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Culture

92 In its history Calabria has seen the passing of many po-

pulations and many cultures coming from all over the

Mediterranean. It conserves all the historical and cul-

tural signs of this event full of fascination; often we talk of

“Calabrie” in the plural way and not Calabria. the Cala-

bria’s population is sincere and hospital and it is the result

of all the invasions that characterized its history. these

invasions also characterized the art, the archaeology, the

architecture, the gastronomy and the craftsmanship, the

music, the religion and all of its culture. But Calabria isn’

t only an expression of history and cultural diversity, it is

also contemporaneousness, showed by an important num-

ber of international events and its museums that have ma-

sterpieces known all over the world.

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From the majesty of riace Bronzes, known all over the

World, to Mattia Preti’ s paintings and umberto Boccioni’ s

and Mimmo rotella’ s pieces. Calabria can offer an impor-

tant artistic property to its tourists, and it links folklore,

gastronomy and artisan tradition. All round the year Cala-

bria offers an important opportunity to know its tradition,

culture (art, ceramic, copper ‘s things, wood’s sculpture,

spun). But the most important thing of Calabria’ s Popula-

tion is its hospitality and its loving style.

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“Every corner of this wonderful land represents an invitation

to discover its millenarian history”

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the biggest part of archaeological remains of Calabria coming from the first colonies of

Magna Greacia, and they are re-closed in four Big Archaeological Parks of locri, Capo

Colonna, roccelletta di Borgia e Sibari, unique case in Mediterranean where there are

three different eras. Other archaeological areas of Magna Graecia are spread all over the

regional territory, mostly of the roman era.

ArChAeOlOGy

“A fascinating journey throughout the origins

of the Mediterranean civilization”

Sibari

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SyBAryS

Founded around 730-720 B.C. by Greek popula-

tion, Sibarys with Kroton and Taranto, was one of the

biggest city of Magna Graecia. It had a population

of about 1oo.ooo inhabitants, they are distributed

on 510 hectare of territory surrounded by a wall 10

km long. Today the ruins of the three ancient cities

Sibarys, Thoutioi and the roman Copia, are coming

up from the underground of the Archaeological Park

of Sibari, creating a unique thing all over the Occi-

dent world. Linked to the Archaeological Park of

Sibari there is the New Archaeological Museum of

Sibari inaugurated in 1996. It is the most important

cultural and historical point of the Ionic Part of Co-

senza’ s province. Among the five Calabria’s National

Museum, the sibary’s one, has the most important

remains of the surrounding territory, including the

remains pre-colonies of Francavilla Marittima and

Castiglione of Paludi. Distributed in five museum’ s

areas, there are the remains of the area of excavation

of the near Archaeological Park. They represent the

city of Sybaris and Thourioi (of archaic and Hellenic

Era) and the roman Copia.

KrOtOn

Ancient and powerful Greek colony of VI century

B.C., surrounded by 20 km of wall and it is defen-

ded by an army of 15o.ooo soldiers, it was the place

of the philosophic ’s Pythagorean School, medical

school (considered the best of the ancient world)

and gymnastic school.

Ten km further down of Crotone, on the Capo Co-

lonna’s promontory, there is the Archaeological

Park, named as another one realized by the Or-

ganization of Archaeological property of Calabria.

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The park spreads along 30 hectare of the territory

organized for the excavation, and other 20 hectare

for wood and for mediterranean spot. Between the

holy areas of all the Mediterranean the most im-

portant is the majestic Sanctuary dedicated to Hera

Lacinia, wife and daughter of Zeus and queen of all

the divinity. Hera was venerated like a Goddess that

protects the pasture, the women, the women fertility,

the family and the wedding. The enter of the Park is

composed of the New Archaeological museum that

keeps the remains coming from the near excavations.

Many objects was found during the excavations in the

Archaeological Park and they are divided in the diffe-

rent museums of Crotone’ s city. The last refugees are

in the new and near Capo Colonna’ s Museum, while

something of pre-colonial Eras is showed in The Anti-

quarium of Torre Nao, built inside the Archaeological

Park. In the most equipped Archaeological National

Museum of Crotone there are the first remains of

archaic Era and the precious Hera’s treasure.

SKIlletIOn

Ancient Greek city it became a roman’s colony

with the name of Scolacium, where nowadays are

the monumental ruins inside the Archaeological

Park. Founded in 1982 with its Antequarium of

Roccelletta. The area is interesting for the ruins of

the Norman Basilica, and for the ancient colony of

Scolacium, built in 120 B.C. over the remains of the

Greek colony called Skylletion. The excavations of

the Archaeological Park of Scolacium reveals every

day important objects of the ancient Roman’s co-

lony of Scolacium, while we have probably a few

or maybe nothing of the ruins of ancient Skylletion.

Over the mountain, the preliminary researches in-

dividuated an amphitheatre of the II century A.D.

three thermal establishments, a necropolis and a

aqueduct that complete the ancient Scolacium.

hIPPOnIOn

Four km away from the coast, on a small hill 5oo

meters above the sea level, in the modern city of

Vibo Valentia, there are the remains of the ancient

Locri’s colony of Hipponion, built near an early in-

digene centre called Veipo. Hipponion was a colony

of Locri Epizefiri founded at the end of VII century

B.C. with Medma, to acquire new cultivable lands

and guarantee a trading way on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Inside the Norman Castle of Vibo Valentia we find

the Archaeological Museum with the remains co-

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ming from the excavations of Hipponion.

lOCrI ePIzeFIrI

The ancient Locri’s colony of Locri Epizefiri was

founded a few years after the foundation of Kroton

in 709 B.C. Locri Epizefiri is the most interesting co-

lony among the Magna Graecia, and here was born

Zaleuco, the man that wrote the first written Code of

Laws and the poetess Nosside, a follower of Saffo

Locri

and the major poetess of Magna Graecia.

The Archaeological Park of Locri Epizefiri is 4 km

further down south towards Reggio Calabria to the

modern city of Locri. The entrance, composed of

the new Archaeological National museum of Locri

Epizefiri, is directly accessible from the SS 106 Io-

nic road. The Park protects a large area in Marasà

where was individuate the ancient Locri’s colony of

Lokroi Epizefiri.

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ethnIC MInOrIty

the AlBAnIAn

They settled in the Calabrian territory around 1400

especially in the area of the Pollino Park, after 5 centu-

ries they still keep intact their mother-tongue, typical

customs lots of historic-folklore events above which

the famous Vallje, with which the Arbresh people,

every Tuesday after Easter ,remember and celebra-

te one of the Hero Skanderberg’s victory against the

Turkish Empire that happened exactly a Tuesday after

Easter. The element that joined these ancient commu-

nities ,settled in foreign land has been the Greek- By-

zantine rite professed amongst the Italian- Albanian

population and by them lived as the most highest

estate of all nations In all the communities of Italian-

Albanian historical origin, mass and all the principle

sacraments(Baptism, Confirmation, Wedding) are

celebrated with the Byzantine- Greek rite and whe-

re the Icon have a high sacred symbolical value as

well as a high number of furnishing of the Byzanti-

ne liturgic that are found in nearly all the churchs

of this community.Civita a small Arbresh village on

the Pollino slopes, is known for its strong culture

and numera initiative to protect the Minor Histori-

cal Ethnics Culture. Lungro place of the Byzantine

Dioces,(Eparchia di Lungro) of Byzantine- Greek rite.

