SHARRYLAND
The Ionian Foothills - Chiaravalle Central
It is the end point of the hilly traverse that unravels from Squillace to the foothills of the Serre
Where is
This municipality is located along the Ionian foothills.
A pleasant place not only in name but also in fact
Chiaravalle, as its name implies, is located in one of the widest and most fertile basins of the Ionian side of the Calabrian Serre, in the stretch between the Serralta di San Vito (m 1023) and Mount Pizzinni (m 948), marked by two streams, the Ancinale and the Beltrame.
Historic crossroads of the Serre, town by presidential decree.
The fortunes of the town, which is believed to have been founded by bringing together the population of scattered villages, also derive from its position as a crossroads between the road that climbs from the coast toward Serra San Bruno and the road that points north at Squillace, touching various towns in the Preserre. In recognition of the relevance of this role Chiaravalle since 2012 can boast "the title of city, granted by decree of the President of the Republic to municipalities distinguished for their memories, historical monuments and current importance."
In the Mother Church, devotions marking the calendar
The town, spread out on the slopes of a hill, has one of its landmarks in the Mother Church, dedicated to Maria Santissima della Pietra and facing Piazza Dante with a double access staircase and two bell towers incorporated into the facade. Inside, the statue of the patron saint St. Blaise, who is celebrated on February 3 with the ritual blessing of the throat, deserves attention first of all. The wooden statues of the Madonna, the resurrected Jesus and St. John, on the other hand, are used for the Cunfrunta, the Easter re-enactment particularly popular in Calabria. Finally, the statue of the Madonna della Pietra, the community's patron saint, is carried in procession on the penultimate weekend of August to the shrine of the same name in Foresta.
A tasty episode of neo-Gothic style in Calabrian sauce.
Just upstream from the historic center, overlooking the slope that guides the eye to the sea, the Capuchin convent stands out instead, forming a scenic complex with the adjoining church of St. Francis, singular for its English neo-Gothic facade and soaring bell tower. The convent, still officiated by the Franciscan Order, is built around a cloister and provides space for, among other things, a Museum of Peasant and Artisan Civilization. Civil architecture has its most representative reality in Palazzo Staglianò, marked by a monumental ashlar portal and used as a cultural center.
Chiaravalle, gateway to the Serre Park.
As for the economy, Chiaravalle still stands out for its agricultural (wheat, olives, potatoes, chestnuts) and forestry production, from which derives a wood craftsmanship that boasts furniture production of some artistic value. Growing importance has tourism, which sees in Chiaravalle one of the easiest accesses to the Serre territory.
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