Anoia
Anoia: the small municipality in Calabria
Hi there! Today, I'd like to talk about a small municipality in Calabria called Anoia. Anoia is located in the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria and is home to approximately 2038 people. The territory of Anoia ranges from 44 to 343 meters above sea level, with an elevation difference of 299 meters. In addition, it is composed of two hamlets: Anoia Inferiore (998 inhabitants) and Anoia Superiore (1040 inhabitants).
The origin of the name
Have you ever wondered where the name Anoia comes from? According to the philologist Gerhard Rohlfs, the name derives from the Greek word ''άνωγεον'', which means "up" or "place located on high". It is likely that the name refers to the settlement of Anoia Superiore, the highest hamlet.
The history of Anoia
The origins of Anoia date back to the time of the Magna Graecia colonizers, who founded economic and cultural centers along the internal routes of Calabria. The presence of Greeks in Anoia has been confirmed by the discovery of coins and other archaeological finds.
During the Roman Empire, coins and other archaeological finds were discovered in the district of Aracri. In the 8th - 12th century, the monastery of S. Maria del Ruvo was built in the center of Anoia Superiore, which was destroyed following the earthquake of 1908.
During the feudal period, Anoia was an important village and was assigned as a Baronia to the De Nao family in 1270. Later, it passed to the De Orta, the De Acquarola, the Maiuli, the Anoja, the Caracciolo di Gerace, the Ruffo di Sinopoli and the Paravagna, under whom it became a Marquisate in 1664. The fief produced grains, fruits, wines, oils and silk. In total, the fief had a population of 2063 people, divided between Anoia Superiore, Anoia Inferiore, Maropati and Tritanti.
The culture of Anoia
During all this mix of races and languages, the written language was Greek while the spoken one was a combination of Greek, Latin, Saracen, Lombard and Norman. In 1560, the church of San Giorgio was built in Maropati.
Conclusions
Here's everything you need to know about Anoia. The city has an interesting history and a unique culture. If you're looking for a peaceful place to relax and discover the hidden gems of Calabria, I recommend visiting Anoia.
