Immersed
within its lush green woods, Scigliano is a place where you may enjoy a11 of
nature’s benefits.
Here
you can really commune with nature: the air is always fresh and pure and the
sparkling spring water is conducted directly to the numerous outdoor fountains
spread all over town. 
Abounding
in brooks, rivers and streams, Scigliano’s woods are the ideal place for a
pic-nic or a barbecue.
The
most popular pic-nic area is near the Savuto River and is endowed with one of
the Italy’s oldest bridges, whose origin has been traced as far back as the
Roman Era.
”Annibale’s Bridge” is also known as ”The Bridge of Saint Angelo”
and
is regarded as a national monument.
The first name of the bridge comes from a Cartaginese, an ancient condottiere (mercenary
soldier) of the Roman Age who, according to the legend, crossed the bridge
itself.
This episode, however, has never been proven.
The second name derives
from the nearby Church of Saint Angelo, on the right of the bridge.
The legend
says that Saint Angelo and the devil were fighting, when the latter, bitterly
defeated, kicked the bridge on its right hand side.
The damage has only recently
been repaired and the bridge made sturdy once again.
For certain, we can trace
the bridge’s fabrication as far back as 131-121 B.C. It used to be part of the
ancient Via Popilia, joining Reggio di Calabria to Capua, road whose
construction took place under the reign of Emperor Tiberius Gracco.
In 1961, the
bridge’s age was evaluated by analyzing the limestone rock of which it is made.
Tests proved that it is more than 2,000 years old. 
Here is some further
information on Annibale’s Bridge: it is 3,45 m. wide, 11 m. high and about 25
m. long.
It has a double-arch span and its red limestone tuff was probably
extracted from a quarry not too far away.
Annibale’s Bridge has been
withstanding bad weather and the overflow
of the Savuto River for the past 2,000
years and can still be safely crossed.
Along with Fabricio’s Bridge on the
Tiberinia Island (69 B.C.) and the Emilio Bridge (179 B.C.), the Bridge of Saint
Angelo (to use the other name) has been documented as one of the oldest and most
important Italian bridges.
High upon the hill which dominates Diano, near a
grassy site, are the remains of a very old castle whose origin can be traced as
far back as 1100 A.D. when the Empress Costanza decreed the construction of a
castle in Scigliano and another in Nicastro.
Scigliano was hardly a casual choice.Located on a hill which spans above the Savuto Valley, extending all the
way up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, halfway between the cities of Cosenza and
Catanzaro, the Sila and the sea, Scigliano was the ideal location for the
fortress, Plans are being made to unearth parts of the castle which still remain
buried and to restore it to its original luster, The Bisirico Stream flows along
the Scigliano Valley area and divides the town from adjoining hills that are
covered with chestnut trees.
The woods not only provide Scigliano with a healthy
oxygen supply, they are also the perfect place to gather mushrooms in the autumn.
In the past, the Bisirico Stream was surrounded by watermills that could be seen
and heard grinding the grain brought in by local farmers who worked their
fertile lands.
The millers, skilled craftsmen, were able to tell how finely
ground the flour was by just running it through their fingers. 
They were also
expert handymen, for they were able to fix the heavy grindstone when it wore
down.
If you would like to visit these place, it will please you to know that a
nature trail is being prepared and that soon you will be able to do so in one of
the following ways: by taking a leisurely walk, by mountain-biking, or by
horseback riding, whichever you prefer!
Allow us to close this page with a
little rhyme: ”With its beautiful green hills and fresh, clean air, there’s
no place like Scigliano, anywhere!”
Webmaster
Raffaele Pane
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