Introduction
From Scilla to Reggio Calabria, the Costa Viola offers violet seabeds at sunset, swordfish caught with traditional feluca boats, and the Riace Bronzes.
The area boasts 4 protected-designation products and 4 dishes of the local tradition and 1 UNESCO heritage sites.
Upcoming Events & Festivals
Here are the upcoming events in Costa Viola e Reggio Calabria:
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Recurring Events
These events take place every year in Costa Viola e Reggio Calabria:
Varia di Palmi
Ultima domenica di agostoPalmi · Tradizione dal XVII secolo
Carro votivo UNESCO alto 16 metri portato a spalla da 200 portatori.
Festa della Madonna della Consolazione
Secondo sabato di settembreReggio Calabria
Festa patronale di Reggio Calabria con processione e fuochi d'artificio.
Sagra del Pesce Spada
LuglioBagnara Calabra
Degustazione di pesce spada cucinato secondo le ricette tradizionali dello Stretto.
Infiorata
GiugnoMotta San Giovanni
Tappeti di fiori per le vie del borgo, con quadri floreali di artisti locali.
PDO, PGI and local products
The protected-designation products of Costa Viola e Reggio Calabria represent the excellence of the area:
A unique citrus fruit grown almost exclusively along the Reggio Calabria coast. The base of Eau de Cologne perfume and the world's finest essential oil.
Swordfish caught with traditional feluca boats in the Strait of Messina, a millennia-old method still practiced today.
Cured pork sausage from Calabrese black pigs, aged with sweet and hot peppers.
Aged stretched-curd cheese, also produced in the mountainous areas around Reggio.
What to eat in Costa Viola e Reggio Calabria
Swordfish steaks with tomato, capers, olives, and pine nuts. The signature dish of the Strait.
A dual-glazed dessert, half white with lemon and half dark with chocolate. A Reggio pastry tradition.
Stockfish cooked with potatoes, tomato, and olives. An identity dish of the Aspromonte foothills.
Eggplants stuffed with breadcrumbs, capers, anchovies, and pecorino, baked until golden.
Traditions & Culture
A millennia-old fishing method in the Strait of Messina: a spotter on a 20-meter antenna guides the harpooner on the boat below.
A 16-meter votive cart carried on the shoulders of 200 bearers. UNESCO Intangible Heritage.
A millennia-old ceramic tradition featuring distinctive apotropaic masks and ritual whistles.
UNESCO Heritage
The Varia di Palmi is part of the Italian network of Great Shoulder-Borne Machines, UNESCO Intangible Heritage.
Nature Parks & Protected Areas
The western slopes of the Park descend toward the Costa Viola with panoramic views of the Strait.
Waters between Calabria and Sicily, a crossroads of currents and unique Mediterranean marine biodiversity.
Historical Figures
Two 5th-century BC bronze statues found in the sea off Riace in 1972, housed at the National Museum of Reggio Calabria.
Traveled through Calabria in 1847, leaving watercolors and diaries documenting Scilla and the Costa Viola.
Local Communities
The festivals and events in Costa Viola e Reggio Calabria are organized by Pro Loco associations and local groups that safeguard the area's traditions:
Curiosities
“The Riace Bronzes, masterpieces of Greek statuary, were found in 1972 by an amateur diver at a depth of 8 meters.”
“The Costa Viola takes its name from the violet color of the sea at sunset, caused by light refraction on metamorphic rocks.”
“Bergamot grows almost exclusively along 80 km of coast between Villa San Giovanni and Monasterace.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1What DOP and IGP products are found in Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria?expand_more
Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria is home to 4 protected designation products, including: Bergamotto di Reggio Calabria (DOP), Pesce Spada dello Stretto (PAT), Soppressata di Calabria (DOP), and Caciocavallo Silano (DOP).
2What should I eat in Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria?expand_more
Traditional dishes include: Pesce spada alla ghiotta, Pignolata di Reggio Calabria, Stocco di Mammola, and Melanzane ripiene alla reggina. Each dish tells the story of the region's gastronomic heritage.
3What are the most famous festivals in Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria?expand_more
Major festivals include: Varia di Palmi (UNESCO, last Sunday of August); Festa della Madonna della Consolazione (Reggio Calabria, September); Sagra del Pesce Spada (Bagnara Calabra, July).
4What UNESCO heritage sites are there in Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria?expand_more
The Varia di Palmi is part of the Network of Great Shoulder-Borne Machines, UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2013.
5Who organizes the food festivals in Costa Viola and Reggio Calabria?expand_more
Festivals are organized by local communities such as Pro Loco Scilla and Pro Loco Palmi. These associations are the guardians of the region's gastronomic traditions.