Santa Severina, Italian comune
Santa Severina is a small commune in the province of Crotone in Calabria, sitting on a hill with views of the surrounding countryside. Its old center features narrow winding streets lined with stone houses, scattered squares, and medieval structures including a castle on the heights and the Cathedral of Santa Anastasìa built in the 13th century.
Santa Severina was established around 400 AD as a bishopric and once served as an important religious center before merging into the archdiocese of Crotone in the late 20th century. The town was also the birthplace of Pope Zachary and Henry Aristippus, a scholar during Norman rule, showing its significance in Italian history.
The name Santa Severina does not come from a saint but from ancient religious or historical roots in the region. Walking through the narrow streets, you see locals going about their daily lives and can feel how the community values its long-standing traditions and heritage.
The town is easy to walk through and explore since it is small, with houses terraced on the slopes and small stairs connecting different areas throughout the layout. Road access from nearby larger cities is straightforward, making it a convenient starting point for exploring the Calabria region and the surrounding rural countryside.
Santa Severina is twinned with Mangalia in Romania, an unexpected international connection that fosters cultural exchange and friendship across borders. This surprising link shows how a small Italian town maintains meaningful ties with communities far away and brings people together in unexpected ways.
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