Reggio Calabria

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Reggio Calabria (officially Reggio di Calabria, Rìggiu in Calabrian dialect, Righi in Greek-Calabrian, Rhèghion in Greek), is the largest and the oldest city in Calabria, Italy, dating back to the 8th century BC (see history below). Located on the toe of the Italian boot, it's the capital of the province of Reggio Calabria and the headquarters of the Regional Council of Calabria. The city proper has about 200,000 inhabitants, but the population of the urban area is more.

Geography

Reggio di Calabria is located on the boot toe of Italy, across from the island of Sicily. It is situated at the base of the Aspromonte, the long, craggy mountain range that runs up through the center of the region. The area has been subjected to several earthquakes and tsunami waves, over the centuries.

History

Founded as Rhegion by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC, the city was devastated by several major earthquakes and associated tsunami. During the Roman Empire it was called Rhegium Julium as a noble Roman city. Later Reggio di Calabria became a Byzantine city, and in the 12th century, it became part of the Kingdom of Sicily, and then in the 13th century, it became part of the Kingdom of Naples.

Reggio Calabria is known as the location of the first dated Hebrew book, a Rashi commentary on the Pentateuch, printed in 1475; however, scholars consider Rome as the city where Hebrew printing began.

For Reggio di Calabria, the worst earthquakes came in 1783 and on December 28, 1908. The latter quake was the most devastating. Some 80 percent of all buildings in Reggio collapsed and many thousands were killed. Damage was even worse in Messina across the straits. That quake remains the worst on record in modern western European history. It took Reggio a generation to fully recover.

Main sights

The National Museum of Greater Greece, housing the two famous Bronzi di Riace statues.
The Cathedral, the largest religious building in Calabria.
The Aragonese Castle, built before 540. It is now home to art exhibitions.
Chiesa degli Ottimati ("Church of the Optimates"), in Byzantine-Norman style.
The walls of the ancient city, one of the few examples survived of Greek walls. They are divided into four separated section, the one one the Falcomatà Seaside dated to the 4th century BC and attributed to the city's reconstruction by Dionysius II of Syracuse.
Villa Zerbi, a villa in 14th-century Venetian style. It is the seat of exhibition of the Venice Biennale in southern Italy.
Remains of Roman baths.
The Town Art Gallery (Pinacoteca Comunale) housing works by Antonello da Messina (Abraham Served by the Angels and St. Jerome in Penitence), Mattia Preti, Luca Giordano, Giuseppe Benessai and others.
The church of Saint Gaetano Catanoso (1879-1963) on via Catanoso in the Santo Spirito neighborhood. Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 23, 2005, St. Gaetano is the first saint from Calabria since St.Francis of Paola, who was canonized in 1507. St Gaetano was founder of the Sisters of St. Veronica of the Holy Face. His glass tomb, a magnet for miracle seekers, is in the sanctuary. Museum exhibits as well. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 4, 1997.

Culture

Reggio Calabria is the hometown of the late Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace and his sister Donatella Versace.

Notable people

Pythagoras (5th century BC) Greek sculptor

References

External links

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Last updated on Monday February 25, 2008 at 03:55:53 PST (GMT -0800)
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