Laino Castello

United for a long time in a single municipality called "Laino'" (until the 16th century) Laino Castello and Laino Borgo separated in 1947. The former is currently uninhabited and from its terrace near the remains of the Castle you can admire the panorama of the Lao River Gorges.

The Chiesa Madre di San Teodoro Martire, a church of Byzantine origin, is worth a visit, with its medieval tower and valuable works of art inside, including a wooden choir from the 1700s; a stone baptismal font from the 1500s; an altarpiece for the high altar and a triptych of the "Madonna in trono col Bambino" ("Madonna Enthroned with Child") from 1500, which was restored in 1971 and remains in the Diocesan Museum of Cassano allo Ionio.

Also worth a visit are the Chiesa delle Vergini church from 1500 and the Cappella di Santa Maria degli Scolari chapel in which a Renaissance-era fresco of the Enthroned Madonna is preserved.

After the exodus of 1982, the ancient town of Laino Castello was repopulated thanks to the restorations and the Living Nativity Scene, an event thanks to which the village won the prestigious "Most Beautiful Living Nativity Scene in Italy" award in 2018.

Also typical is the "ntinna", the trawler made of votive logs with oxen and tractors that takes place during the feast for Sant'Antonio (between 12 and 19 June).