The Hot Pepper Museum and Festival: 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. 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.
Pollino National Park: Diamante is on the western edge of the Mount Pollino National Park, one of the largest of Europe in Calabria, the most mountainous region of Italy. The steep verdant slopes of the park 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. Buonvicino, just inside the park and a mere 6 km uphill from Diamante 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 30 ft tall metal monument to San Ciriaco Abate that overlooks and protects the citizens of Buonvicino just below it.
Towns in the Pollino Park: 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. Papasidero is an interesting destination on account of the Grotta del Romito, a large cavern that contains fabulous stalagmites and stalactites. 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.
Other Activities:
Visiting medieval hilltowns
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