IT22 Visit to Reggio Calabria

The students discover Reggio Calabria, the largest city in Calabria. Reggio Calabria is located in the exact center of the Mediterranean and is known for its climate, ethnic and cultural diversity. Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula and is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. Reggio is the oldest city in the region. After Cumae, Reggio was one of the first Greek colonies in southern Italy. The colony was settled by the inhabitants of Chalcis in 730 or 743 BC on the site of the older settlement, Erythra, meaning "red". It became an important and flourishing colony of Magna Graecia. Then, from the Middle Ages to the modern period, many armies invaded the city, due to the city's strategic importance. Reggio has a modern urban system, set up after the catastrophic earthquake of 1908, which destroyed most of the city. The 1908 Messina earthquake remains one of the worst on record in modern western European history.

The students discover main sights, such as :

- The Castle, originally built before 540 AD and enlarged by the Normans and later by the Aragonese in 1459, unfortunately partially torn in the late 19th century and in 1923, is now home to art exhibitions.

- The Cathedral of Reggio, re-built after the 1908 Messina earthquake. 

- The Palazzo Nesci is a mansion in Neoclassical style; it is one of the few 19th-century buildings survived to the 1908 earthquake.

- The Lungomare Falcomatà, a seaside promenade located in the downtown, is a swimming destination and main symbol of the summer movida.

- The remains of Roman baths, along the sea promenade.

- The monument to Victor Emmanuel II.

The students acquired more historical and cultural knowledge about the history of Reggio Calabria. They will be able to reinvest the vocabulary learned and the historical approach used.