The church of San Nicola di Mira keeps the splendid

Mosaic “Il Cristo Pantocrator”.

the “OCCItAnI”(tyPe OF lAnGuAGe)

Guardia Piemontese, in the Province of Cosenza,

has the particularity to be the only one to mountain

this language in the south of Italy because it was

founded by the “Valdesi” from Piedmont. The com-

munity speaks “Occitano” as mother-tongue .At the

entrance to the town there is the famous “Porat del

sangue”(Blood Door) main door to the town and the

name recalls the sad period of repression.

the “GreCAnICI”(GreeKS)

From the Ionaian Coast, going up the river Melito,

and through the Aspromont, we discover, the Ar-

chaic world of the Greek communities or “Bovesia”,

the descendents of Greeks Bova, Condofuri, Galli-

ciano’, Roccaforte del Greco, Roghudi are mountain

villages in which they speak an incomprehensive

Neo- Greek dialect and are maintained traditions of

an ancient civilization. Bova , for instance over 900

meter sea-level, is considered the centre of “Greek”

in Calabria. The Greek area has a mild climate and

therefore suitable for the plantation of Bergamot.

Along the banks of streams and on hills we find

other plantations but this one is named the “green

Gold “from which is obtained the essence used as

the base for the most refined perfume producers

of the world.

“Populations safeguarding their own language and culture identity”

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MuSeuM And CItIeS OF Art

CAtAnzArO And the MArCA

CAtAnzArO Art MuSeuM

Known as the “City of the two seas”, it is also called

“City of the three hills”-corresponding to those repre-

sented in its emblem, St.Trifone, today known as St.

Rocco, of the Bishopric, today’s Piazza Duomo, and

of the Castle, today’s St. John. In ancient times it was

known as city of the three V’s, referring to the three

distinct features of the city: the V of San Vitaliano, the

patron saint; the V of velvet, as it was an important

silk centre since the time of the Byzantines; and the

V of wind (vento in Italian) as it is constantly beaten

by the strong breezes from the Ionian Sea and Sila.

“VVV” was the acronym by which Catanzaro’s silk

industry was identified on both national and foreign

markets, an emblem of the finest fabrication of silks,

velvets, damasks and brocades from the city.

The latest archaeological finds testify to the presence

of settlements along the valley of Corace since the

Iron Age. The area was inhabited by the Vituli, by the

name vitulus (calf) the simulacrum they venerated,

renamed by the Greeks “Italioi” - worshipers of the

calf-and ruled by the famous Italian king Italo. The

latter – brother of Dardanus- ancestor of the Trojans

– gave his name to the entire peninsula, Italy.

By tradition it was founded by the Byzantine general

Nicephorus Phocas the Elder; Catanzaro’s develop-

ment into a fortress town was established by General

Flagizio. According to some assumptions, it was du-

ring this period that the cultivation of mulberry and

silk began, hence, in addition to the legendary foun-

ding by the Byzantine leaders Zaro and Cattaro, the

name of the city from the Greek word “Katartarioi”,

spinners of silk.

The Saracens, who occupied it in the tenth century,

founded here an emirate, Qatansar. Then the By-

zantines, the Normans, the Angevins, the Swabians

came until the strenuous resistance to the French

that earned the city the title of “Faithful” granted by

Charles V in 1528. Its coat of arms was enriched by

the presence of the imperial eagle, and by the motto

Sanguinis effusione; exempted from taxes, it could

mint a coin of the value of a carlin whose faces bore

the inscription OBSISSO CATHANZARIO and CA-

ROL. V S IMP. The city was the capital of Calabria

Ultra from 1593 till 1816, the year of the province

administrative division. It is full of churches, monu-

107

ments and civil architectures: the Cathedral, rebuilt,

remodelled and at last restored, was built on the site

of a Norman church; the little church of Saint Homo-

bonus dating back to the eleventh or twelfth century;

the monumental fountain of “The Cavatore” by Giu-

seppe Rito; the viaduct Morandi, third in the world

for its span width; the recent Politeama Theatre a

work by Paolo Portoghesi. Since 2008, the city hosts

the MARCA. The Museum, directed by Alberto Fiz is

one of the most important artistic and cultural cen-

tres throughout the South of Italy. Its main purposes

are: to enhance the collection of local paintings and

sculptures from ‘600 to ‘800, to pay homage to Mim-

mo Rotella, born and artistically trained in Catanzaro,

and to promote contemporary art in the direction of

the important experience of Intersections, a sculp-

ture exhibition, in the Park of Scolacium, that since

2005 marks the summers of Calabria. The MARCA,

promoter of artistic events of national and internatio-

nal level, wants to be a place of cultural production

facilitating the dialogue among the different arts. Its

Picture Gallery and its Plaster Casts Gallery house a

remarkable historical and artistic heritage: from An-

tonello de Saliba to Salvator Rosa, from Francesco

Jerace to Andrea Cefaly.

The MARCA, despite its recent institution, has ho-

sted international artists such as Antoni Tapies, Alex

Katz, Alessandro Mendini and collective exhibitions

such as Community and Berlinottanta.

The collaboration with Mimmo Rotella foundation has

been very significant.

The MARCA Underground, at last, is responsible for

testing new languages, highlighting the research of

the most interesting young artists on a national and

international level.

The museum’s location allows you to benefit, from

the reading room, from the spectacular view of the

Viaduct “Bisantis”.

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COSenzA And the OPen AIr MuSeuM

Known as the “city of Bruttii” (Città dei Bruzi), it is one

of the oldest cities in the region, head of a metropo-

litan area of about 269,000 inhabitants.

Its origins date back to the 4th century BC, when the

whole area of the Valley of Crati was considered stra-

tegic by the Bruttii. Subdued by the Romans, who

turns it into a strategic stopover on the Via Capua-

Rhegium, the Roman Via Popilia, the city, once a mili-

tary centre, becomes a relevant business centre. It is

said that Alaric, king of the Visigoths, suddenly dead

after the sack of Rome, was buried in the bed of the

Busento River. Dominated by the Longobards and by

the Byzantines, fought over by the Saracens, and the

Longobards, Swabians’ dukedom and favourite city

of Frederick II, residence of King Louis III of Anjou,

the capital of Calabria Citra Naethum, conquered by

the Spaniards in the sixteenth century it became an

outstanding centre of humanistic flowering , called

the Athens of Calabria. The Accademia Cosentina

Cosenza

111

“Towns with ancient hearts but also with vivid culture and works

from modern artists”

was the second of the Kingdom of Naples and one

of the first in Europe. Austrian dominion until the

war between the House of Bourbon and the French,

it takes part in the liberal and patriotic movements

of 1844; the Brothers Bandiera, rushed to help the

“Calabrian brothers”, are captured and shot in the

Vallone di Rovito.

In October 2008 it was recognized Art City by the

Region of Calabria with a resolution that highlighted

its historical and artistic heritage and recognized its

touristic value. The old town is one of the most beau-

tiful and interesting in Italy not only for its extent, but

above all for the abundance of religious sites, such

as the Cathedral, which houses the “Madonna del

Pilerio”, from the greek puleros-warden, Patron pro-

tector of the city, and for its prestigious monumental

buildings.

On one of its seven hills stands the Swabian Castle,

the imposing fortress, stronghold of Frederick II, all

surrounded by the buildings of the old town, a char-

ming maze of narrow streets and staircases.

