Southern Calabria

<< Calabria

The Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria occupies the southern portion of Calabria, the southernmost territory of continental Italy. This area is mostly mountainous and is dominated by the large massif of the Aspromonte. Many small towns are located among these mountains, while various seaside resorts and the largest city, Reggio Calabria, are on the coast. This area is also known for hosting several ancient ruins.

Reggio Calabria

Reggio Calabria is the largest city in Calabria, located along the coast and separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina. The city was founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BCE, and was one of the main political, economic, and cultural centers of Magna Graecia. Reggio Calabria remained an important city under the rule of the Romans, Byzantines, and Normans, and was later part of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples, before joining the newly formed Italy. The city was severely hit by a earthquake in 1908, but it was rebuilt and it is now one of the main centers of Southern Italy.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria

The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria) is a large archaeological museum in Reggio Calabria, which hosts one of the most important collections in the world related to Magna Graecia. Its collection includes artworks and objects found in all of Southern Italy and dating between prehistory and the Middle Ages, with a focus on the Greek era. The most notable artworks hosted here are the Riace Bronzes (Bronzi di Riace), two full-size and well preserved bronze statues dating from the 5th century BCE and found in 1972 in the sea near Riace, on the eastern coast of Calabria.

Lungomare Falcomatà

The Lungomare Falcomatà is the seaside promenade of Reggio Calabria. Known for its beauty, this promenade features many buildings erected in the early 20th century, after the 1908 earthquake. Along the promenade is also the 19th-century Villa Genoese Zerbi, now used to host exhibitions, and the Arena dello Stretto, a modern open-air arena in the shape of an ancient Greek theater. Here are also various monuments and the ancient ruins of a Roman spa and Greek defensive walls.

Civic Art Gallery of Reggio Calabria

The Civic Art Gallery of Reggio Calabria (Pinacoteca Civica di Reggio Calabria) is an art museum in Reggio Calabria, hosted inside the Teatro Francesco Cilea, the largest theater in Calabria. The museum houses a rich collection of artworks dating between the Renaissance and the 20th century, including two 15th-century paintings by Antonello da Messina.

Aragonese Castle

The Aragonese Castle is a castle in the center of Reggio Calabria. Originally a Greek and Roman fort, it was reworked and rebuilt several times, most notably under the rule of the Normans and the Aragonese. Now, the castle has been restored, and hosts cultural events and exhibitions.

Reggio Calabria Cathedral

The Reggio Calabria Cathedral (Duomo di Reggio Calabria) is the main church of Reggio Calabria and the largest church in Calabria. Originally built during the Middle Ages, the church was destroyed by the 1908 earthquake, and was later rebuilt in Romanesque Revival style. The cathedral features a monumental facade with elaborate decorations, while the interior hosts various artworks. Next to the church is the Diocesan Museum of Reggio Calabria (Museo Diocesano di Reggio Calabria), which hosts many religious artworks and objects.

Motta San Giovanni

Motta San Giovanni is a small town located among the mountains south of Reggio Calabria. Founded in the Late Middle Ages, it is best known for the historic castle located in its territory.

Castle of Sant’Aniceto

The Castle of Sant’Aniceto is a Byzantine castle erected in the 11th century in the mountains between Reggio Calabria and Motta San Giovanni. For centuries one of the main fortifications in the region, it was destroyed in 1459. Despite this, the castle still features imposing walls, and it is one of the best preserved Byzantine forts.

Melito di Porto Salvo

Melito di Porto Salvo is a town located along the coast south of Reggio Calabria, and the southernmost municipality of continental Italy. Inhabited since ancient times, it is now mainly a seaside resort.

Pentidattilo

Pentidattilo is a tiny village located on the side of a mountain north of Melito di Porto Salvo. Founded in the 7th centuy BCE, it was once a flourishing Greek colony, but the town later declined and was abandoned in the 20th century. The modern village of Pentidattilo was built nearby, while the ancient settlement is now a ghost town, which has been partly restored and turned into a tourist attraction.

Bova

Bova is a tiny town located among the mountains of southern Calabria. Inhabited since ancient times, it was a Greek colony and remained a small fortified center throughout its history. Bova is at the center of the Bovesia, a historical region inhabited by the Griko people, an ethnic Greek minority who speak a variant of the Greek language.

Norman Castle

The Norman Castle is an ancient castle in Bova, located on top of a rocky hill. The structure was built in the Late Middle Ages, but it was later destroyed. Not much remains of the castle today, but its position offers a great view on the surrounding mountains.

Bova Marina

Bova Marina is a small town located along the coast south of Bova, in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. The town was only founded in the late 19th century as a seaside resort, but it hosts some ancient ruins in its territory.

Archeological Park of Archeoderi

The Archeological Park of Archeoderi (Parco Archeologico di Archeoderi) is an archaeological area which hosts one of the oldest synagogues ever found in Europe, dating from the 4th century. The structure features some ancient mosaics, while an adjacent museum houses various objects unearthed here.

Locri

Locri is a town located on the eastern coast of Calabria, in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. The town was founded by the Greeks as Locri Epizefiri in the 7th century BCE, and was one of the most powerful colonies in Magna Graecia, especially known for its rich culture. The city was later conquered by the Romans and was abandoned in the Middle Ages, when the population moved to the mountains. The modern town was only founded in the 19th century, and it is now a seaside resort.

Archaeological Park of Locri

The Archaeological Park of Locri (Parco Archeologico di Locri) houses the ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Locri Epizefiri. The park includes the ruins of various structures, incuding a theater, a temple, and also features the National Museum of Locri (Museo Nazionale di Locri). This museum houses numerous ancient archaeological findings, mostly dating from the Greek and Roman era.

