Francavilla Marittima, where Magna Graecia meets the Pollino
Francavilla Marittima rests like an ancient guardian on the southeastern slopes of the Pollino, at an altitude of 273 meters, overlooking the valley of the Raganello stream. This charming Calabrian village preserves an extraordinary archaeological heritage that has its roots in the legendary city of Lagaria, founded in the Magna Graecia era on the remains of an Oenotrian village.
The origins of Francavilla are intertwined with the history of Magna Graecia and span the centuries until the Middle Ages, when in the 12th century the territory was known as “Divisa,” a border land between the fiefs of Cassano and Cerchiara. The original toponym VillaFranca, which meant “town free from taxes,” bears witness to the ancient feudal privileges granted by the powerful Sanseverino family, Princes of Bisignano. It was only in 1863 that the village took its current name of Francavilla Marittima to emphasize its proximity to the sea.
Population
2.733
Area
33.02 km²
Residents
Francavillesi
Patron Saint
Blessed Virgin of the Sick
The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sick
One of the most evocative places in Francavilla Marittima is the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sick, built in 1806 by the Apolito family on the site of an ancient noble chapel belonging to the Dukes Serra of Cassano. The church commemorates a miraculous apparition of the Blessed Virgin that occurred on the night of September 14, 1806, an event that still represents the heart of Francavilla’s popular devotion today.
Not to be missed:
- Timpone della Motta Archaeological Area
- Historic center and cultural heritage
- Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Sick
- Millennial History.
- Fontana Vecchia
- Pollino National Park
Gallery:
Airports
Crotone (140 km)
Lamezia Terme (150 km)
Bari (190 km)
Naples (310 km)
Stations
Sibari (20 km)
Paola (140 km)
Salerno (220 km)
By Car
A2 del Mediterraneo, Sibari exit, then SS534 towards Francavilla Marittima
A14, Taranto exit, then SS106 Jonica towards Sibari