In the pedestrian precinct, the central Corso Mazzi-

ni, the nerve centre of the town, there is the MAB-

Open-air Museum “Bilotti”. The museum houses im-

portant sculptures different in style and epoch and

created by different artists. Among them the open-air

works by Giorgio De Chirico, Giacomo Manzù, Salva-

dor Dalì, Mimmo Rotella.

the ByzAntIne rOSSAnO

Where: Rossano (CS)

Rossano was one of the main Byzantine centres in

Calabria. This is testified by the Madonna Acheropita,

by tradition this word means “not painted by human-

hand”, the 12th century Church of Panaghia and the

little Church of St. Mark, the oldest monument in

the city, one of the best preserved Byzantine chur-

ches in Italy. It was built on the initiative of St. Nilus

as an ascetic retreat for the hermit monks who lived

in ancient rocky settlements below. The real treasu-

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re of Rossano is the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis,

Greek Gospels of Middle Eastern or Alexandrian ori-

gin dating back to the fifth-sixth century, brought to

Rossano by a monk fleeing from the East because

of the Arab invasion (9th- 10th century). Consisting

of 188 parchment sheets containing the Gospels of

Matthew and Mark and a letter by Eusebius to Carpia-

no, the manuscript, mutilated and anonymous, con-

tains texts penned in gold and silver; it is decorated

with 15 miniatures that illustrate the most significant

moments of Jesus’ life and preaching. Norman do-

mination failed to undermine the Greek-Byzantine

tradition of the city that was so deep-rooted thanks

to the work of St. Nilus and St. Bartholomew from

Simeri, founder of the famous Abbey of Santa Maria

del Pathire, flourishing centre of the amanuenses’ art

practiced also in other monasteries of the city, as evi-

denced by the presence of different codices.

PAOlA And the MOnAStery

OF St. FrAnCIS

Where: Paola(CS)

The Sanctuary of St. Francis from Paola is one of

the most important places of worship in Italy and it

is located on the hills of Paola, near the stream Isca

and next to the monastery founded by the Saint in

1435. The monastery has two long wings, one built

on a deep gorge, the other following the line of the

mountain. It shows interesting architectural details;

the Gothic portal and the cloister reveal the severe

and simple character of the monuments in Calabria.

A large square, from which you can admire the co-

ast and the town below, lies in front of the solemn

and elegant church, whose façade in tufaceous stone

is characterized by two overlapping orders. The en-

trance arch opens at the bottom, among pilasters and

columns; the central balcony with its round arch lies

at the top, flanked by two small rectangular windows.

You can plainly observe the Renaissance shapes at

the bottom and the baroque ones at the top.

the CIvIC MuSeuM OF tAvernA

And MAttIA PretI

Where : Taverna(CS)

The museum is housed in the former convent of the

Dominicans – 15th century - and is divided into two

sectors. In sector A, from 17th to 19th century, it ex-

poses Our Lady of Angels, a sketch for the frescoes

of S. Biagio in Modena and the drawing of the Ec-

stasy of St. Peter Celestine, by Mattia Preti. Sector B,

dedicated to contemporary art, shows some works

by Ercole Dei, Mimmo Rotella, Angelo Savelli France-

sco Guerrieri and Lia Drei. One cannot but pay a visit

also to the rooms dedicated to ligneous art, to textile

handworks and to graphic works. The Picture Galle-

ry Mattia Preti is part of the museum and it is hou-

sed inside the monumental church of St. Dominic,

which exhibits works by Mattia Preti (1613-1699),

the Cavalier Calabrese, and by his brother Gregory

(1603-1672) born in Taverna. Among the works by

Mattia Preti there is the Fulminating Christ and the

Preaching of St. John the Baptist with self-portrait.

the CIvIC MuSeuM OF

COnteMPOrAry Art

SIlvIO vIGlIAturO

Where: Acri(CS)

A majestic building of the eighteenth century, thirty

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San Giovanni in Fiore

115

rooms, three thousand square metres of exhibition

space: these are the numbers of MACA - Museum of

Contemporary Art in Acri - that was opened in June

2006 in the rooms of Palazzo Sanseverino Falcone. It’s

the product of a courageous and ambitious project:

giving to Calabria an important space for contempo-

rary art. A museum with two souls: treasure chest for

the works by Silvio Vigliaturo and exhibition centre,

art workshop, a meeting place for visitors, artists and

art critics. The MACA houses at present in its eleven

rooms two hundred thirty-seven works by Vigliaturo

that represent an important heritage, and are also a

significant return to his homeland, to its landscapes,

sensations and colours. These works are the result

of a selection of Vigliaturo’s production from 1961

till today and mark the milestones of his artistic re-

search, from the beginning until the more refined

elaboration of the glass-fusion technique.

SAn GIOvAnnI In FIOre ABBey

(ABBAzIA FlOrenSe)

Where: San Giovanni in Fiore (CS)

Among the major religious buildings in Calabria for

the impressiveness of the whole abbey complex, the

beautiful Abbazia Florense stands in the old town of

San Giovanni in Fiore, a locality in Sila rich in art and

history. Together with the adjacent monastery, the

Abbey was built between 1189 and 1198 and it was

wanted by the abbot Gioacchino da Fiore, founder of

the Florense order, who reached this place in search

of a new source of spirituality. Despite the various

changes it underwent over the different centuries,

the complex preserves the severe austerity of the

Romanesque style. Some stylistic devices make it the

best example of Florense architecture in Italy.

the hIStOrIC MuSeuM

OF the MInIerA dI SAlGeMMA

(SAlt-MIne)

Where: Lungro,(CS)

It was one of the oldest industrial sites in Calabria;

known since the time of Pliny the Elder, when large

amounts of salt were produced. The salt workers, for-

ged in the bowels of the earth, with their strong libe-

ral convictions, fought in the struggles of the Risorgi-

mento and had an active part in the historical popular

uprisings of 1903. The Museum that is now in the hi-

storic Martino Palace, occupies 9 rooms in which we

find 180 drawings, some of which are of the first half

of 800, typical objects, old photographs portraying

the salt-workers at their work, maps of geological

and mineral interest. The pride of the museum is the

hall of the historical archive that preserves more than

220 folders, material partly gathered in the mine and

partly provided by the Archive of State of Cosenza.

the ethnIC MuSeuM

OF ArBreSh Culture

Where: Civita (CS)

It was founded in 1989 with the aim of promoting

and protecting the Albanian language and culture. It

represents an open book on Arberia, it is a meeting

place fostering cultural exchanges, and head-office

of the oldest periodical of Arberia “Katundi yne” (Our

country) founded in 1970.

Centre FOr InterPretAtIOn

OF the eCO-MuSeuM OF rAGAnellO

heritage Interpretation Centre

Where: Civita (CS)

The Interpretation Center was created to give value

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Serra San Bruno

117

to the landscape and culture of the Valley of Raga-

nello, an environmental resource of exceptional be-

auty where in 2007 five municipalities gave birth to

the Eco-museum of Raganello. They are Alexandria

del Carretto, Cerchiara di Calabria, Civita, Franca-

villa Marittima and San Lorenzo Bellizzi, suggestive

mountain centres in the Calabrian side of the Pollino

Park, that through their landscapes and their people’s

memories tell their experiences and lives through the

Ecomuseum. The Interpretation Centre is therefore

a place that documents the territory and recovers its

stories and its knowledge, by promoting participatory

processes for a new culture of firm. an independent

entry .Not far away from the Charter house there’s

a “miracle lake “in an area surrounded by the green

wood .Tradition says that San Bruno would enter in

this lake in penitence, and today right in the middle

there is a statue of the Saint kneeling.

the ChArterhOuSe

OF SerrA SAn BrunO

Where: Serra San Bruno, VV

Founded between 1090 and 1101 by Bruno of Co-

logne, the Charterhouse was the first Carthusian mo-

nastery in Italy and the second of the entire Order.

Originally built in the Gothic style, it was restored

by Palladio at the end of the 500, subject to further

changes in the 16th and 17th century, destroyed by

an earthquake in 1783, it was entirely rebuilt at the

end of 800. Of the original structure we only have

the remains of the boundary wall on a quadrilateral

foundation and with cylinder keeps, the ruins of the

renaissance façade of the church, great part of the

lower order, the seventeenth-century cloister, the

baroque fountain and the old cemetery of the Car-

thusian monks.

