Pietrafitta
Welcome to Pietrafitta: a small town in the province of Cosenza
Hello everyone! Today I'll talk about Pietrafitta, a beautiful municipality located in the southern part of the province of Cosenza, in Calabria. With a population of about 1171 inhabitants, this town is located in the Presila geographical area. But that's not the only reason why Pietrafitta is attracting more and more visitors. In this article, I'll also talk about the town's history, its monuments, and its most significant points of interest.
History of Pietrafitta
The history of Pietrafitta is very ancient and dates back to distant times. In the town's territory, archaeological findings from the Roman and medieval periods have been found. In 1202, in the locality of Canale, Gioacchino da Fiore lost his life while supervising the construction of a new Florentine monastery in that place. To this day, you can visit the church of San Martino di Giove, located precisely in this area, where abbot Gioacchino died. It is said that around the year 1000, from this place, the Archimandrite St. Hilarion left with his followers towards Chieti, where he founded the homonymous convent. Therefore, regardless of your faith, the visit to this place, where history intertwines with religion, deserves a stop.
Monuments and points of interest
One of the major attractions of Pietrafitta is its religious architecture. The town has a series of churches, some of which date back to ancient times. These are some of the churches you can visit:
Church of San Nicola
The Church of San Nicola is the parish church of the town and is located in the upper part. It is a late Baroque-style building.
Church of San Giovanni Battista
Located in the lower part of the town, the Church of San Giovanni Battista dates back to the seventeenth century. Its sandstone facade is very suggestive.
Church of Saint Anthony of Padua
Attached to it is the convent of the Franciscan Friars and dates back to the eighteenth century. Its Baroque-style façade is very suggestive.
Church of San Martino di Giove in Canale
This is where abbot Gioacchino died. The church dates back to the X century and its facade is in the Romanesque style. A visit to this church is a must if you are a lover of history and religion.
La Grancia
It is a church probably of Byzantine origin, already present in 781. Even the Blessed Ubertino da Otranto stayed there. The building is very suggestive and certainly deserves a visit.
Society
From a social point of view, Pietrafitta is a very quiet town, where time seems to slow down. The population is welcoming and hospitable. The town comes alive especially during religious holidays, when its inhabitants offer a warm welcome to visitors.
Demographic evolution
The population of Pietrafitta has always been small, but since the 1970s, it has undergone a further decline. This is one of the reasons why tourism could represent an opportunity for the town.
Administration
The municipality of Pietrafitta is administered by an elective mayor. Its administration works continuously to encourage tourism, trying to make the town and its beauty known.
Notes
If you decide to visit Pietrafitta, I recommend planning your visit so that you can participate in the religious holidays held in the town. Not only can you appreciate local traditions up close, but you can also enjoy the food and scenery.
Other projects
Finally, if you are interested in visiting Pietrafitta, I recommend consulting the official website of the municipality, where you will find all the necessary information to plan your visit. You won't regret it!
