Cantinella: History and Culture

Cantinella brings together historic transport links, archaeological traces, Castello San Mauro, and Greek-Byzantine traditions. The event programs in 2024 combined culture and regional cuisine. Anyone considering a hotel stay in Cantinella can put the town in context through its various historical connections: from a settlement context probably linked to Copiae, to the construction history of the Castello, and the historic event programs of 2024.

Ancient transport links and archaeological traces

Today, as in antiquity, Cantinella’s inhabited center is connected to the use of agricultural resources along an important transport route. The connection between agriculture and the route is therefore part of both the description of the present-day town center and the historical context of the place.

Excavations in Cantinella examined a settlement context that was probably located along a transport route connected to the Roman city of Copiae. The connection to Copiae places the likely route in a Roman context; at the same time, the precise function of the settlement context remains a subject for further study. Thus, the inhabited town center and the excavated settlement context offer distinct but related perspectives on Cantinella’s history.

Castello San Mauro: construction history and historical connections

Castello San Mauro was built in 1515 by Bernardino Sanseverino on the remains of an ancient medieval monastery. Its construction history thus links the remains of the monastery with a building from the early 16th century. In the autumn of 1535, Emperor Charles V was hosted at the Castello. This stay provides a later historical reference point in the building’s history.

A report from 2021 places Castello San Mauro in the hamlet of Cantinella, within the larger protected area of Cozzo San Mauro. This location adds its connection to the wider area to the building’s history.

Greek-Byzantine traditions

The Parrocchia di S. Mauro in Cantinella was consecrated in 1963. A notice published in July 2024 described the Church of San Mauro as the only church of the Greek-Byzantine rite in Corigliano-Rossano. The two references complement each other: the consecration dates the parish, while its designation as the only church provides a broader context explicitly focused on Corigliano-Rossano.

A report from 2018 noted that, up to that point, Cantinella had preserved the traditions of the Arbëreshë communities in unchanged form. The hamlet of Mandria del Forno in Cantinella is also home to a Greek-Byzantine place of worship dedicated to Sant’Anna. Both the traditions of the Arbëreshë communities and the various religious connections form part of the town’s cultural character.

Events and cultural insights

In 2024, the Festa della Pasta was a community event for Cantinella and the wider area. At its tenth edition in 2024, visitors sampled Calabrian dishes. This offers a concrete insight into the event’s culinary connection and its place in community life.

At the Cantinella Beer Fest in July 2024, guided tours of the Church of San Mauro were part of the program. During a demonstration of spontaneous icon painting, Giovanni Piccirillo explained techniques and the symbolism of Byzantine art. The program also included a barbecue using only products from the local area. The two event programs had different focuses: the Festa della Pasta featured tastings of Calabrian dishes, while the Beer Fest brought together church tours, art education, and local products.

Discover more destinations: San Giovanni In Fiore, Marano Marchesato, Laurignano, Rose, Acri, Paola, Marina Schiavonea, Tessano

For the broader travel overview: Cosenza.