Surviving remnants of the original walls of the fifte-

enth century with a square corner cylindrical towers,

the ruins of the Renaissance facade of the Church,

much of the lower order, the seventeenth-century

cloister, baroque fountain and the old cemetery of

the Carthusians. To meet the needs of pilgrims and

tourists a museum has been set up in the Charterhou-

se, in a wing accessible through a separate entrance.

Not far away from the Charterhouse, plunged into a

picturesque landscape dominated by green woods,

there is the “lake of miracles” in whose waters, as

tradition says, St. Bruno went to do penance. Today it

houses a statue of the kneeling saint.

the “CAttOlICA” OF StIlO

Where: Stilo (RC)

Subjected to the empire of Byzantium until the ele-

venth century, Calabria still preserves many exam-

ples of oriental art. One of the most valuable is the

Cattolica that since the ninth century dominates the

valley of the stream Stilaro, the Byzantine Valley, rich

in architectural remains. The Cattolica, a true exam-

ple of sacred Byzantine architecture in the region,

among the best examples of it in Italy, was the Cathe-

dral of the town and it was governed by a permanent

vicar, succeeded to the Protopope of the Byzantine

era, which had right of burial in it; here, together

with a valuable ring, human remains were found. The

name Cattolica, katholiki, rated it among the “privi-

leged churches” because they had a baptistery. The

cube-shaped building, made with a special mix of

large bricks joined by mortar, has no outside decora-

tions. Only the little domes are covered with square

tiles arranged in a diamond-shaped brick. The parti-

118

cular location of the sources of light, despite its size,

highlights the beauty of the frescoes that can still be

seen. The presence of Arabic inscriptions tells us that

it was probably used for Muslim worship. The Arabs,

that used to destroy and pillage everything they con-

quered, did not destroy the Cattolica; perhaps be-

cause they were attracted by its beauty and its collo-

cation – mostly laid down on the naked rock.

Since 2006 it is on the list together with 7 other Basi-

lian-Byzantine sites in Calabria for the recognition of

World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

the nAtIOnAl MuSeuM

OF MAGnA GrAeCIA

Where: Reggio Calabria

The National Museum of Magna Graecia in Reggio

is one of the most famous in the world. It was in-

stituted by the archeologist Paolo Orsi, who wanted

the placement and collection of all Calabrian findings

in the prestigious monumental building designed by

Marcello Piacentini and located in Piazza De Nava.

The museum, spread over 4 floors, is divided into

several sections: the prehistoric and protohistoric

collection, the Locri section, the section dedicated

to the Greek colonies in Calabria, the numismatic

section. The underwater archaeology section hou-

ses since 1981 the Riace bronzes ( the “Bronzi di

Riace”), precious testimonies of Greek sculpture in

bronze of the 5th century BC, as well as the Philo-

sopher’s Head of Porticello, foundin a wreck in the

depths of the sea in the area of Porticello of Villa San

Giovanni. It houses also the outstanding finds from

the archaeological sites of Basilicata and Sicily that

illustrate the art and history of Magna Graecia from

the 8th century BC and the material of both earlier

119

Catanzaro

and later periods.

Among the most significant materials:

The Bronzi di Riace: found in excellent condition, the

two great original Greek statues dating from the mid-

5th century BC could represent, according to recent

research, Tydeus and Amphiaraus or Eteocles and

Polynices of the Seven against Thebes.

The Philosopher’s head: found in Porticello near Reg-

gio, is a rare example of Greek portraiture.

Kouros of Reggio is a small marble statue, perhaps

a victorious athlete, exposed during the XX Olympic

Winter Games.

Marble head of Apollo Aleus, from Cirò

Group of the Dioscuri coming down from their horse

in the battle of the Sagra, from Locri Epizephyrii.

Bronze tablets, from the archives of the temple of

Zeus in Locri Epizephyrii

Collections of pinakes, votive terracotta offerings

bearing in relief scenes of the rape of Persephone,

coming from Locri Epizephyrii

Collections of jewels, bronze mirrors and medals.

The Museum’s collection temporarily includes also

works of 700s-900s, the collection of Domenico Ge-

noese and Monsolino, Lavagna, De Blasio and woo-

den tablets by Antonello da Messina.

SAntA BArBArA PArK MuSeuM

Where: Mammola (RC)

Contemporary Calabrian art has its pulsating centre

in Mammola. The Basilian monastery of St. Fantino

De Pretoriate, today Santa Barbara, has been tur-

ned into the Santa Barbara Park Museum by Nick

Spatari, painter, sculptor, architect and craftsman

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of international renown, collaborator of Charles-

Edouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier, one of

the greatest architects of the twentieth century. The

museum, 2 km away from the town of Mammola, is

today the base of the “Santa Barbara Art Foundation”

created by Spatari and by his wife Hiske Maas, and

it is a destination for international artists who along

the slopes of the hill nearby realize works to enrich

the Museum’s collection. On the vault of the former

chapel of the monastery, Spatari realized “Il Sogno

di Giacobbe” (Jacob’s Dream), an enormous three-

dimensional painting.

CrOtOne

Founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC on an

existing native settlement, it was one of the most im-

portant cities of Magna Graecia.

As the legend says, its name derives from Kroton, son

of Aeacus, who was accidentally killed by his friend

Heracles that, to amend his mistake and honour him,

built the city on the banks of the river Esaro, next to

his tomb. Another legend tells that the name Kroton

derives from the name of Alcinous’ brother, king of

the Phaeacians.

Famous for its climate, the beauty of its women and

the strength of his men overcame every other city in

the Olympic games. Milone is his most famous and

celebrated Olympic champion, known as its doctors

Democedes and Alcmaeon who transformed conta-

minated medicine from magic and superstition into

science.

It became the homeland of the philosopher-mathe-

matician Pythagoras, who founded there his famous

school. The rivalry between Crotone and Sybaris was

due to commercial and religious reasons, rather than

to the legendary attempted kidnapping of a beautiful

vestal by three nobles from Crotone, and it led to the

battle of Nika that marked the end of Sybaris.

The old town is a maze of narrow alleys and little

squares. Here there are different interesting places:

the Cathedral built in the 11th century and the Castle,

in a panoramic position above the area of the Greek

acropolis, built in 1541 by the Viceroy Pedro of Tole-

do to defend the coast from the attacks of the Turks;

it houses the Civic Museum and the Library. In the

square in front of the Castle there are the nineteenth-

century Palazzo Morelli and the eighteenth century

Palazzo Barraco.

Pythagoras Square is the point of contact between

the old city and the new.

The province of Crotone with its historical landsca-

pes recall in its entirety the Magna Graecia. Capo Co-

lonna, the promontory where the majestic temple of

Hera Lacinia was erected – today only one column

of the whole temple survives - is the place where the

sanctuary of Madonna di Capo Colonna is located.

“Different facets of a worldto be discovered in a single region”

121

Crotone

Vibo Valentia

Continuing along the coast one meets the beautiful

massive Spanish fortification of Le Castella of Isola

Capo Rizzuto. In the province of Crotone, particularly

rich in cultural heritage, there are other places not to

be missed: the village of Santa Severina, the medieval

Caccuri and Mesoraca with its beautiful convent of

Ecce Homo.

In Ciro Marina, a seaside resort which gives its name

to the famous wine, you can visit the remains of a

Greek temple dedicated to the greek god Apollo

Aleus and the Castle.

vIBO vAlentIA

The ancient Greek-Roman Hipponion is, together

with Crotone, one of two new provinces of Calabria.

