Village of Caccuri

Perched on a cliff is the ancient medieval village of Caccuri, in the province of Crotone, which since 2019 has become one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy".

The Castle, located 650 metres above sea level, dominates and it controls the historic centre; from here, the view is breathtaking: from the Sila Plateau to the sea. Over the years, the castle has been home to several important noble families such as the Ruffo, Cavalcanti, Sforza and Barracco. The fortress has maintained its original structure but, over time, has undergone several renovations: in fact, inside it, it is possible to find examples of English porcelain, majolica floors and 18th-century frescoes; the last change was made in 1885 by Adolfo Mastrigli: the Mastrigli Tower was built to cover an old aqueduct. Inside the manor house, it is also possible to visit the Palatine Chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara. Today the castle is part of the Historical Residences in which it is possible to stay, but some rooms can be visited by appointment.

Below the Castle there is the Municipal Villa, a large park of pine trees and limestone rocks at the centre of which stands the building that now houses the Town Hall.

The Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso or della Riforma is the village's most important religious building; the Church was annexed to the Dominican Convent and inside you can admire a green marble stoup and the Cavalcanti family's Gentile Chapel. The Mother Church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, dating back to the Middle Ages, has been nicknamed the "Unfortunate Church" over time as it was repeatedly struck by earthquakes, fires and lightning.

In August, the village hosts the Caccuri Literary Prize, organised by the Accademia dei Caccuriani and awarded by the President of the Republic.

Traditional Caccuri dishes include calzoni con la sardella, mastacciuoli and nepitelle, sweets filled with dried and candied fruit and vino cotto.