Altomonte

The village of Altomonte, rich in rivers and hilly landscapes, is located in Calabria. There are abundant olive groves and native vineyards producing the balbini wines, already decanced by Pliny the Elder. The village was first called Brahall, then Bragalla, Antifluvius until 1343 and finally Altomonte, when the county passed to the Sangineto and then to Sanseverino, the principals of Bisignano bound to the Ruffo of Calabria. The story has left important signs to be discovered in an itinerary that goes from the modern open air theater (now home to many international events), to medieval alleys, to the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, a rare example of Gothic-Angolan art, and the Civic Museum, located in the former Convent of the Dominicans. With the Monastic Complex and the presence of Dominicans, wanted by Countess Cobella Ruffo in the 15th century, the town became a center of culture; hosted the philosopher Thomas Campanella, who here thought of the "City of the Sun", and novelist Matteo Bandello. A few steps from the convent, we find the Norman Castle (11th century) and the Pallotta Tower (XIth century), a square-based fortress now home to the Azzinari Museum. Finally, you reach the church of St. James the Apostle, of probable Byzantine origin. In the lower part of the village, we find the Monastery Complex of San Francesco di Paola (circa 1635), which now houses the Municipal Headquarters, considered one of the most beautiful municipi of Italy.

Altomonte, with over 300 ceremonies a year, is defined as the hamlet of weddings, as weddings from all over Italy and abroad decide to celebrate here the happy event for the beauty of these places. Among the streets and alleys of the village you can find typical products and local craftsmanship: from wine to craft products in clay, wood, wicker etc. Remarkable are the curious wooden postcards, the old embroidery, the refined liqueurs, sweets and typical products, including the Bread of Altomonte, for which the village has become a symbol of typical Calabrian cuisine.