Crossing Calabria: the "Calabria Road Trip" Conquers Cassano all'Ionio and the Sibaritide
The Calabria Road Trip, the traveling adventure conceived by famous travel blogger Giuseppe Lupis and environmental hiking guide Domenico Gattuso (promoted through the Xploring Kalabria and DomeXlore channels), made a stop in Cassano all’Ionio during a journey from the north to the south of the region. The initiative was born with the aim of showing everything Calabria has to offer even outside the summer season, revealing villages, castles, mountains, and local communities far from mass tourism circuits. The project, supported by McDonald’s franchisees in Calabria and various local business enterprises, foresees fifteen days dedicated to discovering the territory through cultural experiences, trekking, tastings, and hands-on experiences with local craftsmanship.
The Cassano stop was strongly championed and coordinated by Francesco D’Elia who, working in synergy with citizens and local entities along the stretch between Montegiordano and Corigliano, optimized every single moment of the visit. The Visit Sibaritide association also actively participated in the initiative, represented by founding member Antonio Basile, supporting the group during one of the central phases of exploring and promoting the local heritage.
The travelers were welcomed on Friday evening by Francesco D’Elia and Salvatore Cirianni. After a short break to drop off their luggage, the group immediately set off to discover the city, visiting the evocative Sant’Angelo Caves by special authorization, before stopping at the Parco degli Ulivi—a youth initiative that bears witness to the vitality and determination for growth in the territory. The evening concluded in a local venue with a tasting of traditional dishes and local mushrooms, prior to overnighting at a B&B.
The next morning the alarm rang early, and by 7:30 AM the group was at Pietra del Castello to admire the ancient walls, the clock tower, and the splendid panoramic view over the city. The visit continued at the Cathedral, where the travelers showed great interest in the crypt, the Neapolitan nativity scenes, the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows (Madonna Addolorata), and the valuable historical details preserved inside the building. Subsequently, the stop reached the Eiano Valley and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Chain (Santuario della Madonna della Catena), where the spectacle of nature left all participants speechless.
The stay in Cassano ended with a warm farewell: although fifteen days are not enough to tell the story of an entire region, this visit made it possible to gather photos, videos, and multimedia material that continue to promote the authentic beauty of the Sibaritide across social media channels.
A dutiful and heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who actively collaborated for the perfect success of this stop: Salvatore Cirianni, Francesco D’Elia, Antonio De Marco, Ilaria De Marco, Concetta Pulignano, and our own Antonio.
