Orsomarso

Orsomarso is a wonderful tip for an afternoon trip for those who want to swap the busy beaches for the tranquillity of the mountains, a picturesque valley, and the authentic atmosphere of a mountain village — just for a while. Only a few kilometres from the coast, you find yourself in a completely different world.

The path to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is not a mountain hike but rather a winding alley between houses and gardens full of Mediterranean flora. After about ten minutes of uphill walking, you reach a natural cave where a roughly three-metre-tall stone statue of Our Lady of Lourdes stands. It was placed here to commemorate the centenary of the apparitions at Lourdes and was created in 1958 by sculptor Plinio Frigo from Vicenza. The place has a powerful and very distinctive atmosphere. A local tradition also involves tying handkerchiefs into knots as a symbol of wishes and prayers — a detail that usually catches visitors' attention and adds an even stronger sense of magic to the place.

Particularly impressive is the Torre dell'Orologio, a clock tower built on a rock at the site where a monastery of Basilian monks stood around the 10th century. Today it offers a beautiful viewpoint over the village nestled in the greenery of the Pollino National Park. You can climb up to the clock for free, and the reward is stunning photographs of the entire village and the surrounding landscape. On the way up the narrow, steep staircase, remnants of the monastery buildings and architectural elements reminiscent of the Byzantine style are still visible. Along the way, I recommend not missing the rather unassuming church on the left — a surprisingly beautiful and richly decorated interior you would never expect to find here. And of course it is open, and of course it is free.

And that is precisely what makes Orsomarso special — it is not just about the sights, but about the overall experience. You stroll through quiet alleyways, stop for an Italian coffee or gelato, refill your bottle with crystal-clear water from the local fountains, and for a moment experience a completely different face of Calabria than the one along the coast.