Top Sites in Calabria for History and Archaeology Nerds
Calabria is one of the most ancient regions of Italy and has been inhabited since prehistory. Due to its location, it has seen the migration and warfare of many peoples throughout that time. Calabria is an archaeological goldmine, with remnants of Paleolithic and Neolithic societies, as well as evidence of the settlements of various empires from the ancient world. If you want to see the past up close, here is a list of the top archaeological sites in Calabria.
Museo Scolacium
Museo Scolacium is located in a spectacular spot in Borgia surrounded by olive trees and with a view of the Squillace’s Gulf. It houses the remains of a Byzantine Basilica, but its history goes back much further than that. The city of Scolacium has been an important colony for various empires over the years. When the Greeks occupied it it was known as Skylletion, but was renamed Scolacium by the Romans. In later years, the city was occupied by the Byzantines, the Normans and more.
Sybaris
The history of Sybaris goes way back, as it was the core of the ancient civilisation of the Oenotrians, developed during the Iron Age. The city was founded by the Achaeans in 730-720 BCE who enslaved the native population. It was then conquered by the Krotonians in 510 BCE, and again later by the Lucanians. Once one of the wealthiest and most important cities of Magna Graecia, it began to lose its prominence after that. There have been several excavation campaigns revealing a wealth of remains. The park is divided into a number of sections and is still an active dig site.
Capo Collona
The park of Capo Collona is located in Crotone, a little off the beaten track but well worth the visit. It covers 30 hectares of archaeological excavations, as well as another 20 of woods and scrubland. Crotone was a powerful Achaean colony of the 6th century BCE, defended by high walls and an army of 150 000 men. In addition, it was home to the School of Pythagoras, widely renowned as the best medical school in the ancient world. It is also a beautiful spot to visit and spend some time at https://buycryptocurrency.xyz/ on your mobile phone, with a stunning view of the bay and surrounded by striking coves and cliffs.
Romito’s Cave
If your interest in archaeology goes really far back, Romito’s Cave is a must visit. Unlike the rest of the spots on this list, it is not a large park housing ruins from an entire city. Rather, it is a small cave inside a limestone cliff near River Lao. It houses an extraordinary carving of a Bos Primegenius, a bovine animal that would have been a wonderful catch for Paleolithic hunters. The artwork dates back around 12 000 years and is a wonderfully accurate representation. Near the engraving are also a few ancient graves, in which skeletons were found. This is a major archaeological site which shed much light on early Homo Sapiens way of life.