From its heights you can clearly see the port, from

which you can easily and quickly reach the Aeolian

Islands and the Gulf of Sant’ Eufemia.

Main sights:

The Norman-Swabian Castle, built by Ruggero the

Norman around 1070 and where it is possible to vi-

sit the State Archaeological Museum which houses

many archaeological finds dating between the end of

the 7th century BC and the 2nd BC.

The cathedral in Baroque style, built between 1680

and 1723, is dedicated to the Patron Saint Leoluca.

The beautiful bronze doors- by the Calabrian artist

Niglia-tell the historical events of the city; on the

eighteenth-century high altar you can see the “Ma-

donna of the Snow” and the marble triptych of the

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sixteenth century by Antonello Ga-

gini. The ruins of the Greek city,

just outside the town, retain parts

of the imposing walls of the sixth

and fifth centuries BC.

Tropea, the pearl of tourism of the

province, is famous all over the

world; it is an interesting old town

with its palaces of the ‘700s and

‘800s perched on the cliff overloo-

king the beach. It shows interesting

portals of prestigious abodes often

endowed with large tanks dug into

the rock and used to collect the grain

that from Monte Poro, loaded through clay

pipes on ships moored under the cliff of Tropea,

followed the trade routes of the Mediterranean. You

can visit the private museum of the ancient crafts of

Calabria and of the automatic machines.

Pizzo is famous for its picturesque old town and the

traditional “tartufo” (famous Italian ice-cream des-

sert). In the castle, Aragonese testimony of the 15th

century, was held prisoner before his execution Joa-

chim Murat, King of Naples and brother in law of Na-

poleon Bonaparte. Shot on 13th October, after the

trial that was held in the main hall of the castle, he was

then buried in the church of San Giorgio. The Murat

Castle is also the seat of the Provincial Museum. Ser-

ra San Bruno is another charming town with a strong

Benedictine presence of cultural and historical rele-

vance. Chosen by Brunone of Cologne, San Bruno,

as a place of prayer and silence, is the seat of the

Charterhouse and of the homonimous Museum that

chronicles the life of the saint and of the Carthusian

monks, the history and culture of the place.

reGGIO CAlABrIA

Rhegion, founded toward the mid-eighth century BC

by colonists from Chalcis, in 89 BC it became a Ro-

man municipium, residence of the governor of Luca-

nia and Bruttium. St. Paul stopped there during one

of his travels. Sacked by the Visigoths of Alaric, By-

zantines’ dominion, repeatedly attacked by the Arabs

of Sicily, conquered by the Normans of Robert Gui-

scard, it passed in 1502 from the Aragonese Alfonso

the Magnanimous to the king of Spain, Ferdinand

the Catholic. It was sacked by the Turkish comman-

der Khayr al-Din and by Scipione Sinan Cicala and

it knew an economic revival under the government

of the Bourbons. Marked by tragic events, the pla-

gue of 1743 and the earthquake of 1783, returned

to the Bourbons in 1814 it was conquered by Ga-

ribaldi’s followers (Garibaldini) in August 21, 1860.

The earthquake and seaquake of 1908 devastated it.

Once rebuilt it became the Great

Reggio with the unification

of 14 surrounding muni-

cipalities by the podestà

Giuseppe Genoese-

Zerbi.

Main sights:

the National Archae-

ological Museum, fa-

mous in the world for

the “Riace Bronzes”, now

a symbol of the city; the

Cathedral, the largest

one in the region, repre-

senting both the Gothic

and the Romanesque style

although it was rebuilt after

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the destruction of the earthquake of 1908. Inside the

Cathedral there is the particularly beautiful and inte-

resting “Chapel of the Sacrament” of the 16th cen-

tury, an example of the baroque of Reggio Calabria.

Not to be missed in the province:

Scylla, rich in history and legend, one of the most

beautiful villages in Italy, with its magnificent castle

of the Ruffo and the Chianalea, is nicknamed “Little

Venice”. Pentedattilo, an ancient ghost town from the

characteristic shape that resembles a gigantic hand

with five fingers and hence the name, it represents

a regular step of the travelling festival Paleariza, an

important event in the Grecian culture . It houses

between August and September the Pentedattilo Film

Festival, an international event of short films, a magi-

cal fusion of cinema and territory.

Gerace is rich in architectural treasures, the great By-

zantine Cathedral and its dwellings carved into the

tuff where still today you can see experienced potters

at work, intent on shaping the clay according to the

ancient Greek style.

The sumptuous elegant palaces with stone portals

worked by local stonemasons.

A few kilometers from Reggio, in Bova, Bova Marina,

Roghudi, Condofuri, Roccaforte del Greco and Gal-

licianò, Stilo and Bivongi survives one of the most

interesting Calabrian and national anthropological

phenomena: the Grecian culture. Notable symbols of

it are: the Cattolica of Stilo, a little Byzantine church

unique in the world; in Bivongi, the renewed presen-

ce of greek orthodox monks in the monastery of St.

John Therestis.

124

Calabria land of hospitality and warmth is not only famous for its coasts ,its crystal

beaches but its also famous for its century Wine gastronomy culture thanks to all the

people (Greeks, romans, normans , Arabs, Angioini, Barboni, Spanish, French) that

lived in the extreme south of Italy. each one of these has left a trace in the Calabrian

Food tradition; to testify this is the use of different spices and herbs like cinnamon, clo-

ves, nutmeg, wild fennel ,mint, hot chilli pepper, pastries prepared with honey and the

tradition to work and conserve meat.

WIne And FOOdGAStrOnOMy

“A melting pot of traditional food havingits origin in popultations of invaders making

the Calabria food an unicum”

COld CutS : SAlAMIS

Salamis in Calabria represents the dominant and

fundamental subject in its Gastronomy. In the Cala-

brian rural culture the “Norcina tradition” dates up

to the period Magna Graecia. In this region , once

again, it’s the wisdom of the people that are able

to extract benefit from meat and pork. Though pigs

don’t need special care it is owned even by the

poor people . Considering the point that tradition

wants that nothing goes lost of this animal. the abi-

lity of the people is that even the bones can give

something tasty. From these they obtain the jelly

and not long ago even the blood was transformed

into a sort of cream with nuts, sultana and pieces of

chocolate and used on bread as peanut butter.

125

SOPreSSAtA, SAlSICCe (SAuSAGeS)

CAPOCOllO

Amongst the Calabrian products the most typical

ones are the salumis, like the classic sopressata. Hi-

story gives the origins of this tradition back to time of

the Greek Colonization along the Ionian Coasts and

the cultural and artistic influence of Magna Graecia

. We take note of the breed of the black pork, an

animal of noble origins that is now very popular in

Calabria and that gives high quality salumis.

lA ‘ndujA

This product called Nduja is one of the famous, Ca-

labrian typical food products It’s a soft sausage very

chilli ,that you can spread. IT ‘s produced especially

in Spilinga (VV) but there are a lot of imitation of this

product and the quality is not the less in the whole re-

gion. It’s prepared with the parts of fat of the pig and

Calabrian hot chilli peppers and stuffed in bowels to

then smoked. It’s is used on toasted bread better if

hot or used in tomato sauce with garlic ; on pizzas

before the other ingredients if raw or after cooked;

on slices of cheese and in omelettes.

Il MOrzellO

The Morzello (u’ morzeddhu) in Catanzaro dialect

is the authentic Calabrian Dish known by many and

unique in its taste, made from the insides of beef and

cooked in tomato sauce . The origins are to search

in the province of Catanzaro among the people of

Catanzaro, Tiriolo and Taverna even if the name of

this dish derives from the Spanish word “al muerzo”.

