Michele Bianchi has a 35-meter-high column with an internal spiral staircase leading to a viewing terrace.

River landscape and marine area

The Veri River is 7 kilometers long, rises in the hilly hinterland, crosses a terraced landscape and reaches the sea. The Oasi Blu Isca marine area near Belmonte Calabro is managed by WWF and its associated CEAM, was established in 1991 and lies around the Scogli di Isca.

Pomodoro di Belmonte and local cuisine

Pomodoro di Belmonte is a typical product of the municipality of Belmonte Calabro and is protected by a De.C.O. designation. In the hamlet of S. Barbara, a gastronomic tasting event featuring bruschetta and Pomodoro di Belmonte takes place.

Discover more places: Altavilla, Maierà, Altomonte, Cutura, San Marco Argentano, Scalea, Cerisano, Pagania Vallonecupo

To the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.