SHARRYLAND
The road of the two seas - Girifalco
Girifalco is the second stop on the road connecting the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas by crossing the isthmus of Catanzaro
Where is
This municipality is located along the road of the two seas.
Girifalco and the peculiarity of the isthmus of Catanzaro
Provincial road 162, which climbs from Squillace toward the Serre, reaches Girifalco (m 456) at the northern foot of Mount Covello (m 843), the fulcrum of theIsthmus of Catanzaro, or the narrowest point on the peninsula, only 35 kilometers separating the Ionian Sea from the Tyrrhenian Sea.
A bit of history: Norman warriors and Saracen pirates
The origin of the name is somewhat debated, but the most evocative hypothesis is that it refers to the Norman-Swabian lords who allegedly practiced falcon hunting there. The village was founded in the Middle Ages by coastal inhabitants put to flight by recurrent raids by Saracen pirates. It is no coincidence that the oldest nucleus is perched on a rocky outcrop, and it is here that the streets have tight grids and the atmosphere is most characteristic.
Not to be missed: a fountain as an on-the-road wonder.
The urban section of the provincial road, Corso Garibaldi, connects the two main squares, dedicated to the first kings of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I. The former is overlooked by the parish church of Santa Maria della Neve, which with its composite elevation forms a beautiful picture. In Piazza Umberto I, on the other hand, is the church named after the patron saint San Rocco, neoclassical facade and a remarkable set of Baroque art. In its presence is the most photogenic monument in the center, the monumental fountain erected to seal the reconstruction after the 1626 earthquake. The straight promenade of Via Roma departs from here.
The picturesque Pesipe valley
Back on the provincial road, past Cortale (m 410), a secondary road rises between Mount Covello (m 848) and Mount Contessa (m 881). In the impassable valley, the Pesipe River flows through oak and chestnut forests. Point of arrival, the Fosso di Lupo pass (m 878), on the watershed between the two seas culminating in nearby Serralta San Vito (m 1023).
Fun fact: the Brasilena
The wonderful nature that surrounds Girifalco is not its only feature: here, the food industry has also reached an important milestone, with the production of Brasilena, the Calabrian alternative to Coca Cola. Be sure to try it if you pass through these parts!
Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
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Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
