Holiday apartment in Santa Severina – history, landscapes and culinary delights

Santa Severina is situated on a rocky promontory amid a broad valley, combining impressive landscapes with an unusually rich history. The town was probably founded by the Oenotrians, an Italic people who lived in the area before Greek colonization. Santa Severina was formerly known as Siberene. Under Byzantine rule, the town became an important religious center and a metropolitan see directly dependent on Byzantium. Santa Severina is also the birthplace of Pope Zachary, who was pope from 741 to 752.

History in the cathedral, museum and baptistery

One of the highlights of your stay is the Concattedrale di Sant'Anastasia. It was built between 1274 and 1295 and preserves the old portal from the Stefanuzia building. Inside, there is an ambo made of Calabrian marble.

Opposite the castle is the Diocesan Museum of Santa Severina. It was established in 1998 in the archbishop's palace next to the cathedral. The same historic building also houses the Diocesan Historical Library and the Diocesan Historical Archive. The museum primarily displays historical and art-historical evidence from the cathedral and the bishop's see, spanning the period from the Early Middle Ages to the 20th century. This makes it particularly easy to structure a visit to Santa Severina around different historical periods, without limiting the experience to a single building.

The baptistery also takes visitors far back into the past. It dates from the period between the 7th and 9th centuries AD and was built in the Byzantine style. Eight reused granite columns characterize the space. It also contains an almost intact depiction of the penitent Saint Jerome from the 14th century. For families with different interests, the sequence of cathedral, museum and baptistery offers many concrete starting points for shared discoveries and conversations.

Monte Fuscaldo and trails through the landscape

Santa Severina can be experienced through more than just its buildings. From the summit of nearby Monte Fuscaldo, there are views of the Sila Plateau and Santa Severina. The trails around the summit pass through gorge-like valleys inhabited by rare birds of prey such as the Egyptian vulture, the eagle owl and the red kite. Another route follows an old mule track and is equipped with information boards and designated rest areas.

These varied landscape experiences can help you decide what kind of holiday you would like to plan in Santa Severina. If historic interiors and art are the focus, the Concattedrale, the Diocesan Museum and the baptistery can provide the common thread. If, on the other hand, you would like to combine culture with physical activity, Monte Fuscaldo, the viewpoints and the trails through the gorge-like valleys can complement your stay. When choosing a holiday apartment in Santa Severina, you can therefore base your decision on your preferred daily rhythm and the interests of your travel group, without reducing the destination to a single experience.

Local products and wine from the Neto area

The region's flavors are also part of its cultural heritage. The Enoteca Comunale Valle del Neto in the Castello di Santa Severina offers tastings by prior reservation. It also presents wineries whose wine-growing areas are touched by the legendary Neto River. The Feast of Saint Anastasia complements this culinary side with food stalls where typical local products can be sampled. Alongside churches, collections and landscapes, you can therefore also find opportunities to get to know Santa Severina through regional specialties.

A holiday apartment or other accommodation in Santa Severina can therefore suit a variety of travel ideas: days devoted to sacred art and medieval history as well as excursions into the landscape or regional tastings.

More places for planning your trip

If you would like to discover other places in addition to Santa Severina, here are the direct onward destinations: Petilia Policastro, Cirò Marina, Isola Di Capo Rizzuto, San Leonardo di Cutro, Sant'Anna, Steccato, Strongoli and Marina Di Strongoli.

For the higher-level travel overview: Crotone.