Discover Malvagna: Culture, History and Nature

Malvagna lies in the Alcantara Valley. Along the Alcantara River route, the town is an agricultural centre with numerous historical and ethno-anthropological features. If you choose a holiday apartment in Malvagna for your stay, you will therefore encounter a variety of facets: religious buildings, traces of local history, wooded landscapes and destinations in the surrounding area.

Culture and history in Malvagna

Malvagna was founded in 1626 by Giovanni Lanza. One of the town’s notable religious sites is the Cuba in Malvagna, a Byzantine chapel with a three-apse layout dating from the 6th or 7th century. The remains of the Convento dei Minori Riformati di San Giuseppe, dating from the 18th century, can also be found in the town. Malvagna’s attractions also include the Chiesa di San Marco. These buildings provide several historical points of interest during a stay, without limiting culture enthusiasts to a single theme.

Forests, mountains and nature experiences

Malvagna is considered an ideal gateway to the Bosco di Malabotta. Malvagna is one of the municipalities that make up this nature reserve; its ancient oak trees are known as the “Patriarchs of the Forest”. Their trunks reach more than two metres in diameter, and the trees can grow up to 30 metres tall. This connection with nature may be particularly important when choosing your accommodation if you would like to combine peaceful days with walks and excursions.

An excursion to Bosco Pittari is offered within the municipality of Malvagna. The patron saint’s festival, Festa della Patrona Sant’Anna, also takes place every year on 26 July. Nature and local festivities can therefore be viewed as different reasons for travelling: the forest represents activity and landscape, while the festival marks a fixed cultural date in the annual calendar.

Attractions in the surrounding area

The area around Malvagna offers several destinations with different characteristics: Castello di Lauria is a castle, Palazzo Romeo is a palace, the Museo di Scienze Naturali is a museum, and the Museo Archeologico Paolo Vagliasindi is also a museum. Potential excursion interests therefore range from historic architecture to natural history and archaeological subjects.

The area around Malvagna also includes Monte Pizzo and Montagna Grande, both of which are mountains. In the wider region, Panorama da Piazza S.Antonio is a viewpoint. Grotta dei Ladroni, a cave, is also located in the wider regional area. Anyone choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Malvagna can assign different priorities to the desired combination of forest, mountains, culture and regional discoveries as early as the trip-planning stage.

When deciding between different types of accommodation, the planned focus is therefore particularly relevant: the religious and historic sites are specific cultural destinations, while Bosco di Malabotta, Bosco Pittari, Monte Pizzo and Montagna Grande shape the natural environment. The annual patron saint’s festival adds a fixed date to this selection.

Further destinations for orientation: Misserio, Forza D'agrò, Leni, Vulcano Porto, Graniti, Rometta Marea, Falcone, Fondachello.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Messina.