Nido di Seta, a Calabrian gem in San Floro
Nido di Seta (The Silk Nest) is an cooperative run by three young co-founders: Miriam, Domenico and Giovanna.
It is based in San Floro, a lovely hillside town in Calabria that overlooks the Corace Valley.
The philosophy of their initiative is to make quality silk using traditional methods to preserve the historical Calabrian industry.
The cooperative's main activity is sericulture, but they also produce and sell many silk products, such as fabrics, scarfs, clothes, hats, ties, headbands and many other fashion accessories.
Furthermore, they run a jewelery line that combines elegance, tradition and value, giving life to unique woven treasures.
The history and practice of Nido di Seta
Things have started in 2013 when Miriam, Giovanna and Domenico returned to their homeland, in search of work.
Unfortunately, the three young Calabrese, like so many other young professionals, found no opportunity in Calabria.
However, with varied backgrounds in languages, tourism, sociology, and agriculture, the three combined their passions and step after step, Nido di Seta was born.
The entire procedure, from maintaining the trees to production and spinning of the silk, is done absolutely in tune with nature.
At Nido di Seta they use only organic materials and employ traditional hands-on techniques for silk production.
Sustainability of local resources is mandatory to their vision of creating new compatible work opportunities for generations to come.
They also offer didactic tourism.
This includes hands-on educational experiences for adults and children, all based on the silk.
In addition, it is possible to taste the products from their organic fields at their restaurant, all in the form of traditional Calabrian dishes.
The village of San Floro
As mentioned above, Nido di Seta is located in San Floro, a village rich in the rediscovered flavors and scents of old traditions.
There are 700 inhabitants and the small little town boasts small houses of ancient construction lining the laneways of cobblestones and sanpietrini.
Just a few miles from the village are the beautiful beaches, bathed by the deep blue waters of the Ionian Sea.
The Silk Museum
The Silk Museum is located inside the Caracciolo Castle of San Floro, which dets back to 1400.
Visitors can admire historical costumes, damask catanzaresis, sacred vestments of damask and industrial textile archaeology.
There are also contemporary raw silk artefacts.