The 'stone ship' with a castle and a Byzantine baptistery
In the hinterland of Crotone, in the valley of the Neto river, Santa Severina stands on a long, narrow tufa spur with steep sides, which gives it the appearance of a ship, so much so that it is called the "nave di pietra", the stone ship. It is one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" and one of the most important historical towns of Calabria: in the Byzantine period, it was an important military and religious centre, the seat of an archbishopric, and in the ninth century it was conquered for a time by the Arabs, before being retaken by the Byzantines. Its history is told by its monuments, gathered on the narrow ridge of the village.
At the end of the spur stands the imposing castle, built by the Normans under Robert Guiscard on earlier Byzantine fortifications and enlarged in the following centuries, with four corner towers and bastions; today it houses a museum with archaeological finds and frescoes, and from its terraces the view sweeps over the valley and the hills. In the central square, the Cathedral of Sant'Anastasia, of the thirteenth century, is connected to one of the most precious monuments of Calabria: the Byzantine baptistery, a small circular building of the eighth or ninth century, with a dome supported by ancient columns, one of the best preserved in southern Italy. The village also preserves the small Byzantine church of Santa Filomena, with a dome on a cylindrical drum, and the Museo Diocesano, with sacred art.
Tip: visit the castle and the baptistery together; walk along the edge of the spur for the view over the Neto valley.
Where it is
More things to see in Calabria
Where to stay near Santa Severina
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.