An Ancient Abbey at the foot of the Greek Sila. The Abbey of Santa Maria del Patire was founded in 1095 by San Bartolomeo da Simeri. The name derives from the Greek word patèr, or father. The Monastery of Patire was famous for its calligraphic and miniaturist activity, numerous manuscripts were produced in the abbey and today kept in the Vatican library. Inside there is the splendid mosaic floor, dating back to 1149, in which there are figures that are part of the " Norman bestiary " inside four large rails are present: a centaur, a griffin, a lion and a unicorn.
