Accademia del Peperoncino Mask Perhaps Diamante is most famous for its Festival del Peperoncino, or hot pepper festival that takes place some time in early September. From Diamante, you can visit the neighboring village of Maiera' where the Museum of Peperoncino is located. Although imported to Europe from the New World by Christopher Columbus only in 1496, peperoncino has become a staple of every dish in Calabrian cuisine. The Museum of Peperoncino tells the story of peperoncino, where it is cultivated, and its uses throughout the world with plentiful photos, maps, artwork, and displays. The visit is interspersed with magnificent views of the old town center of Maiera', the valley below and the blue sea beyond.

Festival del Peperoncino

From Maiera' it is a brief drive to the coast and Diamante where, if you are visiting in the early part of September, you won't want to miss the fabulous 3 day and 3 night extravaganza of the Festival del Peperoncino that features hot pepper and every way it can be put to use. The festival is a raucous three day and three night event that takes place on the dramatic Diamante promenade overlooking the sea. Peperoncino braids are everywhere, draped over peperoncino stands along the promenade, and hanging to dry on private balconies throughout the village. Normally quiet Diamante turns into a world destination for all kinds of hot pepper aficionados. Peperoncino is available in every possible form and added to every possible food, from pasta to pastry, and then to meats, cheeses, sauces, and also liqueurs. A party not to be missed.

Citron

The area is not only known for its peperoncino. From the state highway just north of Diamante follow the signs for Santa Maria del Cedro. This is the epicenter for the cultivation and harvest of the Citron (a citrus fruit). From time immemorial, Rabbis from all over the world come to Santa Maria del Cedro in July or August on the occasion of the Sukkoth, or Tabernacle, in which they seek the perfect citron at the time of harvest. The "Smooth Cedro of Diamante" pictured here is the ideal fruit for this ancient ritual performed in the Jewish religion. Calabria with its nearly tropical year round climate and its ideal middle of the Mediterranean exposure, is ideal for the cultivation of this citrus fruit that was known and used by the Greeks.

Carcere dell'Impresa

Festival del CedroDrive downhill from Santa Maria del Cedro to find the Carcere dell'Impresa, an old prison that was remodeled lately and now hosts the Museum of the Cedro. The museum has its culminating moments during its annual mid September Festival del Cedro in which you can indulge in liqueur, cakes, preserves, perfumes and candied fruit all based on cedro.

Buonvicino Without wandering too far from the coast, another very interesting visit is directly behind Diamante and up the hill about 6 kilometers to the village of Buonvicino. The town rose atop the cave lived in by San Ciriaco, a hermit monk belonging to the order of Saint Basilio introduced to this part of Calabria from Bisanzio (Constantinople) in the 4th century AD. Go up to the monument to San Ciriaco Abate that overlooks and protects the citizens of Buonvicino just below it. The monument is a 20 ft tall metal sculpture that sits atop a stangely unfinished cement building. Continue up the dirt road and the parking plaza may be a way to begin walking into the park.

Raganello River GorgesThe Mount Pollino National Park is the largest national park of Europe. Its steep verdant slopes allow viewing of a large variety of alpine and subalpine flora and fauna, topped by the majestic Pino Loricato that can be found at high altitude only in this part of the world. Near the eastern reaches of the top of Mount Pollino are the dramatic gorges of the Raganello featuring 2500 ft vertical walls and a 1600 ft high waterfall. We recommend hiring a local guide for longer excursions into the depths of the park.

Museo CivicoEtnografico

This National park is also an attempt to preserve the way of life and culture of the peasant villages that dot the area. A drive up and down winding roads will bring you by goat and sheep herders that look like the old Italy you've been looking for all over but can find it only here. In Grisolia you can visit the Museo Civico Etnografico that testifies to the existence of the peasant life style with real life reconstructions of peasant home furnishings, and contains an extraordinary collection of tools and accessories that were at the basis of the existence of the peasant folk in the area up until about 15-20 years ago. Today Calabria and much of the south of Italy still has many folks that live peasant life styles, although this is disappearing and is practically nonexistent in the north. Walk through Grisolia to see some amazing houses and workshops built into the rock. Drive on to Orsomarso gateway to the park, then Verbicaro home of the museum of wine and peasant life, and finally to S. Domenica di Talao. Continuing on the road to Papasidero will bring you along the Lao river where river rafting adventures are available. Mountains on either side of these steep gorges above the rushing river reach up to seven thousand ft in altitude and are cloaked in abundant greenery.

