|
|
|
Click here for a list of our Calabria Italy property >>
Sunday Tribune Article featuring Calabria >>
Why Invest in Property in Calabria ?
♦ Italy is a primary tourist destination.
♦ Strong rental potential from both the International tourist market and a strong internal market.Italians take long holidays in regions such as Calabria.
♦ It has wonderful year-round temperatures
♦ 800 kilometres of wonderful beaches
♦ Property prices there are dramatically lower than the rest of Italy
♦ For Investors the rental potential is extremely lucrative!
♦ Skiing in the winter in the nearby mountains
♦ History - Calabria is full of spectacular castles, churches and museums
♦ Low cost airlines have put Italy at the centre of their growth.
♦ Still time to pick up a bargain property in Calabria .
♦ No wealth or capital gains tax to be paid in Italy.
♦ Double taxation agreement currently in place between Ireland and Italy.
About Calabria
At the very tip of Italy ’s peninsula, bordered by both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas , one finds the Region of Calabria. The Region of Calabria is known for it’s gorgeous beaches, unforgettable views of the sea and the mountains, wheat fields and Ancient Roman ruins.
History ;
Calabria was first settled by Italic Oscan-speaking tribes. Two of these tribes included the Oenotri (roughly translated into the "vine-cultivators") and the Itali. Greek contact with the latter resulted in the entire peninsula (modern Italy) taking the name of the tribe.
Greeks settled heavily along the coast at an early date and several of their settlements, including the first Italian city called Rhegion (Reggio Calabria), and the next ones Sybaris, Kroton (Crotone), and Locri, were numbered among the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, the region never regained its former prosperity.
The Greeks were conquered by the 3rd century BC by roving Oscan tribes from the north, including a branch of the Samnites called the Lucanians and an offshoot of the Lucanians called the Bruttii. The Bruttii established the main cities of Calabria, including the modern capital, Cosenza (then called Consentia).
After the fall of the Roman Empire the inhabitants were in large part driven inland by the spread of Malaria and, from the early Middle Ages until the XVII century, by pirate raids. Calabria was devastated during the Gothic War before it came under the rule of a local dux for the Byzantine Empire. In the 9th and 10th centuries, Calabria, which had been the rich breadbasket of Rome before Egypt was conquered, was the borderland between Byzantine rule and the Arab emirs in Sicily, subject to raids and skirmishes, depopulated and demoralized, with vibrant Greek monasteries providing fortresses of culture. In the 1060s, Normans under the leadership of Robert Guiscard's brother Roger established a presence in this borderland, and organized a government along Byzantine lines that was run by the local Greek magnates of Calabria. In 1098, Pope Urban II named Roger the equivalence of an apostolic legate. The Hauteville clan later formed the precursors of the Kingdom of Naples, which ruled Calabria until the unification of Italy. This kingdom itself came under many rulers: the Habsburg dynasties of both Spain and Austria; the Franco-Spanish Bourbon dynasty, Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte, and then French Marshal Joachim Murat, who was executed in the small town of Pizzo.
Calabria experienced a series of peasant revolts as part of the European Revolutions of 1848. This set the stage for the eventual unification with the rest of Italy in 1861, when the Kingdom of Naples was brought into the union by Giuseppe Garibaldi. The Aspromonte was the scene of a famous battle of the unification of Italy, in which Garibaldi was wounded.
Until recently, the Mezzogiorno (southern Italy) was among the poorest regions of Europe and impoverished Calabria was a main source for the Italian diaspora of the early 20th Century. Many Calabrians moved to the industrial centres of northern Italy, the rest of Europe, Australia and the Americas (especially Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the United States). Today, there is increased affluence and a much improved economy based on modern agriculture, tourism, and a growing commercial base. Even though the per capita income is still well below that of northern Italy and central Italy, it has improved to the point where it is approaching the European Union median.[1]
Demographics ;
Seaport of Gioia Tauro.Towns of Calabria with a population of 50,000 or more:
City Population
Reggio Calabria 184,504
Catanzaro 95,099
Cosenza 70,680
Lamezia Terme 70,366
Crotone 60,517
Province Population
Province of Cosenza 732,615
Province of Reggio Calabria 565,866
Province of Catanzaro 368,923
Province of Crotone 172,970
Province of Vibo Valentia 168,894
Resident population as of 1 January 2005, source Istat
Culture
The Riace Warriors at the National Museum of Magna Grecia.
