San Lorenzo
Reggio Calabria: the city and its history
Reggio Calabria is an Italian municipality located in Calabria, a region in the southern part of Italy. It is the capital of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and has a population of over 171,000 people. Moreover, it is the oldest city in Greek Calabria and has a thousand-year-old history. Reggio Calabria was a flourishing city in Magna Graecia, but most of its historical heritage was destroyed by the Messina earthquake in 1908. However, the city has been rebuilt and today it presents itself as a modern and elegant city.
Physical Geography
Reggio Calabria extends along the eastern coast of the Strait of Messina and also develops eastward, with half-hilly and mountainous areas. The municipal territory extends over an area of 236.02 km² and ranges from a minimum altitude of 0 meters to a maximum of 1,803 m above sea level. The historic center of Reggio Calabria was rebuilt at an average altitude of 31 m above sea level, while the coastal area in front of it was leveled over three volumes. Reggio Calabria is located on the tip of the "boot" and overlooks the Strait of Messina.
The National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria is one of the most important museums in southern Italy. It exhibits a vast collection of Magna Graecia artifacts, as well as the beautiful Riace Bronzes, a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the 5th century BC. The splendid bronzes, discovered in 1972, represent two naked warriors and are considered one of the most precious treasures of the Italian artistic heritage.
Reggio Calabria: heart of the Metropolitan Area of the Strait of Messina
Reggio Calabria, together with the metropolitan area of Messina, represents the heart of the Metropolitan Area of the Strait of Messina. It is a conurbation resulting from the urban continuity with strong social and economic integration between the municipalities on both sides of the strait. It is one of the largest and most populous urban areas in southern Italy and offers many services, such as universities, hospitals, museums, and tourist attractions.
Conclusions
Reggio Calabria is a city rich in history and culture, but also a modern and elegant city that offers many services and tourist attractions, such as the National Archaeological Museum and the splendid eastern coast of the Strait of Messina. It presents itself as an important node of social and economic integration of the Metropolitan Area of the Strait of Messina and is a reference point for the entire region.
