The abbey Santa Maria del Patire is a Byzantine abbey near from Rossano in the Sila Greca in Calabria.
background
From the Italian-Byzantine monk Bartholomew of Simeri became the abbey "Santa Maria Nuova Odigitria" Founded in 1095 with the support of wealthy Norman nobles, the abbey was later named 1 Santa Maria del Patire Abbey, Patir stands for the Greek Patèr, father. In 1105 Pope Pasquale II (Paschalis II) granted the abbey immunity from episcopal jurisdiction.
During the Norman rule, the abbey was one of the most important religious centers with its own scriptorium. From the 15th century the monastery experienced a slow decline and was secularized in 1809.
Tourist Attractions
- the basilica is three-aisled according to the Norman pattern with three apses facing east. The main nave has a wooden ceiling, the presbytery is slightly raised and is flanked by four columns with Corinthian capitals, probably from the ancient world Thurium come. Particularly worth seeing is the unfortunately not completely preserved mosaic floor with the representation of real and mythological animals.
The facade was redesigned over time and of the original three portals only the central portal still exists today. Round decorative rosettes can be found under the arcades on the apses on the east facade.
landscape
The abbey lies on a mountain flank high above the coast of the Ionian Sea, the hill makes up the eastern end of the mountain range Sila greca out. The entire mountain flank is covered by a Mediterranean forest with holm oaks, Calabrian pines, etc.
getting there
The abbey is on the winding road 
reached, this goes between Corigliano Calabro and Rossano of the 
off (from the original road layout in the interior of the country and not from the coastal highway SS106radd.).
Fees / access
The abbey church is accessible on weekends in the summer, and access is free.
shop
There are no shops on site, the nearest shops along the coastal road.
kitchen
There are no food options on site, and numerous picnic areas have been set up around the former abbey.
accommodation
Accommodation options exist along the coast of the Ionian Sea (hotels, B&B, campsites).
trips
Giganti Cozzo del Pesco
The giants of the Sila Greca, huge centuries-old maple and chestnut trees, lie in the so-called. Oasi Cozzo del Pesco 2 km north of the abbey. The nature reserve is looked after by WWF Italy.
- Access from the south of 1 North access to Oasi Cozzo del Pesco Parking & picnic area at the SP194 two kilometers south of the abbey. The Oasi is reached on a gravel road after approx. 800 m.
- the protected area 2 Oasi Cozzo del Pesco with the giant trees Giganti de la Sila Greca covers an area of 6.5 hectares and lies at an altitude of 950-1040 meters above sea level. There are a total of 76 monumental maple trees (Acer obtusatum) and 102 huge chestnut trees (Castanea sativa), because of a fungal attack, the hollow inside the trunk of several chestnuts was deserted with fire.
- in the south 3 South access the path ends at the forest ranger's hut at Finalta SP188, the reserve is also accessible from the south from here.
