Casamuseo del Risorgimento

The palace has been in the same dynasty since 1500, and staying with its heir gives you a real glimpse of Calabrian history. The local community’s past is tied to people who fought the Turks’ advance westward and defended Christian Europe from the east. There was plenty to take in beyond the history too, from ethnic food to local culture, customs, and folklore. The photos say a lot. A special thanks to Dr. #PaolaMorano tourism and culture for organizing the event. An experience not to miss.

As a cyclist, having parking inside the building’s main entrance, reserved for the property, was a big deal. By car, though, you can only reach the place on foot, about a hundred meters from a little square with parking. The stay also put me right in the middle of the history. I wish the weather had been better so I could have explored more with the very friendly owner. Waking up to the Ionian Sea in the background was another lovely moment.

Anna made our cycling holiday feel special, both with her warm welcome and with the delicious food we got to enjoy. She also shared a fascinating, little-known glimpse into the Italian-Albanian community found in many parts of Calabria. We came across the place by chance at the end of our first day on the Ciclovia dei Parchi, and were glad we did. The room was clean and welcoming. Many thanks to Anna for that special touch. Paola and Maurizio

Lungro is lovely, and the people we met were kind, modest, polite, and courteous. Even on the street, people return your greetings and meet your eyes when you talk. The old, cozy room was comfortable, and the house has a story of its own. At the mate house there’s a collection of gourds, including one touched by Pope Francis. Ana, our hostess, makes exquisite jams and sings the mate song beautifully. She kindly opened her doors to us for the night even though we had no prior reservation, which is required for a stay. A magical place to visit.