Stilo is a small town and its surrounding area, an official administrative unit of the third level (commune) in Italy. Located in the region of Reggio Calabria. The population is 2813 people. Economics: agriculture, grain, wine, oil, cheese. There are deposits of iron and lead. Mangiatorella mineral water is produced here.
Where is
The city is located on the slope of Mount Consolino (Monte Consolino, 701 m above sea level) in the Serra mountain range (catena delle Serre) on the banks of the River Stilaro (Torrente Stilaro). Nearby the Ionian Sea.
The place where Stilo is located is beautiful in itself. A picturesque village in several tiers on a mountainside overgrown with vineyards and olive trees, apparently not much has changed since the tenth century, when it was inhabited by hermits and monks, attracted by the opportunity to pray in cells located on the natural slopes of the hills.
Catanzaro, the capital of Calabria, is 75 km away. The nearest town to Stilo is Bivongi commune.
Title and historical events
The name comes from the Greek "column" (Greek: Stylos, column). The first mention refers to 389 BC. e. The most important milestones:
- 389 BC - the Greek city of Kaulon (Kaulon) was destroyed. He went to the Romans (Dionysius I), who rebuilt it;
- 270 year BC e. - The Carthaginians (Hannibal) captured Kaulon. The inhabitants of Kaulon began to move to a calmer place, exactly where Stilo is today;
- VII century - the city is part of the Byzantine Empire and monks begin to settle it. This is the heyday of Stilo, during this period its main asset is being built - the Catholic Church;
- XI century Calabria passed to the Normans. In 1071, Roger of Norman built the castle;
- XIV century - the feudal lords replaced the Spanish ruler Charles V;
- 1599, Tommaso Campanella organizes an uprising against the Spaniards;
- The year 1783, a devastating earthquake, from which the architectural values of the city were seriously affected. Until that moment there were 18 religious buildings, after - less than half remained;
- 1940, at Cape Cape Stilo, a battle was fought at Calabria (the battle of Punta Stilo) between Italian and British forces.
The ethnic composition of the city since the time of the arrival of the Hellenes was mixed - Greeks and Latins. Then the population became more motley: Goths, Lombards, Berbers, Moors were added.
Churches
Catholic church
The first of the monuments of the presence of the Byzantines in Italy is the miraculously preserved pearl of Byzantine architecture, the famous Catholic Church (Cattolica di Stilo) - built in the 9th century in the Byzantine style. At the base is a square in the form of a cross, there are 3 apses, 5 domes.
Inside the four columns, presumably taken from the ruins of Kaulonia, the 11th-century frescoes are a fine example of the Norman style in painting (discovered in 1927). The design of the temple is specially thought out in such a way as to provide a unique play of natural light indoors.
The Catholic is located at a point with a panoramic view, it offers a breathtaking view of the tiled roofs of the city and the countryside outside the center.
Cathedral
Stilo Cathedral (Duomo di Stilo) was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Style - later baroque. The portal is Gothic, to the right of it are two stylized sculptural birds of Byzantine origin.
Church of St. Domenic
The Catholic Church of St. Domenic (Chiesa di San Domenico) was built in the 15th century on the site of the Byzantine church of St. Agatha, was part of the monastery (after the earthquake of 1783, only ruins remained from it). Here Tommaso Campanella took tonsure.
Church of san francesco
The Church of San Francesco (Chiesa di San Francesco dei Minori), made in the style of the Renaissance, was built in 1450. Inside is decorated with frescoes by Francesco Goat.
Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino
The partially preserved miniature church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino (Tempietto di San Nicola da Tolentino) attracts attention with its unusual Trullo cone dome and stunning views of the Ionian Sea.
Church of St. Giovanni Terestis
Not to be confused with a monastery located in Bivoggi. The Church of San Giovanni Terestis (Chiesa di San Giovanni Therestis) was built in 1625. The style is baroque. Named after the 9th-century Greek monk John Theristus. The founding place of the church has long been a center of local pilgrimage. Subsequently, the church became an important Byzantine monastery, possessed a rich library and was decorated with magnificent pieces of art, right up to the decline in the 15th century. Today, there is an art museum with a collection of seventy artists.
Sights
Roger Norman Castle
The castle (Eng. - The Norman Castle of Roger II, it. - Castello Normanno) is located on top of Mount Consolino. Only picturesque ruins have survived to this day. Hiking to the castle is also replete with beautiful views.
Dolphin Fountain
The name in Italian is Fontana Gebbia (probably from gebiòn, a country bath, outside the walls), however it is often called the dolphin fountain because the central sculptural group resembles two intertwined dolphins.
The origin of the monument is controversial, it is safe to say that it suffered from the Arabs in the battle of 982, but it has elements of a purely Arabic style. The rest of the complex of three arches with traces of frescoes is the Baroque style.
Famous immigrants
Tommaso Campannella
Tommaso Campanella, native Stilo is known to immigrants from Russia, because the ideal society from his book City of the Sun was considered the prototype of communism in the Soviet Union. According to one version, the title of the book is inspired by the author’s hometown, because Stilo is bathed in sun all year round. He took tonsure at the Church of St. Domenic, which today serves as a reminder of this original person.
Tommaso's life was not like the reclusive existence of an average monk. He wrote the famous work in conclusion, organized a conspiracy against Spanish domination in his native city, maintained relations with Cardinal Richelieu, had a brilliant mind and erudition.
Francesco Cozza
A 17th-century artist who worked in the Baroque style. The most famous works are frescoes adorning the Palazzo Pamphili library at Piazza Navona in Rome. The embassy of Brazil is in this building today.
City today
Although the city is called the city of arts, a standard tourist amenities are available. The sandy coast of the Ionian Sea is a five-minute walk away. There are shops, restaurants, cafes. Modern conveniences and cars parked near the old walls do not prevent you from feeling a walk along the steep narrow streets of Stilo by traveling back in time.
Where to stay
The best hotel reviews for tourists in Stilo are:
- Hotel Citta de Sole - 3 stars with views of the mountains and city center.
- Diving Center Punta Stilo is an ideal location for diving enthusiasts. The coastal town of Monasterace Marina is a 15-minute drive away.
How to get there
The cheapest ticket from Moscow (Sheremetyevo) to Reggio Calabria is around 250 euros. Change in Rome, flight time - 22 hours 40 minutes.
The most profitable in time - about 350 euros. Flight duration - 6 hours 45 minutes.
It takes about 2 hours (139 km) to get from Reggio Calabria to Stilo in a rented car.
- Official website of the city: stilo.asmenet.it.
- Official site of the Bivongi commune: www.comunebivongi.gov.it.