The coast at Capo Vaticano.
Byzantine church in Stilo.
[edit] Main sights
Tourism in Calabria has increased over the years. The main tourist draws in Calabria are the coastline and the mountains. The coastline alternates between rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, and is sparsely interrupted by development when compared to other European seaside destinations. The sea around Calabria is clear, and there is a good level of tourist accommodation. The poet Gabriele D'Annunzio called the coast facing Sicily near Reggio Calabria "...the most beautiful kilometer in Italy" (il più bel chilometro d'Italia). The primary mountain tourist draws are Aspromonte and La Sila, with its national park and lakes. Some other prominent destinations include:
Reggio Calabria, on the strait between the mainland and Sicily, the largest and oldest city in Calabria, renowned for its fabulous panoramic seaside with botanical gardens between the art nouveau buildings and the beautiful beaches, and its 3,000 years of history with the old Aragonian Castle and the great National Museum of Magna Grecia where the famous Riace Warriors (Bronzi di Riace) are located.
Cosenza, seat of the Cosentian Academy, is renowned for its cultural institutions, the old quarter, a Romanesque Cathedral and a Swabian Castle.
Sybaris, on the Ionian sea, is a village situated near the excavation of ancient Sybaris, a Greek colony of the VII century B.C.
Scilla, on the Tyrrhenian Sea, "pearl" of the "Violet Coast", has delightful panorama, important religious traditions, and is the site of some of Homer's tales.
Tropea, on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, is a beautiful town, with a drammatic seaside beach, and the Santa Maria dell'Isola sanctuary. It is also renowned for its sweet red onions (mainly produced in Ricadi).
Capo Vaticano on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a very famous wide bathing place near Tropea.
Siderno on the Ionian Sea coast.
Gerace, near Locri, is a beautiful medieval city with a Norman castle and an ancient cathedral.
Squillace, a seaside resort and important archeological site
Stilo, the home of Tommaso Campanella, with its Norman castle and beautiful Byzantine church, the Cattolica.
Pizzo, on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, known for its ice cream called "Tartufo". Interesting places in Pizzo are Piazza Repubblica and the Aragonian castle where Murat was murdered.
Soverato on the Ionian Sea, Also known as the "Pearl" of the Ionian Sea. Especially renown for its beaches, boardwalk and nightlife.
Nicotera on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is a beautiful little medieval Town with an ancient Ruffo's castle.
Language ;
Calabrian languages
Although the official national language of Calabria has been Standard Italian since unification (1861), as a consequence of its deep and colourful history, Calabrian dialects have developed that have been spoken in the region for centuries. The various dialects are divided into two different language groups. In the northern one-third of the region, the Calabrian dialects are considered a dialect of the Neapolitan language called Northern Calabrian'. In the southern two-thirds of the region, the Calabrian dialects are considered part of the Sicilian language and are grouped as Southern Calabro.
Other historical languages have left an imprint on the region. In isolated pockets, as well as some quarters of Reggio Calabria (historical stronghold of the Greek language in Italy), a hybrid language that dates back to the 9th century, called Griko, is spoken. A variety of Franco-Provençal can also be found in certain communities and French has had an influence on many Calabrian words and phrases. In several villages, the Arbëresh dialect of the Albanian language has been spoken since a wave of refugees settled there in the 15th century. In addition, since Calabria (as well as other parts of southern Italy and Sicily) were once ruled by the Spanish, some Calabrian dialects clearly exhibit Spanish influences.
It is important to highlight the presence of Calabrians in Humanism and in the Renaissance. Indeed the Hellenistics in this period frequently came from Calabria maybe because of the Greek influence. The rediscovery of Ancient Greek was very difficult because this language had been almost forgotten. In this period the presence of Calabrian humanists or refugees from Constantinople was fundamental. The study of Ancient Greek, in this period, was mainly a work of two monks of the monastery of Seminara: Barlaam, bishop of Gerace, and his disciple, Leonzio Pilato. Leonzio Pilato, in particular, was probably a Greek Calabrian born near Reggio Calabria. He was an important teacher of Ancient Greek and translator, and he helped Giovanni Boccaccio in the translations of Homer's works.
