Scala Coeli is a small municipality in the province of Cosenza, nestled in the soft, luminous landscape of the Sila Greca. The village perches on a hill overlooking the Nicà Valley, offering views that change with every turn: expanses of olive groves, patches of forest, rolling hills that trace green waves, and, on clear days, even a glimpse of the Ionian Sea on the horizon. It is a place where life flows slowly, accompanied by silence and the breeze blowing through the olive trees.

The history of Scala Coeli is deeply rooted and fascinating. The territory was indelibly marked by the presence of the Basilian monks, who found these hills an ideal environment for meditation and community life. As early as the Middle Ages, small settlements and places of worship arose here, around which the village gradually developed.

The ancient Monastery of Sant’Adriano is one of the most important testimonies of that spiritual past. Impressive and still evocative today, it contains centuries of religious and cultural history. Even the name of the village, according to some interpretations, alludes to a place “touching the sky,” a stairway upward between landscape and faith.

Over the centuries, Scala Coeli has maintained a simple, rural character, deeply rooted in the land and its traditions.

Nature and Landscape

The landscape surrounding the village is one of the main reasons it is worth visiting. The hills around Scala Coeli are mostly covered with centuries-old olive trees, alternating with cultivated fields and small patches of Mediterranean scrub. Nature here is silent and luminous, perfect for walking, breathing clean air, and enjoying tranquility far from the noise of cities.

The views offer a sense of openness and calm: the gaze stretches from the inland hills to the sea, while the scents change with the seasons, from the sharp green of olive trees in spring to the warm aroma of the earth in summer.

The historic center of Scala Coeli retains an intimate and welcoming atmosphere: narrow alleys, ancient houses, small squares where encounters happen almost by chance. The cultural and symbolic heart of the area, however, remains the Monastery of Sant’Adriano, one of the most significant places of Basilian spirituality in Calabria. Its ancient walls, immersed in the silence of the countryside, tell stories of monks, culture, writing, and faith.

Alongside the monastery, the rest of the town’s religious heritage also helps define a deeply spiritual identity, built over the centuries through rituals, traditions, and profound popular devotion.

Gastronomy and Traditions

Scala Coeli’s cuisine is simple and authentic, deeply connected to the products of the land. The local extra virgin olive oil, produced from the olive trees surrounding the village, is considered among the best in the area. Alongside it are traditional dishes such as homemade pasta, legumes, seasonal vegetables, inland cheeses, and typical desserts prepared during religious celebrations.

Patron saint festivals and popular events mark the most important moments of the year, keeping alive the customs that unite the community.