Mammola
Discovering Locride: Physical Geography
Hello everyone! Today we will discover Locride, an area of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria located on the Ionian coast of Calabria. The area covers an area of 1,232.35 km² and is home to 121,877 people in 42 municipalities. The Costa dei Gelsomini, or Riviera dei Gelsomini, is the coastal stretch of the area.
The Locride area is divided into valleys and promontories. In the Stilaro and Allaro Valleys, which covers an area of 349.79 km², you can find the municipalities of Bivongi, Camini, Caulonia, Monasterace, Pazzano, Placanica, Riace, Roccella Jonica, Stignano and Stilo. The Torbido Valley, which covers an area of 189.99 km², includes the municipalities of Mammola, Grotteria, San Giovanni di Gerace, Martone, Gioiosa Jonica, and Marina di Gioiosa Ionica. Instead, the Gerace and Lordo Valley, on an area of 127 km², hosts the municipalities of Agnana Calabra, Canolo, Gerace, Locri, and Siderno. The Condojanni and Portigliola Valley covers an area of 120 km² and includes the municipalities of Antonimina, Ardore, Ciminà, Portigliola, and Sant'Ilario dello Ionio. Finally, the Bonamico and La Verde Valley covers an area of 362.57 km² and includes the municipalities of Benestare, Bianco, Bovalino, Caraffa del Bianco, Careri, Casignana, Platì, Samo, San Luca, and Sant'Agata del Bianco. Heracleum, which covers an area of 140 km², hosts the municipalities of Africo, Ferruzzano, Bruzzano Zeffirio, Staiti, Brancaleone, and Palizzi.
Places of Interest and Museums in Locride
Locride is rich in artistic and cultural places of interest. You can visit the small Byzantine church of Cattolica di Stilo, which has five very distinctive domes. You can also visit the Greek Orthodox monastery of San Giovanni Theristis, the Hermitage of Santa Maria della Stella in Pazzano, the Cathedral of Gerace, the Santa Barbara Museum Park, the archaeological area of the ancient Kaulon near Monasterace, the Greek-Roman Theater of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, and the Roman Villa of Casignana.
Moreover, the National Museum of Locri Epizephiri and Locri Epizefiri Archeology will offer you an unforgettable experience if you are interested in history and archaeology. The Monasterace Museum will surprise you with its exhibition of art, archaeology, and local history, while the Naniglio Ruins in Gioiosa Ionica will take you back in time.
Finally, do not forget to visit the Sanctuary of Madonna di Polsi in San Luca and the Sanctuary of San Nicodemo Monte Limina in Mammola, two places of worship immersed in nature.
Institutions
Locride comprises 42 municipalities, some of which are mountain villages rich in history and traditions. Africo, Antonimina, Bruzzano Zeffirio, Canolo, Careri, Caulonia, Ciminà, Gerace, Mammola, Platì, Sant'Agata del Bianco, Samo, and San Luca are part of the Aspromonte National Park.
I hope this small description of Locride has piqued your curiosity and made you want to visit this beautiful area of Calabria!