Cuisine ;
Essentially a typical southern Italian, Mediterranean cuisine with a balance between meat-based dishes (pork, lamb, goat), vegetables (especially eggplant), and fish. Pasta (like in most parts if Italy) is also very important in Calabria. In contrast to most other Italian regions, Calabrians have traditionally placed an emphasis on the preservation of their food, in part because of the climate and potential crop failures. As a result, there is a tradition of packing vegetables and meats in olive oil, making sausages and cold cuts (Sopressata, 'Nduja), and, along the coast, curing fish- especially swordfish, sardines (sardelle rosamarina) and cod (Baccalà). Local desserts are typically fried, honey-sweetened pastries (Cudduraci, scalille or scalidde) or baked biscotti-type treats (such as 'nzudda).
Some local specialties include Caciocavallo Cheese, Cipolla rossa di Tropea (red onion), Frìttuli or Curcùci (fried pork), Liquorice (liquirizia), Lagane e Cicciari (ceci) (a pasta dish with chickpeas), Pecorino Crotonese (Cheese of Sheep), and Pignolata.
Although Calabrian wines are not well known outside Italy, in ancient times Calabria was referred to as Enotria (land of wine). Some vinyards have origins dating back to the ancient Greek colonists. The best known DOC wines are Cirò (Province of Crotone) and Donnici (Province of Cosenza).
Noted Calabrians;
Barlaam of Seminara (scholar and clergyman of the 14th century)
Cassiodorus (Roman statesman and great writer, 6th century)
Gianni Amelio (film director.)
Albert Anastasia (New York Cosa Nostra boss, 1902-1957)
Anaxilas of Rhegium (tyrant of Rhegium, 5th century BC)
Umberto Boccioni (painter and sculptor)
Tommaso Campanella (philosopher, 1568-1639)
Alfonso Rendano (pianist and composer, 1853-1931)
Francesco Cilea (opera composer)
Alessandro Longo (composer amd musicologist)
Francesco Cozza (artist)
Pietro Negroni (painter, 1505-1565)
Renato Dulbecco (Virologist - Nobel laureate)
Joachim da Fiore/ Gioacchino da Fiore (philosopher)
Pasquale Galluppi (19th C. philosopher)
Pope John VII
Pope Zachary
John XVI (anti-pope)
Ibycus (Greek lyric poet)
Aloysius Lilius (created the Gregorian Calendar)
Milo of Croton (Ancient Greek athlete)
Giuseppe Musolino (outlaw/ folk hero)
Nossis (Greek epigrammist, 300 BC)
Guglielmo Pepe (19 C. Italian patriot)
Giovanni Dionigi Galeni (Ottoman chief admiral, 16th century)
Leonzio Pilato (14th C. humanist)
Pythagoras (mathematician and philosopher)
Mattia Preti (17th C. artist)
Saint Nilo of Rossano (b. 910 - d. 1005)
Saint Francis of Paola (b. 1416 – d. 1507)
Antonio Serra (late 16th century writer)
Baldassarre Squitti (Teacher of Law, and politician)
Mimmo Rotella (20th C. artist)
Bernardino Telesio (philosopher)
Rino Gaetano (singer-songwriter)
Loredana Bertè (singer)
Mia Martini (singer)
Raf Vallone (actor)
Gennaro Gattuso (footballer)
Nicola Calipari (Italian military intelligence officer)
Fulco Ruffo di Calabria (WWI Ace Pilot)
Gianni Versace (fashion designer)
Donatella Versace (fashion designer)
Mark Iuliano (footballer)
Toni Scarmato (astronomer)
Stefano Fiore (footballer)
Giuseppe Pancaro (footballer)
Alessandro Rosina (footballer)
Click here for a list of our Calabria Italy property >>
Property - Apartments, Villas and Developments in Calabria Italy.
Jewel of the Sea.
Pizzo Beach Club.
Borgo Novo.
San Sostene.
Paradise View.
Soverato Bay View.
Villa Joppolo.
Property Brancaleone,Tropea, Reggio, Pizzo, Soverato, Vibo Valentia... | |
|
Powered by Daft.ie