
ACQUAFORMOSA -THE STORY-
Acquaformosa is an Italian-Albanian town, located within the Pollino National Park, at 756 m. above sea level. Here, the old medieval Albanian language has survived alongside with Italian, and it has lasted for over 500 years despite the homogenizing forces of the globalized world.
1195 is the oldest date associated with the name of Acquaformosa, whose territory was already characterized by the presence of a Cistercian monastery, several centuries before the arrival of exiled Albanians in 1501.
1195: The Cistercian Monks from Abbey of Santa Maria di Sambucina Luzzi founded the monastery of Santa Maria di Acquaformosa, which would become rich with the passage of time due to notable possessions including Emperor Frederick II’s donations - prestigious paintings, sculptures, relics, some of which are still preserved today.
1501: After Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg’s death (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Castriota_Scanderbeg), a group of Albanian refugees arrived to the abbey territory escaping from the Turkish invasion, and here they had the opportunity to build their own houses. This date is known as Acquaformosa’s birth as an Italian-Albanian community.
1813: After Napoleonic laws, which foresaw the monasteries’ removal, the sale of church property and the administrative reorganization of the former Bourbon Kingdom, the monastery saw its final end, and Acquaformosa was born as an independent and secular community. Its inhabitants still speak the Albanian language, they practice the Catholic Byzantine Greek rite, and they preserve and transmit the customs and traditions that were brought many centuries ago.
Acquaformosa is an Italian-Albanian town, located within the Pollino National Park, at 756 m. above sea level. Here, the old medieval Albanian language has survived alongside with Italian, and it has lasted for over 500 years despite the homogenizing forces of the globalized world.
1195 is the oldest date associated with the name of Acquaformosa, whose territory was already characterized by the presence of a Cistercian monastery, several centuries before the arrival of exiled Albanians in 1501.
1195: The Cistercian Monks from Abbey of Santa Maria di Sambucina Luzzi founded the monastery of Santa Maria di Acquaformosa, which would become rich with the passage of time due to notable possessions including Emperor Frederick II’s donations - prestigious paintings, sculptures, relics, some of which are still preserved today.
1501: After Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg’s death (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Castriota_Scanderbeg), a group of Albanian refugees arrived to the abbey territory escaping from the Turkish invasion, and here they had the opportunity to build their own houses. This date is known as Acquaformosa’s birth as an Italian-Albanian community.
1813: After Napoleonic laws, which foresaw the monasteries’ removal, the sale of church property and the administrative reorganization of the former Bourbon Kingdom, the monastery saw its final end, and Acquaformosa was born as an independent and secular community. Its inhabitants still speak the Albanian language, they practice the Catholic Byzantine Greek rite, and they preserve and transmit the customs and traditions that were brought many centuries ago.

ARTISTIC-RELIGIOUS ITINERARY
Church of San Giovanni Battista:
The church is entirely covered in mosaics with holy scriptures on its walls, as part of a magnificent project of the late Father Vincenzo Matrangolo. In addition to the wooden door from the year 1600, it’s possible to find masterpieces of the ancient abbey in the lower rooms: a statue of the Madonna della Badia (XV century) and three paintings from the Renaissance painter Mark Pino Siena, who belonged to Michelangelo Buonarroti’s school. Mass, which is held on Sundays, is celebrated in Greek and Arberesh, as part of the ancient Byzantine rite imported by the Acquaformosa’s exiled founders.
Church of San Giovanni Battista:
The church is entirely covered in mosaics with holy scriptures on its walls, as part of a magnificent project of the late Father Vincenzo Matrangolo. In addition to the wooden door from the year 1600, it’s possible to find masterpieces of the ancient abbey in the lower rooms: a statue of the Madonna della Badia (XV century) and three paintings from the Renaissance painter Mark Pino Siena, who belonged to Michelangelo Buonarroti’s school. Mass, which is held on Sundays, is celebrated in Greek and Arberesh, as part of the ancient Byzantine rite imported by the Acquaformosa’s exiled founders.

