Holiday apartment in Villapiana: Coast, nature and history

Villapiana combines coastal landscapes, nature observation and evidence of the town's history. Within the municipality, a pebble beach lined with maritime pine forest, natural paths and several churches represent the town's diverse facets. The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Piano, the Palazzo dell'Americano and the Convento Sant'Antonio stand for different periods of the town's history.

Churches and the Palazzo dell'Americano

The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Piano was built in the Middle Ages, in the 13th or 14th century. Its predominantly Gothic style was later extensively redesigned in the Baroque style. Inside, the church has three naves with Baroque decorations, a stone baptismal font from the 14th century and two wooden paintings from the 16th century attributed to Francesco Curia from Naples.

The Palazzo dell'Americano also complements Villapiana's architectural character. It was built in the early years of the 20th century and completed in 1909. Neoclassical stylistic features define the building; its interior is decorated with sacred and secular motifs. On Piazza Dante, the view is dominated by the tower of the feudal castle and the remains of its walls.

Other religious buildings add their own distinctive accents: The Chiesa Stella Maris in Villapiana Scalo contains a mosaic by the artist Biagio Capparelli. The Chiesa della Sacra Famiglia has a circular floor plan supported by eight load-bearing columns; inside, there is an artistic crucifix. The Convento Sant'Antonio was probably built between 1581 and 1591, while its founding document dates from 1505.

Pine forest, stream mouth and coastal area

For walks, the municipality of Villapiana offers the Pineta foce Satanasso trail. It follows natural paths through the pine forest to the mouth of the Satanasso stream and ends where fresh and salt water meet. The maritime pine forest is also a habitat of the southern black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis), a species endemic to southern Italy.

Within the municipality, near the Saraceno stream, lies the pebble beach of Località 112. The beach is lined by a maritime pine forest. In the sandy dunes, there is also a protected area where the sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) blooms in summer. Its presence indicates a healthy coastal environment that has undergone little human alteration.

Historical festivals and further discoveries

The Fiera di San Francesco in Villapiana included traditional games, a historical re-enactment of the town and a photo exhibition in the historic town centre. It also featured a mass and a procession in the afternoon. The combination of historical representation and religious elements characterises the festival in Villapiana's historic town centre. For further travel planning, nearby destinations may also be of interest: Mandatoriccio, San Nicola Arcella, Cetraro, Cerchiara Di Calabria, Mirto, Montegiordano, Cassano Allo Ionio and Grisolia.

For the overarching travel overview: Cosenza.