Savelli Observatory

Savelli Observatory, known locally as the Parco Astronomico Lilio, sits high in the mountains of Calabria, in southern Italy, combining a working research telescope with a public planetarium.

About Savelli Observatory

The park is located in the town of Savelli, in the province of Crotone, at an elevation of around 1,270 metres, giving it notably dark and clear skies for its region. It is named after Luigi Lilio, a Calabrian astronomer and mathematician born in Cirò in 1510 and who died in Rome in 1574.

Telescopes & research

Observation is carried out with a 50-centimetre Ritchey-Chrétien reflector housed in a 5-metre dome, supported by a 10-metre hemispherical planetarium dome seating 60 people, which combines mechanical and digital projection. The park's work centres on educational outreach and astronomical research carried out in collaboration with Italian and international institutions.

Location & getting there

Perched at 1,270 metres in the Sila mountains of Calabria, Savelli Observatory benefits from an elevated, rural setting well away from major city lights, making it a genuine dark-sky destination in southern Italy.

Visiting Savelli Observatory

Under the direction of Geom. Michele Caccia, the park runs nighttime observing sessions, daytime solar viewing, planetarium shows and nature trekking. Check the official Parco Astronomico Lilio website for current opening times and booking details before visiting.

See your named star from here

With a 50-centimetre reflector and a mountaintop dark sky, Savelli Observatory is well equipped to help visitors track down faint objects, including the exact coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Explore our star-naming packages or browse more dark-sky sites in the observatory catalogue.