Serra San Bruno’s economic history is indissolubly linked to that of its artisan-tradition that had made this town an important point of reference for all of Calabria.

Fundamentally, the most important artisan-activities were three: the quarrying and processing of granite, the processing of wrought iron, the cutting and processing of wood.

It is difficult to establish an order of importance for these activities, but one can certainly affirm that each of these sectors has left wonderful evidence that still today make Serra’s history rich and fascinating.

Briefly, we can go over the history of these sectors, remembering, for example, that granite was quarried from the very rich ore deposits present all over Serra’s mountains, there processed by “master” stone-cutters with maul and chisel and then carried, by mule’s romp, to town for the proper arrangement. Hence, wonderful works of architecture were realized like all the facades of Serra’s main churches. Palaces and houses of the town’s historical centre were beautified with decorated portals, whereas the granite balustrades were completed with laced balconies in wrought iron realized by the master smiths in the workshops scattered all over Serra.

Thanks to the abundant presence of wood in the forests, in the carpenters’ shops of the town were realized cabinet-making masterpieces that are still visible by visiting the churches of the historical centre. The carvers made sacred wooden statues that would cross the borders of Serra and represent a source of pride for the local artisanship.

It’s easy to intuit how the artisan-sector was the motor of the local economy especially between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries whereas today, unfortunately, this segment has remarkably diminished. It testifies the presence of a few operators that continue, a little as a hobby and a little for tradition, the processing of wood and iron.

Who visits Serra San Bruno today can find skilled wood-carvers that preserve the knowledge of an old trade and that realize small wooden statues, pipes or musical instruments following precise techniques and using poor tools often made by themselves. This discovery remains for the visitor a dive into the past and an immersion into the rich history of our region.