Sybaris was a city of Magna Graecia on the Ionian Sea, overlooking the Gulf of Taranto.
Sybaris was an ancient Greek colony known as “Achaean,” and one of the oldest Greek settlements in southern Italy.
The fame of the wealth and lifestyle of the Sybarites had spread all over the old greek world.
The archaeological remains of ancient cities are now kept in the National Archaeological Museum and the site of Sybaris is now part of the Archaeological Park of Sybaris.
Since 2003 Morano has been recognised among the most beautiful villages in Italy by Italian Touring Club .It has been awarded with Orange Flag, for its picturesque location and the preciousness of art works preserved. Recently, its name was included in the prestigious list of European destinations of the European Commission EDEN Project .
Today is one of the main centers of the National Park of Pollino.
The Norman-Swabian Castle:
It appears in ruins on the top of the town in a strategic position to dominate the whole valley of the ancient river Sybaris.
Campotenese:
The village of Campotenese, is situated at 1015 meters above sea level and at a distance of 12 km from the Morano centre. It is currently a destination for walks outside the village thanks to the nice and cool place. There are some farms for the production of dairy products and meat and a consortium for the growing of mushrooms.
Museum and nature study center “Il Nibbio”:
Accurate findings on flora and fauna of the Park of Pollino are kept here.
From San Lorenzo Bellizzi you can reach Raganello canyon.
The Raganello river offers the opportunity to make great hiking along the wilderness at the bottom of his great canyon.
In its 32 km length, Raganello runs for 13 Km in the canyon, between “timpa of San Lorenzo” in the north and “timpa of Demanio” in the south.
For 40% of its route, the Raganello slides in grooves in some places lean for 700 meters. canyoning you can admire fantastic examples of river erosion, and amazing beauty rocks .
Of great importance are the sources of the Cave of the Nymphs, whose sulphurous waters feed the eponymous spa.
In striking cave, whose limestone walls are opened, in some points towards the sky, there is a pool of warm water (30 ° C), already known to the ancient Sybarites.
Here you can benefit of the mud with therapeutic properties. According to an ancient legend, the Cave of the Nymphs Lusiads was the hidden cave keeping the thalamus of the legendary Calypso.
In Cerchiara you can visit , by appointment, the small, but fascinating museum of bread, in which various tools, machines and grinders of the rurality of a time are stored. You can also see mannequins who personify the miller and the baker and, among other things, real loaves of Cerchiara bread.
The Sanctuary of ‘ Santa Maria delle Armi’ is, in Calabria, the most valuable monument of medieval origin. It is located in the territory of Cerchiara di Calabria on the slopes of the Sellaro mountain at 1015 m asl with stunning views over the plain of Sybaris and the Gulf of Taranto.
Today’s sanctuary is located on an ancient are stored Byzantine site , on the slopes of Mount Sellaro, also known as the holy mountain.
The ancient legend tells that in 1450 some Rossano hunters saw a deer squeezing into a small cave of Mount Sellaro. Once inside, they saw two wooden icons depicting the Holy Evangelists. The hunters, astonished at the miracle, brought the tablets in their village, Rossano. Here, however, the tablets disappeared again several times and they were always found on the site of their discovery. It was decided to build a small chapel to keep them. During the work, a blacksmith irritated by an oval stone, unfit for its purpose, which he always found in his hands, broke it with a decisive blow. It opened in two parts: on one hand the image of the Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist on the other. The first one is still jealously preserved inside the church , in a chapel with polychrome marbles, the other depicting the Precursor of Christ was stolen, and according to tradition, transported to Malta.
Uninterrupted for centuries and many are the legions of faithful people who flock to the shrine, so ancient and deeply rooted faith traditions are linked to it. In particular, the religious feast of Our Lady of Arms falls on April 25. Characteristic is the procession that winds along the mountain paths singing ancient hymns to the Virgin and then returns to the Sanctuary. On this day, many devotees, after taking part in the sacred functions, usually stay in the woods nearby, organizing gay camps, dancing to the sound of typical instruments. This festival was established in 1846, following a grace obtained by the inhabitants of Cerchiara by intercession of the Virgin, the salvation of the harvest, jeopardized by the heat. On 25 April of that year, the faithful inhabitants organized a procession to ask for the intervention of the Mother of God who intervened immediately. Since then, with a special written agreement, people celebrate their protector on this day.
The Pollino National Park, shared by the provinces of Potenza, Matera and Cosenza, with its 192 565 hectares, of which 88 650 in the side of Basilicata and 103 915 in that of Calabria, is the largest natural park in Italy. It takes its name from the Pollino Massif.
The highest village of the park is Alexandria del Carretto with its thousand meters above sea level, a village that still retains old cultural and musical traditions. Among the religious buildings of note , the monastery of Our Lady of Arms in Cerchiara and ruins of monasteries, such as Colloreto in Morano Calabro.
Recommended for those who love trekking and hiking in general, it is the destination for lovers of canyoning and rafting too.
Cerchiara is a small municipality located in Pollino, Calabria (a region of southern Italy).
We have know it by chance during a weekend and we instantly fell in love.
You can get lost among the narrow streets, exploring the surroundings and meet very hospitable people.
We will try to introduce it to you and make your staying more enjoyable.
mycerchiara 
