Laganadi
Reggio Calabria: an ancient city with a modern imprint
Reggio Calabria, also known as Rìggiu in the local dialect, is an Italian municipality located in the region of Calabria. As the capital of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, it is the largest and most populous city in the area with a population of approximately 171,246 inhabitants. Furthermore, Reggio Calabria is an important cultural and tourist center in the region due to its millennia-old history.
The heart of the Strait of Messina Metropolitan Area
Reggio Calabria is the capital of the Great Reggio## Urban agglomeration of the strait, an urban agglomeration that includes several municipalities on the Calabrian side of the Strait of Messina. Together with the metropolitan area of Messina, it forms the heart of the Strait of Messina Metropolitan Area, a conurbation that extends between the two shores of the Strait and represents a pivotal point for Calabria and Sicily.
The National Archaeological Museum and the Riace bronzes
The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria is an important stop for visitors to the city. The museum exhibits collections of artifacts from Magna Graecia, including the extraordinary Riace bronzes, identifying symbols of the city. Greek art is indeed present in many aspects of the city's architecture and culture.
The physical geography of Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria stretches along the eastern coast of the Strait of Messina, for about 32 km, and towards the east, from the sea to the mountains, for about another 30 km, with areas of half coast, hills, and mountains. The city covers an area of 236.02 km² from a minimum altimetric level of 0 meters to a maximum of 1,803 m a.s.l.
The main nucleus of the city is located between the Annunziata river and the Calopinace river, while the rest of the municipal territory extends from Catona to Bocale. Reggio Calabria is located on the toe of the boot at the foot of the Aspromonte. To the west, it overlooks the Strait of Messina, the body of water that separates it from Messina, the western shore of the Strait.
The reconstruction after the Messina earthquakes of 1908
Despite its millennia-old history, Reggio Calabria today presents itself with a modern urban imprint. Much of the city was destroyed by the Messina earthquakes of 1908 and was subsequently rebuilt. The historic center was rebuilt at an average altitude of 31 m a.s.l., leaving the lower coastal part free from civil constructions, given the excessive proximity to the sea which caused thousands of deaths during the tsunami.
The territory of Reggio Calabria
The territory of Reggio Calabria is very vast and extends from the hills to the mountains, offering many opportunities for outdoor activities. The city is crossed by the 38th parallel North, where a Carrara marble monument marks the latitude. In the metropolitan area, precisely in the municipality of Palizzi, is the southernmost point of the Italian peninsula, the Promontorio di Eracle, now Capo Spartivento, where in 1867 the Faro di Capo Spartivento was built at 64 m a.s.l.
Conclusions
Reggio Calabria is a fascinating place that combines the history and culture of Magna Graecia with the modernity of the present. Its vast territory offers numerous opportunities to discover and appreciate the natural beauty of the place. Moreover, there is no shortage of museums, monuments, and archaeological sites that testify to the rich history and culture that this city has inherited from ancient Magna Graecia.
