Set in the heart of the Sila Greca, in the province of Cosenza, Longobucco is among the Borghi d'Eccellenza to be discovered at a leisurely pace. Here, some of the oldest Calabrian traditions have remained intact.
Its history is intertwined with its mines, from which most of the silver for coinage and other artifacts was sourced. Some objects are now preserved in the town's main church and the Museum of Craftsmanship and Soil Conservation. A hiking trail, the "Mining Route", retraces the life of the ancient mines, complete with illustrative panels explaining the extraction process.
Another flourishing activity in Longobucco, both past and present, is handloom weaving. Bedspreads, tapestries, and other garments are woven through a unique technique specific to Longobucco, where the embroidery is not just designed but woven into the fabric itself.
Silver artifacts and woven products can be admired in the Museum of Sila Craftsmanship and Soil Conservation, which preserves the entire historical and cultural memory of the town: from fossils found in the area to mining objects, from stone works to testimonies of the first and second post-war periods when one of the first cinemas in Calabria was established in Longobucco. Inside, there are also two "Parilla" motorcycles from 1959, donated to the town by the Parrilla family, founders of the motorcycle company. Another important section of the museum is dedicated to brigandage. Many brigands lived in Longobucco, not just bandits but active fighters against noble power and in favor of the poor population.
The main church of Longobucco is the Church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta, an architectural gem dating back to the 12th century. Inside, the gaze is lost in the wonder of the vaults, frescoes, and the altar in polychrome marble. Nearby but detached, the Norman Tower, which became the church's bell tower, stands tall over the entire town.
A history to which the people of Longobucco are still strongly attached and to which they dedicate long poems that can be found while walking through the alleys, the vinelle, of the town. Here, among hot dishes and glasses of wine, cold evenings are still spent together, in the warmth of friendship.
Near Longobucco:
- Lake Cecita - Sila National Park
- San Giovanni in Fiore
- Acri