It’s prepared with the Catanzaro typical bread shaped

as a doughnut and it has to be divided into big pie-

ces and put into the Morzello. The real Morzello of

Catanzaro has to be eaten very chilli. The tradition

wants that it is eaten round 10.30 in the morning, the

time it was cooked in the “putiche” shops of the city.

OlIve OIl

In Calabria the olive plantation dates back to the Gre-

ek period 8th-7th century B.C.. when it arrived here

from Asia Minor .But all the merits of its use and pre-

paration goes to the Romans. Evergreen and long-

126

lasting trees with their silver-green colour give a par-

ticular site to the landscapes of the agricultural area.

Their plantation are adaptable even on inaccessible

areas. The olives are picked up round October / No-

vember before the sowing . It can be done by hand,

machines or by putting nets under the tree where the

olives fall on their own. Thanks to these experiences

that Calabria is at the top of the list as best producers

of Italian Oil.

the “dOP” CAlABrIAn OIl

In Calabria there are 3 “DOP” oils : Bruzio, Lame-

tia, Alto Crotonese each with different characteristi-

cs and controlled by specific disciplinary. The most

interested areas for this plantation is in the region of

Cosenza, Lamezia, and Reggio (especially Gioia Tauro

and Locri).In the region of Cosenza the most com-

mon are : Carolea, Coratina, La Tondina and Ottobra-

tica. Gioia Tauro is known for its century “Giants” that

are 20 meters tall.Here we also find a wide number

of varieties that form the “The Olive Woods “ : Ot-

tobratico, Sinopolese, Roggianella, Leccino.In Locri

where the plantations are cultivated in low areas, we

obtain high quality oil like Gerace (or Grossa di Ge-

race)and Nocellara. Oil is considered unquestionable

head and fundamental component of the Mediter-

ranean Diet Gastronomy, used with both cooked or

raw food.

hOMeMAde BreAd

The Calabrian Homemade Bread is a Calabrian spe-

ciality .Prepared with meticulous cure in choosing the

quality of the products and obtaining a fragrant genu-

ine and tasty bread. The particularity is long baking

time . The tradition wants that the housewives make

the bread and leave it to leaven all through the night

under woollen blankets. Then they would get up ear-

ly in the morning to prepare the oven with wood to

127

burn for one hour to reach the necessary climate

for the baking of the bread. Still today many bakeries

maintain the ancient method to produce bread.

The “Cuti” bread genuine and traditional as in the

past comes in 1 or 2 kg Cooked in oven with wood

and leaven naturally.

The “Pizzata di Nardodipace (flat bread with chilli

pepper);the wheat biscuit of Reggio Calabria ( a sort

of “frisella”)

The bread of Cerchiara di Calabria is a sort of f phe-

nomenon just for its dimension 2 to 3 kilos , round

shaped with a side higher called “rasella” because of

the pastry . the bread rests in big boxes of wood to

be baked at 300degrees in ovens heated with woods

of chestnuts and beech. The “Jermanu” rye bread

variety, that can weigh from 500gr to 1.5kg with a

brown crumbly crust and a white crumb. The bread

of fennel seeds of Serra San Bruno; the wheat bread

of Mangone (CS)

TRADITIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS

Festival of the hot local bread: First weekend of Au-

gust at San Lorenzo (RC)

Festival of the bread: First Saturday of August at Ba-

gnara Calabra

Festival of “Frigia” :Montebello Ionico (RC)

Big Bread Feast :Altomonte (CS)

MuShrOOMS

THE MUSHROOMS OF THE SILA

Among the mountains and highlands of the Sila (from

Cecita Lake in Ampollino, from Fossiata to Mancu-

so Village,from Camigliatello to Palumbo Sila , from

Bocchigliero to Petrona’)it’s a continuous following

of woods rich of fir and pine trees, lakes and pasture

The mild climate of the summer and autumn sea-

sons and the presence of the lakes create the right

humidity, help the growth of more than 3000 species

of mushrooms. This natural resource covers great

importance for satisfaction of the researchers as well

as the economic value important for good part of the

mountain people. Territories rich of mushrooms are

Sila , Le Serre, but really the entire Calabria, in the

128

high area and also those 100meter sea level.

Traditional Demonstrations

Mushroom Festival : IN November at San Giovanni in

Fiore (CS) and Savelli (KR)

Edible Mushroom and Mountain Products Festival

:Last weekend of October at Mammola (RC)

THE MUSSHROOMS OF SERRA SAN BRUNO

Typical genuine product of the Vibones Serre. Picked

all year round in huge quantity. High gastronomy value

are the Edible and “Ovulo” mushrooms that you find in

almost all the dishes fresh or in oil or salt. the economy

of this area is pointing high for this product trying to

bring sell it not only in the nation but also abroad.

the eSSenCeS

hot chilli Pepper

At the end of 17th century a lot of foreign travellers that

visited Calabria wrote of the use of this pepper in food

and thought that this little fruit was imported here by

the “Saraceni”. Anyway the people of Calabria from the

start appreciated its quality as disinfectant, the presu-

mable aphrodisiac power and of long-life, but above all

it’s used to preserve food, especially meet. The plant is

easy to cultivate and in Calabria almost all the families

have one at home or on their balcony ready to use.

The Calabrian Hot Chilli Pepper is red horn shaped and

is sent all over the world for its high aromatic and the-

rapeutic quality and not only. Diamante is the “City” of

the Peperoncino and where every year has an impor-

tant demonstration for it called “Peperoncino Festival”

liquorice

Liquorice in Italy finds its location exclusively in the Ca-

labrian Region where about 80% is of national produc-

tion, mainly from the coast of Calabria the area of tran-

sformation is Rossano and Corigliano. With the help

of the Duke of Corigliano, that built the first factory of

this kind in 1715,in the period of industrialization, li-

quorice became a real fountain of economic progress.

In 1800 the industry continue to develop, conquering,

thanks to its genuine product, Europe and America.

The exportation of Calabria Liquorice settled and be-

came stronger in the second half of 19th century and

then in the beginning of the 20th .Its used in different

industrial sectors (especially in Pastries) for the pro-

duction of sweets ,tablets, sticks , herb tea ,syrups and

liquorice liquor. In Rossano we find the Museum and

Factory of the Liquorice Amarelli.

CheeSe

Sheep’s milk cheese of Monte Poro

Already in the list of the Traditional Calabrian Produc-

tions, the sheep milk cheese of Monte Poro repre-

sents today one of the most request cheese of the

regional territory. A cheese that distinguishes itself

129

for the flavour considered the best of South Italy

Sheep’s milk cheese of Crotone

Among the cheese of sheep milk made in Calabria,

the “Pecorino Crotonese is surely the most common

and known out of the regional board-line. Produced

in the province of Crotone in the town of Cutro, Isola

Capo Rizzuto, Strongoli and Crotone itself, where we

find plenty dairies. The Calabrian Association of she-

ep and goat producers, have as fundamental aim that

to give value and promote Crotonese typical cheese

and to let know the history, tradition, and culture of

the territory. For this reason the “A.P.O.C.C.” is pro-

tagonist of the acknowledgement of the “DOP” de-

nomination protected origin of the European Union.

