Holiday apartment in Maierà: Culture, Chili and Landscape

Maierà combines churches, art, chili culture and landscape. The historic center is home to the Museo del Peperoncino in Palazzo Patrizio and the Palazzo Ducale. Piazza Croce offers impressive views of the surrounding landscape. This provides several specific points of interest for culture enthusiasts: exhibition halls, palace architecture, frescoes, murals and ceramics.

Chili culture in the historic center

The Museo del Peperoncino has 10 exhibition halls. In the “Aziende & Gastronomia” section, the museum presents chilies in a variety of preparations. The narrow streets of the historic center preserve modern artworks, murals and ceramic works by various artists.

Historic sites and sacred traces

The Chiesa di S. Maria del Piano was built on the site of an existing temple and features interesting Renaissance frescoes. The Chiesa di S. Pietro is of Italo-Greek origin. The Cappella della Madonna del Carmine is one of Maierà’s attractions. The Chiesa di San Giacomo is considered one of Maierà’s oldest monuments. It was built over caves carved into the rock that served as refuge for monks. Today, only the exterior walls of the Chiesetta di San Nicola can be seen. The first reliable traces of settlement in the Maierà area are attributed to Basilian monks who arrived from the East between the 6th and 7th centuries. At these sacred sites, frescoes, rock chambers and preserved exterior walls come together with different historical traces. The time span extends from the Basilian settlement traces between the 6th and 7th centuries to the Renaissance frescoes.

Landscape and paths around Maierà

Maierà lies on the left side of the gorge of the Vaccata stream. The Vallata dei Mulini separates Maierà from the town of Grisolia on the opposite side. One route offers views over the valley; the sea lies between the two mountains. After descending from the mountain, the path crosses the riverbed and then climbs back up the mountain on the opposite side. The path thus combines views, a mountain passage and the riverbed in sequence. Anyone planning the route should consider the descent, riverbed and subsequent ascent as one continuous section.

Getting there and hiking maps

From the north, Maierà can be reached via the A3 (SA-RC), the Lagonegro Nord exit, and then along the SS18 state road to the Maierà-Grisolia exit. Casa Maierà in Maierà is an authorized sales outlet for the official hiking maps of Pollino National Park and sells the “Orsomarso trails” map set.

Culinary connection

A fourth edition of the Sagra del Fusillo was planned. As part of the festival, a workshop on preparing traditional fusilli alla majeraiota was also planned. The museum’s focus on chilies and the Sagra’s fusilli tradition represent different culinary accents in Maierà.

Discover more destinations

For more destinations to include in your travel plans, you can explore San Marco Argentano, Lorica, Fagnano Castello, Mandatoriccio, Papasidero, Spezzano Albanese, Santa Sofia D'epiro and Vaccarizzo.

Back to the main travel overview: Cosenza.