© All rights reserved. It is absolutely forbidden to modify or publish this file or its contents on the web. Exclusive property of the Consorzio Turistico Calabria Vigorosa free and unlimited time to the Municipality of Paola. Sale prohibited. Product distributed free and exclusively by the Municipality of Paola. The Calabria Vigorosa tourist consortium is a beneficiary company of Fondi Por Calabria 2007-2013 Pisl Local Tourist Systems / Local Tourist Destinations Pia. eGuide Paola Mystical places and magical atmospheres Calabria Vigorosa eGuide !3 eGuide Calabria Vigorosa Guide Editorial Director: Giuseppe De Franco" Editorial board: Ettore De Franco, Lorenzo Principe, Mirko Di Maria." Comune di Paola Mayor: Roberto Perrotta" Regione Calabria President of regional administration: Mario Oliverio" Collaborators: Luigino Capizzano, Fra Raffaele, Fra Domenico, Emilio Luppoli, Maria D’Andrea, Emanuele Carnevale, Alessandro Mantuano, Caterina Catalano, Roberta Vommaro, Alessandra Panaro. The cover was created and donated free to the Municipality of Paola by the artist Francomà da Rende For the kind collaboration we thank: Rotaract Club Paola Medio Tirreno Cosentino, Associazione Paolab, Associazione I Cammini di San Francesco, Escursionisti Appennino Paolano. The translation of this guide was made with help of Google Translate © 2018 Calabria Vigorosa eGuide$ Via Cav. P. Longo 123 87028 Praia a Mare (CS) Italia$ www.calabriavigorosa.it The writing of this guide has been carried out with great care and great care and accuracy. However, we assume no responsibility for changes in schedules, telephone numbers, addresses or other incidents, or for damages or inconveniences from anyone su#ered as a result of information contained in this guide. !4 eGuide The atmosphere$ unrepeatable THE uniqueness that makes the atmosphere of the City of San Francesco unrepeatable is the result of a multitude of elements that, like the tesserae of a domino, have been ordered until the present moment, preserving every detail of the initial design. Paola is rooted in a millenary land, a deep groove full of traces and testimonies, fertile of Humanity and fertile History. Facilitated in its development by its proximity to the sea, this Tyrrhenian pearl has been a crossroads of trade and culture, the cradle of the Calabrian coastal progress that, on the western shores, had not fully known the glories of Magna Graecia. From the pristine beach, Paola climbs up to the slopes of the coastal chain, in an evocative succession of variegated scenarios that blend together all the elements of an unequaled identity. A spirit that is a%rmed in the split peasants of the districts, in the unpolished stones of the historic center and of archaeological sites of interest, among the vineyards and the foothills of the piedmont that dot the heart of Calabrian Christianity: the Sanctuary of San Francesco. Ancient village, carved in the architecture of austere palaces, the urban center is o#ered in the possibility of suggestions that, from the Porta di Mare, spread beyond the Arch of San Francesco, passing through the Christmas house of the Saint, the church of Montevergine and the splendid Duomo, spreading among narrow streets that have remained intact from the Middle Ages and that lead, once crossed the districts of the Rocchetta, del Cancello and della Motta, in front of what remains of the splendid Castle. Expanded city, with industrious outskirts and impregnated with ancient history, to the north set in two Byzantine churches and in the remains of a Roman villa, while to the south is witnessed by the solemn presence of the Monastery of St. Maria di Valle Josaphat, Badia where Riccardo stayed "Heart of lion". Paola is a city to live all year round and thanks to this guide - for whose realization I have to thank the Calabria Region - it will be possible to visit it without feeling any extraneousness, because everyone who is passing or stopping in this place can share the pride of feeling "Pauline"." Roberto Perrotta - Sindaco di Paola !5 eGuide In the name of the Saint of Charity BETWEEN sea and mountains. This is one of the first impressions or possible reflections on the city of Paola. But besides the splendid geographical position, the charming town is remembered for the figure of St. Francesco. In fact, being Paolan means living in the name of the Saint of Charity. It is di%cult, not to say impossible, to avoid the relationship between one's own origins and those of such an imposing figure. A relationship that involves, in particular, feeling the will and responsibility to contribute to the memory of a man who has made his work and its origins a boast not only in the Calabrian territory, but throughout the world." This importance, as well as that of the city, is widely expressed by this work, rather attentive to detail and captivating to the eye of the curious reader who will find a