Holiday apartment in Spilinga – Churches, Caves and Calabrian Cuisine

Spilinga is located on Monte Poro in the hinterland of the Costa degli Dei. The town offers interested travellers several different points of access: local history, sacred buildings, caves, pilgrimages and Calabrian cuisine. If you choose a holiday apartment in Spilinga, you can tailor your stay to your own interests. Historic paths, religious destinations, local festivals and specialities offer various starting points for doing so.

Historic Centre and Sacred Sites

A walk through Spilinga's historic centre takes you through the town along stone-paved lanes, stairways and old churches. One of the most distinctive sacred buildings is the parish church of San Giovanni Battista. It was restored on the remains of its predecessor, which was damaged by the 1783 earthquake. Carciadi is also home to a church entrusted to the protection of the Madonna della Misericordia, which was consecrated on 4 September 1932. The medieval anachoretic settlement of Grotta di S. Leo, with its Byzantine frescoes, provides a special historical highlight.

Pilgrimages, Festivals and Paths

The Feast of San Giovanni Battista is celebrated in Spilinga on 24 June with solemn processions through the main streets. The festivities include musical performances, markets and tastings of local Calabrian products, including 'nduja di Spilinga. Another religious focal point is the Santuario Madonna delle Fonti. The chapel, carved into the rock, is built around a spring believed to have miraculous powers. On 21 May each year, the sanctuary is the destination of a pilgrimage with celebrations in honour of the Madonna. A Way of the Cross runs beside the sanctuary and leads visitors to the grotto.

A Cave Landscape with a Long History

The Spilinga area has numerous natural and man-made caves that have been used since prehistoric times. During the Byzantine period, many caves became refuges and places of worship for Basilian monks. Those interested in early settlement traces, religious history and landscapes will find another thematic focus for planning their trip here. The caves complement a tour of the historic centre with a glimpse into the area's older history.

Spilinga and 'Nduja

The Accademia Internazionale di Cucina Mediterranea is a gastronomic and cultural centre in the heart of Spilinga. The local speciality is closely associated with the town's name: 'Nduja di Spilinga comes from the municipality of the same name in the province of Vibo Valentia. It can be eaten on toasted bread or used as a seasoning for other dishes. The Sagra della 'nduja, held in Spilinga every year on 8 August, offers a particularly vivid insight into this culinary tradition. Visitors can sample dishes such as spaghetti, beans with onions, bruschetta, meatballs, sandwiches and vegetables with 'nduja. The event takes place mainly on Corso Garibaldi in the centre of Spilinga, with food stalls and areas for folk performances.

More places for planning your trip: Brattiro', Capistrano, Coccorino, San Calogero, Drapia, Serra San Bruno, Vibo Valentia, Longobardi.

To the higher-level travel overview: Vibo Valentia.