Burial Site - Romito Cave

Papasidero is an interesting destination on account of the Grotta del Romito, a large cavern that contains fabulous stalagmites and stalagtites. Most interesting is the discovery here of a cave drawing of a bull, one of the most ancient examples of prehistoric art in Italy. Also in the cave view the site of a double burial from 10,500 years ago in which a man suffering from dwarfism can be seen buried with his arm around an older woman.

Old Cirella

On your return, stop about 3 kilometeres north of Diamante in Cirella along the coast, where you can hike up to the ruins of old Cirella destroyed by the French fleet in 1806. Walking through the ruins gives you perspective into a medieval castle and numerous ruins of churches. View of the sea beyond and Diamante to the south abound from every angle. Descending from there a visit to the present day Cirella is well worth it, while the point and neighboring coast on all sides is great for swimming.

Tropea

One of the most beautiful destinations of the entire Mediterranean that can be reached from Diamante by train in 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours or by car in approximately 2 and 1/2 hours is Tropea. This ancient fishing village is located high atop vertical walls that overlook a white sandy beach and turquoise waters beyond. Swimming is fabulous from this beach and around to the tip of the island just offshore where you can find some secret beaches. Directly in front of Tropea and located on a small peninsula is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola. At the top of the island sits a baroque church that is today a Benedictine monastery. From Tropea driving south leads to numerous beaches ending at Capo Vaticano that juts out into the Mediterranean with dramatic rocks and more white sandy beaches. Clear days will give you a great view of the Sicilian Aeolian islands off shore.

San Nicola Arcella - WatchtowerHeading north from Diamante brings you to more fabulous beach destinations like Cirella, Scalea, and further the dramatic cove of San Nicola Arcella. The ancient watchtower of Crawford can be visited from the sea here, or you can hike from the north end of the pebbley beach up the rocky promontory that juts out to sea, and down to the deserted cove on the other side. Dramatic views of the sea on both sides and the coast beyond are great. Finally, further north along the coast, a visit to the Grotta della Madonna in Praia a Mare is well worth it. The sanctuary in the grotto overlooks the sea below.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN THE AREA SURROUNDING DIAMANTE:

February 3rd - feast of the patron Saint San Biagio in Tortora

Third Sunday in May - procession to the sea for the Madonna Addolorata in Diamante

June 13th feast of the patron saint San Antonio in Grisolia and in Tortora

June 14th and 15th - feast of the patron saint San Vito Martire in Aieta

June 29th feast of San Pietro of Vrasi in Maiera'

July 2nd feast of the Madonna delle Grazie in Belvedere Marittimo and Verbicaro

July 16th feast of the Madonna del Carmine in Maiera' and Scalea

Last week of July festival of peasant cheese in Aieta

August 7th to 9th festival of the wild boar in Grisolia

August 12th crowning of the Madonna Immacolata

August 12th festival of prosciutto in Aieta

August 13th to 18th feast of patron saint Madonna delle Grotte in Praia a Mare

August 14th Madonna of the Flowers with watermelon festival at night on the beach in Cirella

August 16th feast of San Rocco in Grisolia

August 18th Marcellina Folk Festival in Santa Maria del Cedro

August 22nd festival of "Pitta" with regional specialty foods and folk dances thoughout the night in Aieta

September 10th to 14th Festival of Peperoncino in Diamante

September 8th Madonna del Lauro in Scalea

September 15th feast of San Ciriaco Abate with procession from Diamante to Buonvicino

September 19th feast of San Michele in Tortora

September 29th feast of San Michele Arcangelo in Santa Maria del Cedro

October 14th to 20th feast of the patron saint San Daniele in Belvedere Marittimo

December 8th feast of the Immacolata Concezione in Diamante.