Santo Stefano in Aspromonte
Welcome to Santo Stefano in Aspromonte!
Hello everyone! If you are looking for an interesting tourist destination, Santo Stefano in Aspromonte is the place for you. With just over a thousand inhabitants, this town in Calabria has a lot to offer in terms of landscape and environment.
Physical geography
Santo Stefano is located on the Tyrrhenian coast of the province of Reggio Calabria and has a beautiful view of the Strait of Messina. This tourist destination is characterized by vegetation that changes gradually with increasing altitude. In fact, up to a thousand meters above sea level there are olive and chestnut trees, while after a thousand meters there are beech, pine and fir trees. At 1310 meters, there is the winter and summer resort of Gambarie. From Monte Scirocco, you can enjoy a spectacular view of various places such as the Strait of Messina, the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna (volcano).
Origin of the name
The name "Santo Stefano" derives from Latin "corona" and seems to have been attributed to the center because of its importance from a military point of view, already in Roman times.
History
The origin of this town dates back to the Byzantine period, where the Byzantine monastery of San Giovanni in Castaneto played an important role in the development of the center. In 1543 it was attacked by the Ottoman admiral Khayr al-Din, known as "Barbarossa" and in 1552 and 1561 another Turkish pirate, Dragut, reached the village.
In 1648 the inhabitants of Santo Stefano participated in the violent anti-Spanish rebellion that broke out in Reggio Calabria. In 1777 the new church of Santo Stefano Protomartire, built by Prince Vincenzo Ruffo, was completed. It was destroyed by the earthquake of 1783 and rebuilt in 1796, with a Greek cross plan. In 1811 Santo Stefano, a feud of the Ruffo family until 1806, became an autonomous municipality.
Conclusions
Here is a place rich in history and natural beauty: Santo Stefano in Aspromonte. You can discover many streams, enjoy the landscape and visit the church of Santo Stefano Protomartire. If you are looking for a place outside the box, this is the one for you. Come and visit Santo Stefano in Aspromonte, you won't regret it!