Gerace

Gerace is town located on top of a hill on the eastern side of the Aspromonte massif, in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. It was founded in the Middle Ages by people fleeing from Locri Epizefiri, and to this day it is known for its beautiful medieval old town.

Gerace Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Gerace Cathedral (Duomo di Gerace) is a historic church in Gerace. Founded by the Normans in the 11th century, it features Romanesque and Byzantine elements and it is one of the largest churches in Calabria. Inside, it houses some ancient artworks and a museum of religious objects.

Mammola

Mammola is a small town located among the mountains of southern Calabria, north of Gerace. Inhabited since ancient times, the modern town was founded in the Middle Ages, and it is known for its beautiful natural environment.

Monastery of Santa Barbara

The Monastery of Santa Barbara is a medieval monastery built in the 10th century in the mountains near Mammola. Later abandoned, it was restored in the 20th century and turned into a park and museum. The area around the monastery is now adorned with various works of contemporary art by Italian and international artists.

Monasterace

Monasterace is a small town located on a hill near the Ionian coast of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. While the current town was founded in the Middle Ages, the area along the coast once hosted the Greek colony of Kaulon.

Archaeological Park of Kaulon

The Archaeological Park of Kaulon (Parco Archeologico di Kaulon) houses the ruins of Kaulon, a Greek colony founded in the 7th century BCE. The small town was attacked and destroyed various times, until it was abandoned during the Roman era. The park includes the ruins of a temple and a few other structures. The Archaeological Museum of Monasterace (Museo Archeologico di Monasterace) is located just outside the park, and houses various objects and artworks unearthed here.

Stilo

Stilo is a small town located on the eastern slopes of the mountains of southern Calabria. The town was founded after the nearby Greek colony of Kaulon was abandoned, and was for centuries a small regional center. Now it is known for its beautiful old town and a historic church.

✪ Cattolica di Stilo

The Cattolica di Stilo is a Byzantine church built during the 9th century in Stilo. The small structure has a square plan and is mostly built of brick. Inside, it features various ancient frescoes and some medieval inscriptions. This is one of the most notable and best preserved Byzantine structures in Italy, and it is now one of the most recognizable landmarks of Calabria.

Rosarno

Rosarno is a town located near the Tyrrhenian coast of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. This was once the site of the Greek colony of Medma, founded in the 6th century BCE and abandoned during the Roman age. The modern Rosarno emerged in the Late Middle Ages, and it is now an agricultural and commercial center.

Archaeological Museum of Medma

The Archaeological Museum of Medma (Museo Archeologico di Medma) is a museum in Rosarno which hosts various archaeological findings unearthed around the town. Next to the museum are some ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Medma.

Gioia Tauro

Gioia Tauro is an important port town located on the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Reggio Calabria. Founded as the Greek colony of Metauros in the 7th century BCE, it was an important center of Magna Graecia, but it was later abandoned. The modern town emerged in the Late Middle Ages, and now it is an industrial center hosting one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe.

Metauros Museum

The Metauros Museum (Museo Metauros) is an archaeological museum in Gioia Tauro, dedicated to the history of the ancient Greek colony of Metauros. The museum houses various archaeological findings unearthed around the town, mostly from the Greek and Roman age, but also medieval and Renaissance artworks.

Palmi

Palmi is town in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, located on a cliff near the Tyrrhenian Sea. Inhabited since ancient times, this was once the site of the Greek and Roman city of Tauriana, which was destroyed by the Saracens in 951. Later rebuilt as Palmi, the city developed to become one of the main cultural centers of Calabria, but it declined after being severely hit by two earthquakes in 1783 and 1908. Palmi is now an agricultural center and a tourist destination, and houses some historic attractions.

Palmi Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Nicola (Cattedrale di San Nicola)

The Palmi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palmi) is the main church of the city. Originally erected in the 14th century, it was destroyed by earthquakes twice, and the current structure was built the 20th century in Romanesque Revival style. The church houses various artworks and relics.

Casa della Cultura

Casa della Cultura is a museum complex in Palmi. The most notable part of the complex is a rich gallery of modern and contemporary art, which houses works by artists such as Tintoretto, Manet, Corot, and Modigliani. Here is also an archaeological museum with objects unearthed around the city, a museum focused on the ancient traditions of the town, and a museum dedicated to local musicians. Finally, the complex also includes a rich library, a gypsotheca, the local state archives, and an auditorium.

Archaeological Park of the Tauriani

The Archaeological Park of the Tauriani (Parco Archeologico dei Tauriani) is an archaeological area located north of Palmi, on the site of the ancient town of Tauriana. The park houses the ruins of various structures, including parts of a temple and a theater.

Scilla

Scilla is a small town located at the northeastern end of the Strait of Messina, north of Reggio Calabria. According to Greek mythology, this was the place where a legendary monster named Scylla lived. The town was founded in the 5th century BCE by the Greeks as a fortified position, and remained a small center throughout its history. Now it is a popular seaside resort and tourist destination.

Ruffo Castle

The Ruffo Castle is a fort originally built by the Greeks in the 5th century BCE on a cliff overlooking the sea. The structure was later reworked and rebuilt several times, and now it is a museum and cultural center. Thanks to its position, it offers a great view on the sea and the coast.

Santo Stefano in Aspromonte

Santo Stefano in Aspromonte is a tiny town located along the western slopes of the Aspromonte massif, in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. The town emerged in the Middle Ages, and it is known for it beautiful natural environment.

Gambarie

Gambarie is a small ski resort located in the Aspromonte massif in the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte. A popular tourist destination both in summer and in winter, it is one of the southernmost ski resorts in Europe.