Caciocavallo Silano(Italian Cheese)

The Caciocavallo Silano (DOP) is an ancient cheese

semi hard produced in the south of Italy with calf

milk. The name probably derives from the shape of

this cheese that looks like a horse if turned flat. The

name Silano derives from the Calabrian highlands of

the Sila one of the areas where it’s produced. Nowa-

days the area of production has spread throughout

the territory, Catanzaro, Cosenza, Vibo, Crotone.

veGetABleS And leGuMeS

Belmonte tomato

This vegetable protected by the mark De.CO, is di-

stinguished from the others for its shape ,colour,

and size and for its organolettic properties .For what

concerns the history of this “giant” It’s possible to

think that once imported from America in 1800 the

product changed its characteristics because of the

territory where it had been planted . We really can

divide it in two species : the first Ox Heart ”Cuore

di Bue” weighs 400-800gr and has the shape of a

heart. The second called “Giant” is more circular and

its weight can reach 2kg.

the red Onion

In the territory of Capo Vaticano- Ricadi,a great num-

ber of agricultural farms plant and sell the famous “Ci-

130

polle Rosse di Tropea” that are sold even overseas,

usually named Tropea as the most important centre

and where they were sent from by train or ship. On

the promontory of Capo Vaticano this bulb has found

the right climate, in fact, its sweetness depends on

this :mild climate, sandy grounds near the sea on the

Calabrian Tyrrhenian Coast. The technique of manu-

facturing of the onion are hand down from genera-

tion to generation. All the cultural activities are done

by hand. The red onion of Tropea is protected by

the trademark IGP “Geografic Indication Protection”

(CEE) with the following indication Cipolla Rossa di

Tropea Calabria I.G.P., thanks to the petition presen-

ted by the Accademy Tutela Cipolla Rossa di Tropea.

Potato of the Sila

The potato of the Sila is one of the varieties of the po-

tatoes growing in Sila, Calabria It’s registered in the list

of the mountain products. The principle “organolettic”

characteristics of this potato is to have a higher percen-

tage of starch. That makes it more nourishing and sweet

compared to the other potatoes. To insure this quality

is the area where it grows,1000meters sea level, that

gives it taste and the characteristic to need more time

for the cooking.

-At Camigliatello Silano, from 1978,in the month of

October “Potato della Sila Festival”

-At Parenti,from 1980, last Sunday of August “Fol-

koristic-Gastronomy Demonstration on the Potato

della Sila”

the Beans of Caria

This product is cultivated in Vibo for centuries ,in the

territory of Caria and Zacconapoli,after World War

the cultivation has increased and in the 80s it started

decreasing. The bean of Caria owes its quality to the

way its cultivated as well as to the techniques of pro-

duction that has remained the same as the past. The

particular micro-climate of the area of Poro at more

o less 700 meters sea level gives higher quality to

this product compared to beans cultivated in other

areas .For over 30 years in the town of Caria , on the

hills of Tropea, there’s “Sagra della Surjaca” : Bean

Festival ,with lots of visitors and tourists.

CItruS FruIt And FruIt

Clementine of Calabria IGP

The Clementine is a cross between a mandarin and

a sour orange. It is cultivated in Italy since 1940 and

have found in the land of Calabria their Ideal habitat.

They’re produced especially in the plane land of Si-

bari (CS) ,in some areas of Lamezia, in the province

of Reggio Calabria , Rosarno and also in some places

near Locri. Typical Calabrian product with the trade-

mark that guarantees

131

Control and quality : IGP “Clementine di Calabria”

the Cedar

The Cedar represents for Calabria one of those pro-

ducts that guarantees vital income to this territory.

A citrus fruit that has a relevant position in the eco-

nomy of several towns in Calabria that are part of the

area called “Riviera dei Cedri” :Coast of Cedars, in

the area of the Tyrrhenian Coast (CS) that leads from

Diamante to Tortora ;with in the centre Santa Maria

del Cedro, where this fruit spontaneously grows. Ce-

dar is used in the Food industry for the preparation

of soft drinks but the main part is used in the phar-

maceutical Industry to obtain the essential oil. During

the summer season the is a Festival dedicated to this

fruit at Diamante and Santa Maria del Cedro.

the Bergamot

The Bergamot is a fruit cultivated on the Ionian side

of the province of Reggio Calabria. The work to ex-

tract the essential oil “DOP” is done at the same pla-

ce of production of 4.860 tones of essence. In Cala-

bria the industry to transform the Bergamot occupies

an important level, considering the fact that no other

area permits its cultivation. The essential oil is pro-

duced along the coast between Villa San Giovanni

and Gioiosa Jonica ,between the Ionian Sea and the

Tyrrhenian Sea ,towns in the province of Reggio Ca-

labria and occupies 6,3% of the citrus tree cultivation

in Calabria. Reggio Calabria has dedicated a museum

to this fruit.

the Fig

Going down the sea towards south ,after coming

across one of the most important fishing harbour of

the region :Cetraro ,here we are in territory with ano-

ther important citrus tree ,the fig . the fig is very im-

portant here for its fruit called “Dottato” of Cosenza,

considered the best in the world for making pastries.

132

Since 1100 its qualities were discovered by Gioac-

chino da Fiore, a monk preacher whom inspired the

ideals of San Francesco and also in Dante Alighieri’s

poem ,collocating this fruit in Paradise. A simple re-

cipe is stuffing it with an almond and then dipped in

chocolate, or in oven and dipped in honey of fig, that

you get cooking the fresh figs for a long time, then

squeezing them and cooking it again. Another type of

preparation is the “Crocetta” crossing together two

figs stuffed with nuts.

FIShInG PrOduCtS

the Sword fish

The swordfish is a typical Calabrian esteemed dish

,fished and served in Reggio Calabria and in the pro-

vince especially at Villa San Giovanni, Palmi, Scilla,

and Bagnara Calabra being like this the tradition in

gastronomy. The fishing is very particular with the

traditional boats that have each one a typical name

like :Passerelle, Feluche, more often Spatare. The

swordfish is often reason to organize Festivals and

popular feasts during the summer season, especially

at Bagnara Calabra, in the province of Reggio Cala-

bria. It’s also fished in the north of Messina on the

opposite side of the strait.

the stockfish

Has its place of production at Mammola and its one

of the Italian traditional food product of the provin-

ce of Reggio Calabria : obtained by drying cods. It

was once considered food of the poor, as a matter

of fact the farmers would offer it to the land-workers

in hard days because it would give energy though

it was considered of high energetic value; still today

this tradition is kept alive. As a tradition is also to eat

this fish on Good Friday and Christmas Eve . From

1978 every year on 9th August at Borgo Antico di

Mammola there’s the Festival of the Swordfish coo-

ked in different ways and served in earthenware, ac-

companied by songs and folkloristic ballets.

Sardella

The principle specialty of Crucoli, in the province of

Crotone, known in all the region as the caviar of the

south or as the poor. A taste that joins both sea and

earth, obtained mixing together fish with hot chilli

pepper and herbs . Good on bread, sipping a glass

of red wine ,or just used to flavour pasta or eggs.

At Cir’ the ingredients used remain the same but the

fish isn’t cut up. The “sardella” of Trebisacce uses a

bigger fish and so it is more evident. There is also the

“Rosamarina” of Amantea, that looks more like the

“Caviar of Crucoli”. For its popularity there are Festi-

vals since 20 years ago in Crucoli every third Sunday

of August.