Church of Santa Maria del Monte:
Pilgrimage site. The church is located in a beautiful mountain at 1464 meters, immersed in a natural area and surrounded by chestnut trees. Inside you will find a well-preserved statue of the “Madonna cheallatta”, found by a shepherd in the crevice of a rock wall. Next to the church there is an equipped picnic area.
Pilgrimage site. The church is located in a beautiful mountain at 1464 meters, immersed in a natural area and surrounded by chestnut trees. Inside you will find a well-preserved statue of the “Madonna cheallatta”, found by a shepherd in the crevice of a rock wall. Next to the church there is an equipped picnic area.

Church of the Immaculate Conception
The oldest place in the community to pray. The wooden ceiling, painted in 1700, as well as paintings from the 1500, which were recovered after restoration works, are both exquisite artworks to admire.
The oldest place in the community to pray. The wooden ceiling, painted in 1700, as well as paintings from the 1500, which were recovered after restoration works, are both exquisite artworks to admire.

NATURAL ITINERARY
The territory of Acquaformosa is embedded within the Pollino National Park. Our mountain preserves places of great beauty. One of the nature trails that you shouldn’t miss is the one that ends with a visit to Timpone del Pino, where the famous loricato pine grows.
The territory of Acquaformosa is embedded within the Pollino National Park. Our mountain preserves places of great beauty. One of the nature trails that you shouldn’t miss is the one that ends with a visit to Timpone del Pino, where the famous loricato pine grows.

The natural path established by the CAI (Club AlpinoItaliano) starts in front of the B&B KA EDDA hostel, and it takes you to the Madonna del Monte Sanctuary, at 1500 meters, near Timpone del Pino. Furthermore, for those who like trekking, there are guided tours to Pollino (2,248 mt) and Piani del Pollino, Cozzo Pellegrino (1993 mt) and to the wild and pure sources of Torrente Grodno (VarrSikanji).

NATURAL ITINERARY - WILDLIFE
Several wildlife species and botany of great value are still preserved here. These include: the golden eagle, the pellegrino hawk, vultures, roe deers, and a wide variety of flowers, plants and trees. In the lower forest you can also find strawberries, raspberries, chestnuts, mushrooms, and even truffles in some areas.
Several wildlife species and botany of great value are still preserved here. These include: the golden eagle, the pellegrino hawk, vultures, roe deers, and a wide variety of flowers, plants and trees. In the lower forest you can also find strawberries, raspberries, chestnuts, mushrooms, and even truffles in some areas.

BIRDS OF PREY AREA
Along the road that takes you to the Santa Maria del Monte sanctuary, you will find the area where the birds of prey live at Pollino Park.
Along the road that takes you to the Santa Maria del Monte sanctuary, you will find the area where the birds of prey live at Pollino Park.

HISTORIC ITINERARY
Palazzo Rossano: Among the buildings of many large landowners from the past it is possible to visit the Palazzo Rossano, which still preserves several elements of a old country civilization, as well as a private chapel.
Palazzo Rossano: Among the buildings of many large landowners from the past it is possible to visit the Palazzo Rossano, which still preserves several elements of a old country civilization, as well as a private chapel.

Acquaformosa's murals.
In 1995 several murals representing Acquaformosa's old rural life and its arbereshe origins were painted on the walls of the town.
In 1995 several murals representing Acquaformosa's old rural life and its arbereshe origins were painted on the walls of the town.

The Youth Preventive Care Center is a residential complex founded by Don Vincenzo Matrangolo in 1962, that has welcomed young and needy orphans for 40 years.
Over 1000 children from different parts of Cosenza were hosted in this structure which consists of a movie theatre, a cafeteria, a kindergarten and a sports center built in the late '40s (one of the oldest sports centers in Cosenza) and other areas designed for its guests' recreational activities with their schoolmates and friends from Acquaformosa.
Over 1000 children from different parts of Cosenza were hosted in this structure which consists of a movie theatre, a cafeteria, a kindergarten and a sports center built in the late '40s (one of the oldest sports centers in Cosenza) and other areas designed for its guests' recreational activities with their schoolmates and friends from Acquaformosa.

The main church of Lungro, developed into a Cathedral in 1919 on the occasion of the Eparchy’s foundation. Rebuilt in the eighteenth century (after being destroyed by an earthquake) has icons, Byzantine frescoes and paintings from the Neapolitan school.

Lungro’s historical Salt Mine Museum (old salt mine mentioned by Plinio il Vecchio and eventually closed in 1976), which opened in June 2010. The museum collects documents, uniforms and equipment used by mine workers in the past .