Rocca Imperiale
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Rocca Imperiale, a town in the province of Cosenza located on the border with Basilicata and with a population of 3205. The main characteristic of the city is its famous lemons, recognized as a traditional agri-food product and with the European Union protected geographical indication mark since 2011. Moreover, Rocca Imperiale is the northernmost inhabited center in Calabria.
Physical geography
Rocca Imperiale is located in the middle of the arch that surrounds the Gulf of Taranto, at about 200 meters above sea level on a hill of the Apennine foothills that mark the beginning of the ancient Siritide plain. The town is built on the eastern convexity of the slope, with houses arranged in a terraced manner at the foot of the fortress that gave it its name. The medieval village retains its original appearance, with alleys, steep access roads to the top, an ancient bell tower, and severe military constructions.
History
Birth of the town
Rocca Imperiale was already the main communication route between Puglia and Calabria on the Ionian side in the 1200s. The "Ionian coastal road" mentioned by the "Tabula Peutingeriana" was the only road that connected Reggio Calabria to Brindisi, starting from the sea and following the coast. At the time, Calabria was part of Sicily, and the Sicilian barons could have invaded the rest of the state using this road if they had rebelled against limitations imposed on their prerogatives.
The history of the region
Calabria was a region where polis and city-states were flourishing; however, struggles for hegemony and envy led to the destruction of these cities. The wars of Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Spartacus, and the Goths were the main responsible for these destructions. Only one surviving city remained: the Metapontum temple of the Dioscuri.
I hope this brief summary of Rocca Imperiale has given you an idea of how it is a beautiful and charming city that I can't wait to visit. What do you think of Rocca Imperiale? Let us know in the comments!