reference point during the exploration of the Calabrian town. The latter is widely valued through the simple but accurate description of its most emblematic and prominent beauties on the territory. Of great importance and usefulness are the list of restaurants and that of the most renowned accommodation facilities, useful for visitors who want to combine the pleasure of the eyes with that of the table and physical well-being. But what makes this analysis even more interesting is the introduction of Google Maps photos, an aspect that performs a double function, that is to say, to wrap the work in the current technological wave and to act as a visual, therefore tangible, support to the description , giving value to the concept of "guidance" in its entirety." Caterina Catalano - Past President Rotaract club Paola Medio Tirreno Cosentino !6 eGuide PAOLA today is an important city of Calabria not only for the presence of the Sanctuary of San Francesco, but also because it is a major commercial hub between the capital city of the province, Cosenza, and the Tyrrhenian coast. The railway pole that connects fast and frequent Rome and Reggio Calabria is of great importance. Paola is also a very popular seaside resort with a beautiful promenade and a very wide sand and sand beach. The facilities, the premises and the water sports services are of a good standard. The Calabrian seaside villages are all marked by the struggles they have undertaken to defend themselves from pirates who in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have infested that stretch of sea in search of treasures. In their robberies, the populations suffered the most unprecedented violence. They had no qualms about women (they raped them consistently) and children, while men resisted being killed. This is why every village in the Tyrrhenian Sea (the Ionian suffered attacks but to a lesser extent) equipped itself with sighting towers. At the sight of the first ships the inhabitants were hiding in the inland areas, making it find deserted houses and streets. This sad phenomenon blocked the economic development and social progress of coastal populations for many decades. The city, built on the slopes of the mountain of the Sanctuary, has developed over time towards the sea where very populated neighborhoods have arisen and where seaside tourism has had its maximum splendor in the 60s and 70s. The ancient center has preserved very well the medieval characteristics in sharp contrast with the palaces built in the marine area that is very lively and frequent not only in summer, but throughout the year. Giuseppe De Franco Editorial director eGuide !7 eGuide Sommario How to consult the guide 9 Restaurants 10 Accomodations 12 Transportations and travel agencies 12 Mobile network and security 12 Useful numbers 15 Territory and population 16 The Basilica of San Francesco 19 The hermit of the 4 worlds 23 The Tower of the castle 27 The Roman villa of Cutura 28 The church of Sotterra 29 The church of San Michele 30 The birth house of the Saint 30 The churches of Paola 31 Walking 33 A Palummara 35 Events 36 Note" Bibliography: R. Gentile, La Città del Pavone (Publiepa); Paola (Rubbettino); Città di Paola - Guida Turistica; Enciclopedia della Calabria (Quotidiano della Calabria); P. Rodari. Francesco di Paola, un eremita nel mondo (Rubbettino); Beni culturali di Calabria (Gangemi); Le anfore dagli scavi di Paola, T. Tosti (academia.edu); A. Castiglione “San Francesco di Paola - vita illustrata (Charitas Paola). Iconographic references: Foto di Luigino Capizzano per gentile concessione dell’autore; archivio fotografico Calabria Vigorosa; Archivio fotografico Associazione Paolab; Archivio Wikipedia Commons, Archivio fotografico Escursionisti Appennino Paolano. Calabria Vigorosa is available to fulfill its commitments towards the holder of any rights on published materials. !8 eGuide HOW TO CONSULT THE GUIDE The guide is designed to be consulted on the mobile phone or tablet. It is a Pdf file that always shows one page at a time. After receiving the file, we suggest downloading it to your mobile phone, opening it and activating the "Add to home screen" function. This way it can be opened even without an Internet connection. Just the charged battery. The file is also provided in ePub format. It is also visible on the smartphone, but it is a format more suited to a larger screen (tablet or PC). The printing of this brochure is forbidden under the law Practical information and addresses This section shows the places to spend a few hours in peace. Places to eat and where to sleep, useful phones, transport, cell phone coverage. All the city and everything you need for the visit. You will find also the name of professional guides in case you want to be accompanied by nice and competent people. Culture and environment In this section we host the description of the most important places of the village.