Brancaleone
Reggio Calabria: a city of ancient past and modern present
Reggio Calabria is the capital of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria and the largest municipality in the region. With over 171,000 inhabitants, the city is the heart of the Metropolitan Area of the Strait of Messina, an integrated conurbation from both a social and economic perspective, between the municipalities on both sides of the Strait.
Physical geography
The municipal territory extends along the eastern coast of the Strait of Messina for about 32 km and towards the east, from the sea to the mountains, for another 30 km. Thanks to its geographical position, Reggio Calabria is the city closest to Sicily and, along with Messina, forms the Metropolitan Area of the Strait of Messina, which is the heart of the "Mare Nostrum" of the ancient Romans.
The historic center of Reggio Calabria, located on three levels, was rebuilt at an average altitude of 31 m above sea level, after the earthquakes of 1783 and 1908 that destroyed much of the dwellings. The city extends up to a maximum altitude of 1,803 m above sea level and is located at the foot of the Aspromonte.
Culture and tourism
Reggio Calabria is the oldest city of Greek Calabria and has a millennial history. The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria preserves works from Magna Graecia and the Riace bronzes that have become an identifying symbol of the city.
Furthermore, the city has numerous monuments and places of tourist interest, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Municipal Theater "Francesco Cilea", the National Museum of Magna Graecia, the Aragonese Castle and the Municipal Villa.
But Reggio Calabria is also known for its gastronomic and craft traditions, such as the production of oranges and bergamots, the processing of ceramics, the production of knives, and the preparation of typical Calabrian dishes.
Economy
Reggio Calabria is an important commercial and industrial center and has a tourist port and a commercial port. Agriculture is an important source of income for the city, with the production of oranges and bergamots representing one of the most exported products. Moreover, the city is famous for the processing of red hot chili peppers, which are exported worldwide.
Conclusions
Reggio Calabria is a city that combines the past and the present, modernity, and tradition. Thanks to its geographical position, the city has become an important center of cultural, commercial, and tourist exchange between Calabria and Sicily. Its millennial culture and the beauty of its places of interest make it an area of great interest for tourism, but also its economy and its artisan tradition make it a place of great opportunity for local entrepreneurship.
