Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Italy's Secret Villages

 

Image by Peter H from Pixabay

Ah, bella Italia! Most envision her through the grandeur of Rome, the artistry of Florence, or the romantic canals of Venice. Yet, if you listen closely, Italy whispers tales from her lesser-known corners – the secret villages where time seems to have paused. As a native Italian, I have a profound affection for these hidden gems, where traditions remain untouched and every alley narrates a tale. Join me, as we embark on a journey through Italy's secret villages.

1. Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio

Suspended in the valley between two deep canyons, Civita di Bagnoregio, often termed 'The Dying Town,' is a marvel perched atop a plateau. Accessible only by a pedestrian bridge, it's a place where medieval structures blend seamlessly with nature. The silence here is profound, broken only by the occasional church bell or friendly banter.

2. Tellaro, Liguria

Overshadowed by its famed neighbor Cinque Terre, Tellaro is a serene coastal village. Pastel-colored houses cling to the cliffside, narrow alleys twist and turn unpredictably, and the waves sing a lullaby. At sunset, when the golden light bathes the harbor, Tellaro's charm is nothing short of magical.

3. Montemerano, Tuscany

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Montemerano is everything one dreams of when imagining the Tuscan countryside. With its cobblestone streets, centuries-old church, and panoramic views of rolling olive groves, it's a page out of a Renaissance painting.

4. Bosa, Sardinia

On the banks of the Temo River, Bosa dazzles with its multicolored houses, medieval castle, and laid-back aura. The town's artisanal traditions, from embroidery to Malvasia wine production, are a testament to its rich heritage.

5. Otranto, Puglia

Where the Adriatic meets Italy's heel, Otranto stands with its impressive castle, vibrant port, and mosaic-adorned cathedral. The town's history, marked by Byzantine and Ottoman influences, lends it a distinct character.

6. Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo

This alpine village is a realm of tranquillity amidst the Gran Sasso National Park. Once a flourishing medieval center, it now boasts beautifully restored accommodations, ensuring visitors can relish its antiquity comfortably.

7. Aieta, Calabria

Aieta, with its stone houses adorned with sculpted balconies and intricate doorways, is a testament to Calabrian artistry. Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, it offers a blend of mountainous charm and coastal allure.

In Conclusion: Rediscovering Italy

The beauty of Italy is not just in her famous cities but in these whispered tales from her hidden villages. These are places where nonnas share age-old recipes, where festivals echo ancestors' spirits, and where the modern world gently interlaces with the past. To visit these villages is to embrace Italy in her purest form, to understand that amidst the cobblestones and ancient walls, lies the heart of a nation that has, for centuries, celebrated life in all its simplicity and splendor. Venture off the beaten path, and let Italy's secret villages enchant you. Buon viaggio!

Crotone

Croton's oekist (founder) was Myscellus who came from the city of Rhypes in Achaea in the northern Peloponnese. He established the city in c. 710 BC and it soon became one of the most flourishing cities of Magna Graecia with a population between 50,000 to 80,000 around 500 BC. Its inhabitants were famous for their physical strength and for the simple sobriety of their lives. From 588 BC onwards, Croton produced many generations of victors in the Olympics and the other Panhellenic Games, the most famous of whom was Milo of Croton. According to Herodotus (3.131), the physicians of Croton were considered the foremost among the Greeks, among which Democedes son of Calliphon was the most prominent in the 6th century BC.

Cosenza

Origins
The ancient Consentia, capital of the Italic tribe of the Bruttii, was a bulwark of the Italic people against the Hellenic influences of the Ionian colonies. It was in this province that the Battle of Pandosia was fought, in which a small Italic army composed of Bruttii and Lucanians defeated Alexander the Great's uncle, Alexander of Epirus. Over the centuries, Cosenza maintained a distinctive character, which marked it out among the cities of the region. Under Emperor Augustus it became an important stopover on the Roman route via Popilia, which connected Calabria to Sicily. During the Roman Empire, although merely a colonia, the town benefited from municipal privileges.

Catanzaro

Certain assumptions trace the origin of Catanzaro to an ancient Greek colony, already in place, which became the land of Scolacium, believed to have been built on the ruins of the ancient city of Trischines. Other hypotheses identify Catanzaro's development to have grown from various settlements scattered in the area of Catanzaro, Marina, Tiriolo (formerly Teure), Santa Maria di Catanzaro, and on the hill Trivonà (Trischines, along the valley of Corach which formed the old "Land of Feaco"). The mouth of the river, according to legend, created the ancient Ulysses Skilletion.

Reggio Calabria

Ancient times
The origins of the ancient city of Reggio merge into the mists of mythology and the meanderings of archaeology. From the late 3rd millennium BC onwards until the 8th century BC it was inhabited by peoples such as the Osci (sometimes referred to as Opici), Phoenicians, Trojans, Mycenaeans and Achæans, then by Oenotrians, Ligures, Ausones, Mamertines, Taureanes, Sicels, Morgeti and Itali. We know that the sculptor Léarchos was at Reggio at the end of the 15th century BC, and that Iokastos was King of Reggio at the beginning of the 13th century BC. The land round Reggio was first known as Saturnia, or Neptunia, and later Italia, which in Roman times became the name of the whole Italian peninsula. In those days however, it corresponded only to present-day, southern Calabria, which later came to be known as Bruttium, while the name Italia (Italy), in fact, was first used only for the area of Reggio itself.

Vibo Valentia

Vibo Valentia was originally the Greek colony of Hipponion. It was founded, probably around the late 7th century BC, by inhabitants of Locri, a principal city of the Italian Magna Graecia, south of Vibo Valentia on the Ionian Sea. Diodorus Siculus reports that the city was taken in 388 BC by Dionysius the Elder tyrant of Syracuse, who deported all the population.

Nature and History in Reggio Calabria

Projected towards a mediterranean future, Reggio Calabria still preserves all the reassuring lukewarmness of the provincial small town and the attractive charm of the tourist place. The heart of the historical centre in the Corso Garibaldi, with lively squares and smart administrative offices, the magnificent

Theatre and the imposing Cathedral. Walking among boutiques and the liberty style buildings, which are typical of the IX century urban architecture is a pleasant way to know these three kilometres, in the heat of the economie and political city life. A few metres and we are in front of one of the most delightful scene of the world. Landscapes, vegetation, colours, the zagara and bergamot smell: the Mediterranean being of Reggio Calabria shows with a surprising variety of suggestions. The promenade is its perfect synthesis: an apotheosis of palms, ficus, very rare tropical and exotic species, a few metres away from the shore.

Calabria

Calabria, known in antiquity as Bruttium or formerly as Italia, is a region in southern Italy, forming the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro. The most populated city and the seat of the Calabrian Regional Council, however, is Reggio.

It is bordered to the north by the region of Basilicata, to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and to the east by the Ionian Sea. The region covers 15,080 km2 (5,822 sq mi) and has a population of just over 2 million. The demonym of Calabria in English is Calabrian.

In ancient times the name Calabria was used to refer to the southern part of Apulia, the peninsula of Salento (also known as the "heel" of Italy).