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Reggio Calabria
discover the city of bergamot!
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Our strongest impression of Reggio Calabria was of a city where the sun seems to shine constantly, yet the heat rarely feels overwhelming because the sea breeze keeps the air surprisingly fresh. With its intense light, waterfront, vegetation, and southern atmosphere, the city sometimes feels as though it belongs to another continent rather than Europe.
History of Reggio Calabria:
Reggio Calabria originated as Rhegion, one of the earliest Greek colonies in southern Italy. Settlers from Chalcis in Euboea founded it around 730 BC on a site already inhabited by the Ausones and Oenotrians. During the fifth century BC, under Anaxilas, the city gained political and economic influence over both shores of the Strait. Read More [...]
Rhegion became an important center of Magna Graecia, noted for its Pythagorean philosophical school and traditions of sculpture and poetry. It allied with Athens during the Peloponnesian War but was captured by Dionysius I of Syracuse in 387 BC. Later, as Rome's naval ally, Rhegium developed into a prosperous imperial administrative and transport center.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Reggio remained closely connected to the Eastern Roman Empire and Greek culture. Following Justinian's reconquest of Italy, it became the capital of the Theme of Calabria and an important religious metropolis. The Normans captured the city in 1060, gradually bringing it into the Latin cultural and political sphere.
Reggio later passed through Angevin and Aragonese rule. During the Sicilian Vespers in 1282, it supported Messina and the Aragonese forces against the Angevins. Silk production, citrus cultivation, metalworking, printing, goldsmithing, and trade brought prosperity during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, before raids, epidemics, Spanish taxation, and the 1783 earthquake caused serious decline.
Napoleon occupied Reggio in 1806, while liberal unrest later culminated in Domenico Romeo's failed revolt against Bourbon rule in 1847. Garibaldi captured the city after the Battle of Piazza Duomo on 21 August 1860. A devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed much of Reggio in 1908, prompting modern reconstruction. Allied bombing caused further destruction in 1943.
Geography of Reggio Calabria:
Reggio Calabria is the largest city in Calabria, with about 200,000 inhabitants. It occupies the eastern shore of the Strait of Messina, and its municipal territory extends for roughly 32 kilometers along the coast and about 30 kilometers inland, covering the area between the Ionian Sea and the slopes of Aspromonte. Read More [...]
The historic center was rebuilt at an average elevation of 31 meters after the devastating 1908 earthquake and tsunami. The lowest coastal area was left largely free of residential construction and organized into Via Marina Bassa, Via Marina Alta, and a botanical strip. The urban core lies between the Annunziata and Calopinace waterways.
Reggio stands at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, opposite Messina and below the Aspromonte massif. Much of its territory consists of alluvial and deltaic land formed by sediments carried by seasonal streams. Its Mediterranean climate, water resources, and terraced hills favor citrus fruits, vineyards, olives, and especially the cultivation of bergamot.
Reggio Calabria lies 23 kilometers south of Scilla, 95 kilometers south of Tropea, 105 kilometers southwest of Pizzo, 130 kilometers southwest of Lamezia Terme, and 150 kilometers southwest of Catanzaro. It is also 495 kilometers southeast of Naples, 500 southwest of Bari, 710 southeast of Rome, 985 southeast of Florence, and 1,245 southeast of Milan.
Transport to/in Reggio Calabria:
By train: Reggio Calabria is served mainly by Reggio di Calabria Centrale, the city's principal railway station. Direct and connecting trains link it with major Italian cities, including Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, and Turin. Regional services also connect Reggio with Lamezia Terme, Villa San Giovanni, Scilla, and other destinations along the Calabrian coast. Read More [...]
By road: Reggio Calabria can be reached by car via European route E45, which connects the city with the main road network of Calabria and southern Italy. Travelers arriving from northern Calabria generally follow the A2 motorway before continuing south. Traffic restrictions and limited parking may apply near the historic center, Piazza Duomo, and the seafront.
By bus: Regional and long-distance coaches connect Reggio Calabria with other towns in Calabria and with several major Italian cities. Available destinations and journey frequencies depend on the operator and travel season. Coach services are particularly useful for reaching places without direct railway connections or for traveling between Reggio Calabria and other regions of Italy.
By air: Tito Minniti Airport, also known as the Airport of the Strait, lies about five kilometers south of the city center. Many low-cost flights use Lamezia Terme International Airport, around 130 kilometers north. From there, travelers can take a shuttle to Lamezia Terme Centrale railway station and continue to Reggio Calabria by train.
By sea: Reggio Calabria is connected with Sicily by passenger ferries and hydrofoils crossing the Strait of Messina. The journey between Messina and Reggio usually takes around 30 minutes, making sea transport a practical option for travelers arriving from northeastern Sicily. Services and fares may vary, so current schedules should be checked before departure.
Getting around Reggio Calabria: The compact historic center, seafront, Piazza Duomo, and main cultural attractions can generally be explored on foot. ATAM operates the urban bus network, connecting central areas with residential districts, suburban neighborhoods, railway stations, and Tito Minniti Airport. Airport lines 115, 118, 119, and 121-122 reach the city center in approximately 25 minutes.
Tourist Attractions in Reggio Calabria:
Reggio Calabria is best known for Lungomare Falcomatà, the waterfront traditionally described as "the most beautiful kilometer in Italy". Other major landmarks include the Aragonese Castle, distinguished by its two circular towers, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dominates Piazza Duomo. Read More [...]
The National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria is one of the city's principal cultural attractions. It is internationally famous for the Riace Bronzes, two masterpieces of fifth-century BC Greek sculpture. Its collections document Calabria from prehistory through the Roman period, including important archaeological discoveries connected with the ancient Greek cities of Magna Graecia.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reggio Calabria:
Where is Reggio Calabria located?
Reggio Calabria lies at the southern end of the Italian peninsula, on the eastern shore of the Strait of Messina, directly opposite northeastern Sicily. Read More [...]
What is Reggio Calabria best known for?
The city is famous for Lungomare Falcomatà, the Riace Bronzes, its Magna Graecia heritage, the Aragonese Castle, bergamot cultivation, and views across the strait.
What are the main attractions in Reggio Calabria?
Major attractions include Lungomare Falcomatà, the National Archaeological Museum, the Aragonese Castle, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Arena dello Stretto, and the Civic Art Gallery.
Can Reggio Calabria be explored on foot?
Yes. The waterfront, historic center, archaeological museum, cathedral, principal squares, shopping streets, and several important monuments are located within a relatively compact central area.
How many days are needed to visit Reggio Calabria?
One full day covers the principal central attractions, while two days provide additional time for museums, churches, the waterfront, local cuisine, and nearby coastal destinations.
Can travelers reach Reggio Calabria from Sicily?
Yes. Passenger ferries and hydrofoils cross the Strait of Messina, providing regular connections between Messina and Reggio Calabria and convenient access from northeastern Sicily.
What traditional product is associated with Reggio Calabria?
Reggio Calabria is especially associated with bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit cultivated in the surrounding territory and traditionally used in perfumes, flavorings, and local products.
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