fiogf49gjkf0d ROSSANO
ROSSANO EXTENDING 270 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL
ALONG THE NORTHERN SLOPE OF GREEK SILA DOMINATES
THE IONIAN COAST OF THE COSENZA REGION ON WHICH
THE NEW PART OF THE VILLAGE HAS DEVELOPED.
ROSSANO, HOWEVER, IS KNOWN AS THE BYZANTINE PEARL
OF CALABRIA.
FROM THE VI TO THE XI CENTURY, IN FACT, IT WAS
ONE OF THE MOST STRATEGICALLY, MILITARILY AND
POLITICALLY IMPORTANT CENTERS OF THE BYZANTINE
EMPIRE IN SOUTHERN ITALY.
THE TOWN PLAYED A PRIMARY CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
ROLE AND THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE AGES.
IT REPRESENTED THE GREEK-CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL
MELTING POINT.
IT IS NOT BY CHANCE ALONE THAT ROSSANO IS THE
BIRTH PLACE OF ST.NILO 910-1004 - REFORMER OF THE
BYZANTINE MONASTIC ORDER AND FOUNDER OF SEVERAL
MONASTERIES SUCH AS THE ONE IN GROTTAFERRATA -
AND OF ST.BARTHOLOMEW AND SEVERAL POPES.
THE BEAUTIFUL CODEX PURPUREUS, THE CATHEDRAL OF
THE ACHIROPITA, THE CHURCH OF S.MARCO, THE
CHARMING PATIRION MONASTERY AND THE SMALL CHURCH
OF THE PANAGHYA ARE ALL VALUABLE TESTIMONIES TO
THE BYZANTINE SOUL OF THE TOWN.
ROSSANO, HOWEVER, IS NOT ONLY CHARM AND EASTERN
ART.
BUILDINGS OF DIFFERENT ORIGIN SUCH AS THE
CHURCHES OF S.BERNARDINO AND S.DOMENICO, THE
CONVENT AND CHURCH OF THE CAPPUCCINI AND THE MANY
BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS OF NOBLE ORIGIN, MAKING UP
ONE OF THE OLDEST AND BEST PRESERVED HISTORIC
CENTERS OF CALABRIA, ARE EXTREMELY INTERESTING
AND DESERVE A SPECIAL VISIT.
THE DIOCESAN MUSEUM, HOUSED IN THE ARCHBISHOPRIC,
IS A REAL MUST FOR ALL VISITORS TO THE LOVELY
TOWN ON THE IONIAN SEA.
MENTION MUST ALSO BE MADE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL
QUALITY OF THE OLIVE OIL, THE CITRUS FRUIT AND
THE LIQUORICE PRODUCED IN ROSSANO, AND OF THE
TASTY DISHES OF THE LOCAL CUISINE.
THE HOTEL IS LOCATED ABOUT 40 KM FROM SIBARI.
SIBARI, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND OLDEST CITIES OF
THE MAGNA GRAECIA, WAS FOUNDED BY THE ACHEI WHO
SETTLED IN THE TERRITORY BETWEEN THE RIVERS CRATI
AND SYBARIS, NOW COSCILE, AROUND 730-720 BC.
SIBARI WAS KNOWN IN THE ANCIENT WORLD FOR ITS
OPULENCE, LUXURY AND ELEGANCE OF ITS CUSTOMS.
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WHERE EXCAVATION IS
STILL CARRIED OUT, HAVE BROUGHT TO LIGHT
SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THE
LIFE OF THE CITY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT EXCAVATION AREAS ARE IN
STOMBI, OR PARCO DEI TORI, PARCO DELL CAVALLO AND
CASA BIANCA.
MANY OF THE FINDINGS ARE KEPT IN THE NATIONAL
SYBARITIDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM.
SIBARI, A FRACTION OF CASSANO ALLO IONIO, IS NOW
A HOLIDAY RESORT IN THE PROVINCE OF COSENZA.
ITS TOURIST PORT, CALLED OF THE LAGHI, IS VERY
WELL KNOWN AND HAS ROOM FOR 900 BOATS.
THE HOTEL IS LOCATED ABOUT 58 KM FROM THE SILA.
SILA IS A VAST HIGHLAND WHICH EXTENDS INTO THE
HEART OF CALABRIA, AND REACHES 1100-1700 METERS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIEF IS THAT OF MOUNT BOTTE
DONATO WHOSE PEAK REACHES 1928 METERS.
TO THE NORTH IT BORDERS THE SIBARI PLAIN AND TO
THE SOUTH THAT OF LAMEZIA.
ON THE IONIAN SIDE SILA SLOPES GENTLY TOWARDS THE
SEA, WHILE ON THE TYRRHENIAN SIDE IT PRECIPITATES
TOWARDS THE RIVER CRATI VALLEY.
SINCE THE ROMANS, THE HIGHLAND, WHOSE NAME COMES
FROM THE LATIN SILVA, HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS
CENTURIES OLD FORESTS, FOR GREEN PASTURES AND FOR
AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER.
SILA IS SUBDIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS SILA GRANDE,
THE CENTRAL AND VASTEST AREA OF THE HIGHLAND AND
THE GREEK AREA WHICH INCLUDES MANY ALBANIAN
VILLAGES BELONG TO THE PROVINCE OF COSENZA WHILE
SILA PICCOLA BELONGS TO THE TERRITORY OF
CATANZARO.
CROSSED BY SEVERAL RIVERS AND TORRENTS AND
ENVELOPED BY IMMENSE PINE AND BEECH FORESTS
ALTERNATING WITH HILLS AND RICH PASTURES, THE
AREA BELONGING TO COSENZA INCLUDES LAKES ARVO AND
CECITA, THE BIGGEST ON THE SILA HIGHLANDS.
IN 1968 SILA BECAME PART OF THE CALABRIA NATIONAL
PARK, AN ECOSYSTEM RICH IN INTERESTING VEGETATION
AND ANIMALS.
NEAR THE PARK THERE ARE INTERESTING VILLAGES SUCH
AS CAMIGLIATELLO SILANO AND LORICA WHERE GOOD
HOTELS CAN BE FOUND.
THE AREA IS WELL EQUIPPED FOR WINTER SPORTS AND
IN OTHER PERIODS OF THE YEAR ONE CAN PRACTISE
SEVERAL ACTIVITIES OR TAKE WALKS ALONG A SET OF
PURPOSE-BUILT NATURE TRAILS.
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