Page 526 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

524  SOUTHERN IT AL Y

8 Tropea a ledge looking out over the
olive trees is the Cattolica,
Vibo Valentia. * 6,700. V @
n Piazza Ercole (0963 614 75). which has made Stilo a focus
( Sat. ∑ tropea.biz of pilgrimage for lovers of
Byzantine architecture. Built in
One of the most picturesque the 10th century by Basilian
towns on Calabria’s largely built- monks, the brick building with
up Tyrrhenian coast, Tropea offers its terracotta-tiled roof is based
superb views of the sea and on a Greek cross-in-a-square
beaches. The old town hangs on plan. Four antique, mis matched
to a cliffside facing a large rock, marble columns divide the
formerly an island. The rock is interior into nine sections.
topped by Santa Maria dell’Isola, The capitals are placed at the
a former medieval Benedictine base of the columns, instead of
sanctuary. The cathedral at the on top, to indicate the triumph
end of Via Roma is of Norman of Christianity over paganism.
A page from the precious Codex origin, although it has been The frescoes within, discovered
Purpureus Rossanensis rebuilt several times. Inside is and restored in 1927, date from
a 14th-century painting, the the 11th century.
7 Rossano Madonna di Romania, by an The Cattolica dominates the
unknown artist. town, but on Via Tommaso
Cosenza. * 39,000. V @ n Piazza
Steri (393 492 52 12 91); Lungomare Casa Trampo (14th century) Campanella there is a medi eval
di Sant’Angelo (390 983 03 07 60). and Palazzo Cesareo (early 20th Duomo as well as the 17th-
( 2nd & 4th Fri of month. century) in Vicolo Manco are the century ruins of the Convent of
∑ rossanoturismo.it most interesting of the small San Domenico, where the
palaces in Tropea. The latter has philosopher and Dominican friar
This pretty hill-town was one of a splendid balcony adorned Tommaso Campanella (1568–
the main centres of Byzantine with carvings. 1639) lived. The church of San
civilization in Calabria. It assumed Below the town are pretty Francesco, built around 1400,
power when Reggio di Calabria beaches and a good choice of has an ornate carved wooden
fell to the Saracens (9th–11th places to eat. Other seaside altar and a lovely 16th-century
centuries). The Museo Diocesano towns to visit are Scilla to the painting of the Madonna del
houses the Codex Purpureus south and Pizzo to the north. Borgo (unknown origin). Bivongi,
Rossanensis, a rare 6th-century northwest of Stilo, has two
Greek Gospel with silver lettering churches dedicated to St John:
and intricate miniatures. 9 Stilo the Byzantine-Norman San
The Baroque cathedral contains Reggio di Calabria. * 3,000. @ Giovanni Theristis, and the
the Madonna Achiropita fresco, a n Town hall (0964 77 60 06). ( Tue. Norman San Giovanni Vecchio.
much venerated Byzantine relic
of the 8th or 9th century. A short distance from the coast, R Cattolica
Stilo is an earthquake-damaged 2 km (1 mile) above Stilo on Via
Environs town clamped to the side of Cattolica. Tel 0965 81 22 56.

On a hilltop to the southeast is Monte Consolino. Standing on Open Mon–Sat. & 7
the five-domed Greek church of
San Marco (10th century). The
12th-century Panaghia, another
Greek church, lies off Via
Archivescovado. Both contain
fragments of early frescoes.
Santa Maria del Patire, on
a hilltop 18 km (11 miles) to the
west, is magnificently adorned
with coloured brickwork, tile
and stone. It offers great views
over the Piana di Sibari (Plain of
Sibari), the alleged location of
the fabled city of Sybaris,
destroyed in 510 BC.

E Museo Diocesano
Palazzo Arcivescovile, Via Arcivesco-
vado 5. Tel 0983 52 52 63. Open
9:30am–12:30pm, 3–6pm Tue–Sun,
10am–noon, 4–6pm public hols. & The beautiful and unspoiled coastline at Tropea
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp576–7 and pp600–605

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm