A journey designed for those seeking an authentic experience of Calabria that intertwines history, culture, and traditions can only start from the small villages. Perched on rocky spurs, nestled on gentle hills, or set in verdant valleys, they represent the soul of ancient customs and crafts.
Numerous museums have been established over the years with the intent of preserving the tools and methods of daily life from the past.
The Demological Museum of Economy, Work, and Social History of Sila is located in San Giovanni in Fiore, the village where Abbot Joachim founded the Florense Abbey. The upper floor of the Abbey houses the Demological Museum, a window into the past. The term "demological" refers to the desire to tell the life of ordinary people, those who, with their work and traditions, built the reality we see today. Simple but significant objects, work tools, household utensils, traditional fabrics, and clothes are the thread of a story rooted in the daily life of a people who have always lived in close symbiosis with the land.
Crafts that have not remained confined to the past but have been handed down to the present day. Walking through the streets of San Giovanni in Fiore, you will find prestigious goldsmith and textile workshops in full activity, often opening their doors to students and interns eager to learn the art. Whether gold threads or fabric threads, the weaving often shapes the symbols of the city, like the images of the Liber Figurarum left to us by Abbot Joachim, demonstrating how deeply the people of San Giovanni are connected to their roots.
The village of Longobucco is nestled among the mountains of Sila Greca. Here, in the setting of the former Convent of the Minor Franciscan Friars, the Museum of Craftsmanship, Ancient Trades, and Soil Defense has been set up. Inside, you will find testimonies of the village's life and culture, saved from oblivion thanks to the love of the Longobucchesi. The projector from Longobucco's first cinema, one of the first in Calabria, as well as objects from private homes like televisions and record players; clothes, tapestries, and blankets donated to the Museum by private citizens, handmade on heavy looms.
In Longobucco, tradition also meets you on the street when you are enchanted by the aromas coming from the numerous trattorias. The flavors of tradition, broccoli, peppers, and potatoes, cured meats, and cheeses, are served on finely crafted wooden plates that give the impression of living in a distant time.
The maze of alleys and narrow streets is characteristic of Calabrian villages. They impose contact with residents and workers, especially artisans, who you might find busy at the threshold of their workshop or home, weaving wicker baskets; smoothing and shaping wood; taming leather, or even weaving while seated at ancient looms.
Your gaze is quickly captivated by those who work with such skill; no one denies a photo or video of what is a craft to be protected and passed down, ensuring it is not only found within the elegant museum halls.
