Museo del Cedro

The Story of the Cedro

Imagine, thousands of years ago, the first traders from distant lands disembarking on the shores of Calabria. Among their treasures was a peculiar fruit – the cedro. This citrus, likely brought by the Greeks or Phoenicians, quickly became a part of the Calabrian landscape and culture.

And today, thanks to this, you can swim on the beaches of the Cedro Riviera. It is a very specific piece of land, particularly due to its soil composition and climatic conditions. This area is not large and is the only place in the world where this citrus is cultivated (at least in terms of the quality and nobility of its fruits). Let's say it begins in the north at Tortora and ends in the south at Sangineto, extending into the interior, for example, to Verbicaro or Grisolia. An area insignificant in size, but not in its capabilities. Many locals here are dedicated to cultivating this unique crop.

Cedro holds extraordinary significance for the Jewish community. Every year, Jews from all over the world come here to personally select the most beautiful and highest quality fruits for the festival of Sukkot. This festival is one of the most important in the Jewish calendar, and cedro is one of the four species of plants used during it. The fruits must be perfect – without any blemishes, spots, or damage, ensuring their ritual purity. The selection process is very careful and thorough. Representatives of Jewish communities walk through the orchards, inspecting each fruit carefully, searching for those that meet strict criteria. The quality and perfection of these fruits are so valued that they are willing to pay very high prices for them. For many, it is not only a matter of tradition but also of pride and spiritual connection with their faith.

And what is the life of cedro like in the kitchen? Its fresh aroma and taste have become an integral part of Calabrian gastronomy. Cedro is the basis for the production of delicious liqueurs, marmalades, and sweets that delight every gourmet. Local producers take pride in traditional recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. Personally, I enjoy cedro in the form of liqueur, and I love adding its candied aromatic peel to the sweet dough of my baked goods. I definitely recommend that every visitor to Scalea try some of these specialties when they have the exceptional opportunity.

Cedro also has its own museum. It is located in a beautiful medieval building among fields and orchards behind Santa Maria del Cedro. You can only get here by car, but if you pay attention from the train while speeding towards Diamante, you will see this medieval fortress right by the tracks. It's a pleasant stop for about an hour, where they will show you a film about the history and present of cultivating this ancestor of lemons. There is also a nice shop with cedro specialties, and you can even buy the fruits themselves, although it's not a cheap affair. A kilo costs about 30 €, and one fruit weighs about 250 g - 500 g. However, they will let you taste it here along with other products. You can park comfortably for free, taste the goodies, and they even have a local castle lord, Baron the cat, who is worth befriending. Fragrant toilets are definitely a welcome plus. The very friendly staff is just a pleasant ending to a trip, perhaps towards Diamante. They are open only during the tourist season – this year, the museum closed the last weekend in October and will open again around Easter. If there are many of you, they will of course open the museum for you outside of opening hours upon request.

The museum's website is www.cedrodicalabria.it.