SWeetS

the “Buccunotti” of Mormanno

The “Bucconotto or Bucchinotto” in the local dialect

is a sweet in a round or oval shape filled with crum-

ble nuts and chocolate,or with jam. Its about 4cm

and weighs 100gr .Its very common in Cosenza but

mainly in Acri, Altomonte and Mormanno. It is usually

eaten in a bite and that’s the reason why of its name.

the “tartufo” (ice-cream)

The tartufo of Pizzo is an ancient product typical of

the Art pastry of Calabria. It’s an ice-cream handma-

de, semi-circle with liquid chocolate in the centre and

covered with chocolate powder. It’s called Tartufo for

its shape and colour. It’s a typical Handmade specia-

lity that for years is recalling a lot of visitors to satisfy

their palate We now can find it in all the areas of Ca-

133

labria, as well in other places of Italy

“Mostaccioli” of Soriano Calabro

The mostaccioli are traditional sweets of this place

but today you can find them in Calabria as well as

in Italy and overseas The origins are Greek It’s a dry

biscuit of flour and honey, (some even with wine)

and comes in different shapes sometimes even de-

corated with coloured paper

torrone of Bagnara

The confectioners of Bagnara are known for their cen-

tury tradition in making Torrone, handed down from

father to son since 1800. Made of almonds and honey,

ingredients of the zone. The cultivation of the almonds

was already done here by the Romans and spread in

the south of Italy. Its especially a Christmas sweet.

WIneS

Calabria once called “ENOTRIA” (land of wines) is

rich of wine with a typical Mediterranian taste.

Some vineyards are very ancient ,backing up to the

Greek colonies that brought them from their land

,started producing here and that today still continue

giving wine. The wine was offered to the winners of

the Olimpic games in ancient Greece while to the

God “Bacco” were dedicated Temples The people

of this region has been able to collect in the passing

of years experience of incalculable value in the ack-

nowledge and techniques of the vineyards. Still today

a characteristic is that every family has its own wine

produced with the traditional methods. Plenty busi-

ness point on the quality using scientific methods in

the phase of producing the wine . Thanks to expe-

rience of some leader ships of business after years of

experiments today we can say that we can count on

the high quality Today in Calabria the production is

134

of 12 wines with the trade mark DOC that are 20%

of the entire production. The surface of the area in-

terested is equal to 18thousand hectare 20% plane

land, 65% hills,15% mountain. On the Ionian coast

and the inner part ,up to the Sila, between Ciro’ and

Isola Capo Rizzuto we find Vineyards of “Gaglioppo”

the one used for the wine “Ciro’”. Further down south

near Bianco up to Aspromonte we find Greek vine-

yards . In the area of Lamezia we find the traditional

Grapes Nevello Mascalese that gives a special taste

to this type of wine.

Wine dOC

Bivongi in the provinces of Reggio Calabria and Ca-

tanzaro

Cirò in the province of Crotone

Donnici in the province of Cosenza

Greco di Bianco in the province of Reggio Calabria

Lamezia in the province of Catanzaro

Melissa in the province of Crotone

Pollino in the province of Cosenza

Sant’Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto red and rosé in the

provinces of Crotone and Catanzaro

San Vito di Luzzi in the province of Cosenza

Savuto nelle province di Cosenza e Catanzaro

Scavigna in the province of Catanzaro

Verbicaro in the province of Cosenza

Wine IGt

Arghillà in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Calabria in the entire territory of Calabria.

Condoleo in the province of Cosenza.

Costa Viola in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Esaro in the province of Cosenza.

Lipuda in the province of Crotone.

Locride nella provincia di Reggio Calabria.

Palizzi in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Pellaro in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Scilla in the province of Reggio Calabria.

Val di Neto in the province of Crotone.

135

Valdamato in the province of Catanzaro.

Valle del Crati in the province of Cosenza.

CrAFtS

the Art OF WeAvInG

Among the different crafts products in Calabria we

find weaving at the very first place. It is still widespread

throughout the land with different peculiarities from

zone to zone. It is the crafts production that better

represents the various cultural ‘souls’ of the region.

In Longobucco, in the Greek Sila, in the province of

Cosenza, there exists a precious highly specialized

production of many kinds of tapestries and blankets

. In San Giovanni in Fiore carpets are interlaced using

an Armenian recently imported technique and fabri-

cs are embroidered using bobbins. In Ghorio di Ro-

ghudi still some broom blankets are produced and

its working process follows very ancient techniques;

in Staiti, Palizzi, Polistena and many other villages in

the province of Reggio and Catanzaro they produce

the ‘pezzare’, multicolored stripes fabrics obtained

by using textile waste back again. The ‘pezzare’ are

used like carpets or to decorate walls. In Tiriolo and

Badolato in the province of Catanzaro we find the

‘vancali’, typical shawls; in Caccuri in the province of

Crotone, wool blankets with traditional drawings; in

Cariati in the province of Cosenza, once again car-

pets and blankets with Arabian techniques. The today

textile crafts production inspired to Greek, Byzantine

and Arabian traditions is only a small part of the very

big Calabria factory in the field of weaving ,mainly silk

weaving.

Referring to the history of Calabria weaving ,we can

visit the weaving hall in the Popular Art Museum in

Monterosso Calabro, in the province of Vibo Valentia.

Textile crafts museum Reggio Calabria

the Art OF CerAMICS.

This kind of art finds in Calabria a secular tradition.

136 The ceramics and terracotta production is influen-

ced by culture and tradition of those populations

who inhabited this ancient land. One of the main

characteristics of ceramics products in Calabria is

the representation of symbols and magical rites. The

production of graffiti, masks, pinakes, shepherds in

ceramics is of great value. Thanks to its artistic past

history Squillace has now a relevant cultural role in

this field. Ceramics in Squillace are made by using the

technique of ‘ingobbio’ that is to cover the artifact

with white clay and then to decorate it with scratches

by using a sharp point. The clay after a first cooking

period changes its colour into a dark red one. Locri

is famous for its lamps and vases while Gerace for its

artistic ceramics.

GOld And SIlver

Jewelry art in Crotone is almost recent but very ap-

preciated in Italy and abroad in different sectors:

from the show business to the religious field , from

haute couture to institutional sectors. The Mediterra-

nean jewelry art school of Gerardo Sacco is among

the most prestigious schools in Italy. Beyond the

sacred objects of a past time, it teaches to decorate

instruments of the Calabria farmer art and it creates

shapes and symbols of an Italian-Albanian civiliza-

tion. But it also creates artistic jewels for cinema

purposes, as for example those used in ‘The young

Toscanini’ acted by Liz Taylor, who considered them

of an ‘ unparalleled beauty’ and those used by Glen

Close in ‘Hamlet’.

History, culture and tradition mixed themselves in

the golden strands of the famous jewelry tradition in

San Giovanni in Fiore reaching success all over the

world for its originality and precision. The meaningful

life’s moments are associated to a jewel. Birth, enga-

137gement, marriage, death find a proper representation

in the jewelry tradition. The jewelry sector has still a

certain importance thanks to the ancient art and the

know-how of some families, engaged in this mastery

for centuries: jewels, that won the time, being given

daughters from their mothers. The jennacca is the

main jewel decoration of the typical local costume.

The jennacca grains are obtained by working the fili-

gree in a particular way, by creating a daisy with buds

having a hemispherical shape, which, interlaced with

another one, gains the shape of a grain.

the Art OF WOrKInG WOOd

The high quantity of wood existing in the Sila and

Aspromonte mountains has always permitted to de-

velop wood crafts, it is also closely linked to ancient

traditions. One of the most original wood processing

production is the one called ‘shepherds ‘ art’, still ba-

sing itself on the technique of hand carving. Cabine-

try, carving, inlay such as the production of tobacco

pipes are traditions inherited from father to son. In

fact the tobacco pipes of Calabria are at the first pla-

ce in the most famous amateurs’ collections both for

functionality and beauty. In Brognaturo and Melissa

the local craftsmen use the roots of tree heather to

process the precious Aspromonte root in order to

create tobacco pipes masterpieces to be collected.

Great importance also have the high-quality musical

wood instruments particularly the lute produced in

Bisignano and the reed flageolets produced in San

Luca and Plati’.