Destinations: Reggio di Calabria

Reggio di Calabria, Calabria

In and around Reggio di Calabria, a city of resorts and seaports, the visitor will find some of the most splendid landscapes in Italy. Located on the Strait of Messina directly opposite near-by Sicily, Reggio is surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Coast to the north and the Ionian Coast to the east. From the city, beaches seem to stretch out in all directions. Though Reggio has had its share of hard times, it thrives with the help of its merit as a vacationing hotspot and its importance as an agricultural market. Fruits, tobacco, herbs and bergamot (a pear-shaped citrus fruit, whose essence is used to make the well-known perfume oil) are all cultivated here, and are exported along with an array of typical Calabrese wines and olive oils.

History
Originally a Greek colony founded at the end of the 8th century B.C., Reggio allied itself first with Athens in the 5th century B.C. and then with Rome around 280 B.C. After the 5th century A.D., the city was ruled in succession by a number of different peoples, including the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, and Arabs. Eventually falling into Norman possession around 1060 A.D., it became part of the kingdom known as "the Two Sicilies." The city's greatest adversaries, Muslim invaders and shattering earthquakes, have managed to destroy the majority of historic buildings over the centuries. However, this provided Reggio with an opportunity to rebuild its center and greatly modernize its industries. Today, historical and cultural artifacts are best found in the city's National Museum, while designer stores and turn-of-the-century palazzi reign triumphant in the newly-revived core of the town.

Sights
Artifacts amassed from digs at Locri, Crotone, Caulonia, Sibari, Krimisia and other hubs of what was once Magna Grecia ("Greater Greece") can all be found at Reggio's National Museum. Two of the most famous objects are a pair of giant statues of Greek warriors, the "Bronzi di Riace," which date all the way back to the 5th century B.C. and which were moved to the Museum in 1981. The statues are kept in a gallery alongside a work known as "the Head of the Philosopher," considered to be the Greek tradition's first lifelike portrait. Another testament to Greek antiquity, sections of the city's original walls are visible from along the shore and Vittorio Emanuele road, near the location of the ruined Roman baths. Nowadays, "baths" are taken on the beach near Lido Communale, and sunbathers take advantage of the lungomare, a long, narrow botanical garden, which runs by the seaside. This stretch has the honor of once being described by Italian author d'Annunzio as the "most beautiful kilometer in all of Italy."

Cuisine
In Reggio, the most popular, typical dishes include spaghetti alla calabrese (with a pepper sauce), capocollo ham (piquant ham, prepared with local hot peppers), and pesce spada (local swordfish). Sweets are also commonly found in most of Reggio's bars and bakeries. To pick up some tasty treats, take a stroll down Corso Garibaldi, also the site one of the city's major food emporiums, Dí per Dí supermarket.

Transportation
The Airport, Aeroporto dello Stretto, is located 5 km south of the city, and offers service to Bologna, Florence, Milan, Rome, and Torino. Reggio has two train stations: Stazione Centrale, on Piazza Garibaldi at the southern end of town; and, Stazione Lido, just off Via Zerbi at the northern end of town. All trains stop at the more popular Stazione Centrale, and destination points from there include Cosenza, Naples, Rome, Scilla, and Tropea. Ferries can be taken from Reggio's port, located at the northernmost tip of the city. Boats and hydrofoils travel daily between the city, Messina, and the Aeolian Islands (Lipari, Salina, Vulcano).