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# 50 • DECEMBER 28 , 2014
# 50 • DECEMBER 28 , 2014
read more about #Italian Land and Nature
ITALIAN LAND AND NATURE:
TRACING MAGNA GRAECIA ON THE NAUSICAA RIVIERA
F
rom the Parco Archeologico della Roccelletta park in
Borgia to Cape Colonna, this
journey looks at the history
of Calabria by travelling
through its tourist destinations and along the charming coasts of the Ionian
Sea in the Gulf of Squillace.
The Parco Archeologico
della Roccelletta park in
Borgia (in the province of
Catanzaro) is where the Greek colony of Skylletion rose.
Excavations have brought to
light structures from various
eras such as a theatre and Roman forum, and the basilica of
Santa Maria della Roccella of
Norman origin (1060 AD).
No walls of ancient Skylletion
have been uncovered as the
Roman city is on top of it, but
several pottery finds were
discovered from the 6th, 5th
and 4th centuries BC. The
Antiquarium is located in the
park. It is home to several
finds from the area, including
a marvellous series of statues
and portraits from the Imperial Age (1st - 3rd centuries
AD). The Roman forum inclu-
des a paved rectangular
area surrounded by porticoes. Excavations have
already brought to light a
Caesareum, Curia and thermal wing. A small temple,
monumental fountain and
tribunal are also visible.
The Roman theatre (1st and
2nd centuries AD) - which
can seat about 3,000 people - was built on a hill
where an amphitheatre
from the 2nd century AD
was identified (the only one
in Calabria) along with 3
thermal areas, 1 necropolis
and an aqueduct.
Continuing along the road
that runs alongside the Ionian Sea in the direction of
Crotone, and crossing the
marvellous tourist destinations of Sellia Marina and
Botricello, you reach Le Castella in Isola Capo Rizzuto,
the location of the homonymous protected marine area.
Its uniqueness and location:
Built on an islet in 204 BC
when condottiere Hannibal
stayed in the area inhabited
by Arabs and Aragonese, it
is connected to the coast by
a thin strip of land. In ancient
times, Le Castella wasn’t the
only castle in the area and the
plural name Le indicates there
were several fortifications here.
10 km south of Crotone on the
promontory overlooking the
Ionian coast of Cape Colonna
(called Heraion Lakinion by the
ancient Greeks) is the Parco
Archeologico of Capo Colonna, which covers an area of
30 hectares. The area