Melicucco
Welcome to Melicuccà!
Hello everyone! Today I am taking you on a journey to discover some history and beauty of Melicuccà, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria in Calabria, with a population of 833 inhabitants. The town is known not only for its picturesque location among the slopes of the Aspromonte, but also for its origins dating back to the 10th century.
A bit of physical geography
Melicuccà is located in a valley formed by the northern slopes of the Aspromonte, surrounded by dense forests of oaks, chestnuts, pines, and other trees typical of the area. The territory of the municipality is predominantly hilly, with some flat areas dedicated to agriculture. The standout hills include Mount Cerami, which with its 1,248 meters in height, dominates the entire surrounding valley.
Where does the name Melicuccà come from?
Curious about the origin of the name of our town? According to tradition, the name is linked to the presence of the hackberry tree (in Greek "melikokkos") and the numerous springs of sweet water that flowed in the area. One of the most accredited hypotheses, however, dates the toponym to the city of Sicri, an ancient commercial center that stood near the current Melicuccà.
A millennia-old history
Melicuccà is an ancient land that has its roots in Byzantine Greece. Among the most important testimonies of this era, we find the caves of San Elia Speleota, a complex of caves and basilical settlements dating back to the 10th century, which today represents one of the most important testimonies of Byzantine Greek culture in southern Calabria. But the history of Melicuccà is much older, as shown by the numerous archaeological finds that have been discovered in the surrounding territory. The town was perhaps founded around the 10th century, after refugees who escaped the massacre of Sicri moved to the Melicuccà valley.
The symbols of Melicuccà
The coat of arms of Melicuccà was granted by D.P.R. of November 3, 2009, and is made up of a Samnite shield divided into four parts: in the top left field is the pine tree, a symbol of rebirth; in the top right field, a lion is depicted, symbolizing strength and courage; in the bottom left field we find the tower, a symbol of vigilance and defense of the territory, while in the bottom right field there is a checkered ornament, which recalls the Byzantine tradition of the territory. The gonfalone of Melicuccà is instead made up of a blue flag, with the representation of the municipal coat of arms in the center.
Visit Melicuccà
Now that we have discovered some history and symbols, let's move on to visiting the town. Among the religious architectures, the church of San Giovanni Battista represents one of the oldest places of worship in Melicuccà. The church was built in 1496, after the cult of San Giovanni Battista became established in the town, but before that date the patron saint of Melicuccà was Sant'Elia lo Speleota. The church of Sant'Antonio da Padova, on the other hand, was the church of the Convent of the reformed Franciscan friars of the Venetian province, who settled in the town in the early seventeenth century. The church of Maria Santissima del Rosario, instead, was one of the four exempt commendal churches when Melicuccà was a commendation of the Knights of Malta.
Conclusions
And so we have discovered some history and beauty of Melicuccà, a small municipality immersed in the nature of the Aspromonte. From Byzantine archaeological finds to religious architectures, Melicuccà offers visitors a unique opportunity to discover the millennia-old history of Calabria. All you have to do is come and visit it!
