Medieval village located on a hill a few kilometers from the Ionian coast
The history of the village
Badolato, an ancient medieval center, is located 240 meters above sea level. on a hill just over 5 km from the sea. The millenary village still preserves intact the medieval urban structure consisting of suggestive narrow and winding alleys that intersect between the houses one close to the other.
The origins of Badolato are due to Roberto il Guiscardo (1080) who had a fortified castle built. In 1269 the Angevins granted the fief to Filippo who the following year waged a war with Count Ruffo di Catanzaro. The inhabitants, locked up in the village, were besieged by Count Ruffo, who finally managed to conquer Badolato, who later remained in his family until 1451. Later it belonged to the Di Francia family and in 1454 the village became barony of the Toraldo, the who also participated in the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and administered it until 1596. Badolato then passed to the Ravaschieri (1596), the Pinelli (1692) and finally to the Pignatelli di Belmonte (1779), who held power until the end of the feudality (1806). Severely damaged during its history by earthquakes (1640, 1659 and 1783), Badolato was also hit in more recent times by a flood (1951).
Badolato remains a fantastic and suggestive medieval village of Calabria, with slow and Mediterranean rhythms, characterized by a Byzantine structure with numerous churches arranged in the shape of a Latin cross and many characteristic alleys. With its close relationship with the sea and with a strategic position of the Calabrian territory, in the Ionian coast of Catanzaro, it offers the visitor the possibility of wandering in all the dimensions of the magnificent nature that surrounds it, between sea, hills, mountains and lake. Famous throughout Italy for the media provocation "Badolato country for sale" (1986-1988) and all over the world for the historic reception of Kurdish migrants (1997-1999), following the landing on the Ionian coast of the ship Ararat, today Badolato is a microcosm of sustainable globalization with a new multicultural and multireligious community and with an important segment of foreign guests and Italian artists who live or spend their holidays in the village. Thanks to all this, it has also grown in terms of tourism and with an original model of receptivity and widespread hospitality of Paese Albergo. Badolato was included among the most beautiful villages in Italy in the MIBACT national project "Villages - Italian Journey", in the national "Borghi della Salute" circuit and in the regional "Borghi da Ri ... Vivere" circuit. Recently, thanks to these important national initiatives, the village of Badolato has started the procedures to join the National Association of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy".
Old Town
Within the village of Badolato, given its remarkable architectural and artistic-cultural heritage, it is possible to visit four ancient churches, the Franciscan convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the church of the Immaculate Conception, the church of Santa Caterina V. M. D 'Alessandria, the Basilian sanctuary of the Madonna della Sanità . The village of Badolato is in effect an open-air museum, where even getting lost in its streets becomes an opportunity to immerse yourself in the slowness of its time.
Municipal theater cultural activities
In Badolato there is also a municipal theater with an annual artistic program where cultural events, artistic residences, workshops are also organized throughout the year, thanks to the numerous active cultural associations.
Naturalistic and cultural visits
The territory of Badolato is characterized by 4 naturalistic dimensions: sea and beaches, hills, mountains with waterfalls and lakes, streams and rivers. It's therefore possible to go for walks, trekking excursions, bike rides, outdoor activities throughout the year. A few kilometers away it's possible to found the Serre Calabresi regional park, several archaeological parks and many other tourist attractions. In autumn it is possible to have rural experiences, participating in the grape harvests and the olive harvest.
Sports and activities
In Badolato there is a diving center located on the seafront of the marine hamlet with recreational and sporting activities. Among the most characteristic underwater excursions it is possible to visit the wrecks of the ships sunk during the two world wars.
There are also equipped gyms, sports fields and fitness trails in the open area. A few kilometers away are the official stops of the "Ciclovia dei parco", the "Cammino Basiliano" and the Calabria Coast to Coast. "In spring and summer it is possible to make hang-gliding flights and boat excursions.
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Fast connection
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Shuttle
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Convenience store
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Workstation accessible to disabled people
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Workstations
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Cleaning service
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Catering service
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Km0 products
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Water point
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Recycling
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Broadband connection
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Social collaboration
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Digital platforms
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Participatory planning
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Valuable landscape features
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Caratteristiche storiche di valore
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Urban redevelopment projects
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Accessible to the disabled
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Fitness area
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Nursery school
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Babysitter
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Library
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Summer Center
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Cultural circle
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Beautician
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Pharmacy
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Emergency medical Service
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Laundry
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Market
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Gym
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Hairdresser