The scorching Guardia beach
It was full of people
We were talking about sports
by Pertini and Bearzot…
The Calabrian singer-songwriter Brunori Sas set his most famous song (Guard ’82) right at Piedmontese Guard. A village perched on a hill, with an ancient watchtower overlooking the sea, and with several beaches that have made it known as a pleasant seaside resort. But how is it possible that a municipality in Calabria has a bit of Piedmont in its name? The reason is historical: in the 12th and 13th centuries this town was the destination of a community of Waldensians fleeing from the Occitan Piedmont valleys where they suffered bloody religious persecution. Today will be our destination: unlike the historical events of the past, our escape is exclusively for pleasure!
Motorcycle itinerary in Guardia Piemontese
Map
Path
Departure from the provincial capital Cosenza, or rather from the Rende – Cosenza Nord motorway junction (A2 Salerno Reggio Calabria). Take the SS107 Silana Crotonese state road towards the Tyrrhenian coast, which you will see appear near Paola. Continue on the SS18 Tirrena Inferiore state road which runs along the sea, crosses Torretta, and then arrives at Guardia Piemontese Marina. To go up to the capital just take the SS283 which touches the Terme Luigiane and then arrives at your destination.
All the attractions not to be missed in Guardia Piemontese
The center is divided between Guardia Piemontese town (515 m above sea level) e Piedmontese Marine Guard, developed relatively recently. It was born in the 12th century with the arrival of Waldensian settlers coming from the Occitan valleys of Piedmont and western France; even today the Occitan language is a linguistic minority here (in the Guardiolo variant).
The Piedmontese Watch Tower
It is the symbol of Guardia Piemontese. The ancient one watchtower in stone built around the year 1000, it had the function – like all the towers positioned on the coastal promontories – of signaling the arrival of the Saracen ships that infested the sea in the Middle Ages.
The Piedmontese Watch Tower
The Gian Luigi Pascale Cultural Center
Dedicated to the preacher Giovan Luigi Pascale, the Cultural Center documents the history of the Waldensians in Calabria. Inside the Museum there is the textile art laboratory, dedicated to the “Guardiolo dress” and to the ancient Waldensian textile art in Calabria, of which until a few years ago there was only one custodian, who, involving other ladies from the town, now brought back to life the traditional techniques.
The Gate of Blood
There Blood Gate, one of the entrances to the town, recalls a tragic historical event: the repression of the Inquisition which in 1561 led to the massacre of the entire Waldensian population of the area. The blood, which flowed in streams between the houses, flowed towards this door, which now has a commemorative plaque. Another commemorative place is the Val Pellice rock: it is a slab of mirrored Alpine rock brought from the Torre Pellice mountains (located in the Waldensian Piedmont). A plaque shows 118 names of the Guardioli martyrs killed on 5 June 1561.
The Luigiane Baths
Between the municipalities of Guardia Piemontese and Acquappesa there are the Luigiane Baths, a thermal park created by springs known since ancient times. The spa is located in the middle of nature, it is possible to stay in a hotel with leisure facilities and a partner beach.
The beaches and the Scoglio della Regina
Guardia Piemontese beach has gravelly sand mixed with pebbles, and offers a seascape characterized by the so-called Queen’s Rock. It is a majestic 20 meter rock that in past centuries was connected to the mainland. Today, however, it is completely surrounded by the sea, and can only be reached by swimming. Administratively it belongs to the neighboring municipality of Acquappesa, but is considered to all intents and purposes a guardhouse attraction. And if you want to explore nearby places, you always find a new itinerary on TrueRiders!
The Queen’s Rock stands majestically in the middle of the sea.
