Attractions and Places To See around Motta San Giovanni - Top 20

Very impressive work.

Impressive building, unfortunately we were not able to visit the inside.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is the real name of the square, but all the inhabitants of Reggio know it better as Piazza Italia, because in the center there stands a monument to Italy that has shaped its popular name for 140 years. It is the most important square in Reggio Calabria, the political-administrative heart of the Reggio region. It has a square plan, with the south-eastern side opening onto Corso Garibaldi and overlooked by the most important institutional buildings. In ancient times it was also known as Tocco piccolo. Almost all the buildings that stand in the square house an administration and/or an institution of the city. On the orthogonal lines there are in particular: Palazzo San Giorgio, seat of the Town Hall, Palazzo del Governo, seat of the Prefecture, Palazzo Corrado Alvaro, seat of the Metropolitan City, the Teatro Francesco Cilea and the Palazzo del Banco di Napoli. Source: https://turismo.reggiocal.it/cultura/le-piazze/piazza-italia

The cathedral was rebuilt several times after looting, fires or destruction due to seismic events. There is uncertain information about the cathedral for the period between the 4th and 14th centuries. Around the middle of the 11th century it was destroyed by the Saracens, then rebuilt by the Normans and ravaged again by the Turks in 1574. At the end of the 17th century, the reconstruction began by Archbishop Mons. Creales and completed by Archbishop Martino Ybanez y Villanueva. In recent times, the two devastating earthquakes of 1783 and 1908 have greatly affected its fate and have required the building to be rebuilt twice. Source: https://turismo.reggiocal.it/cultura/le-chiese-e-i-monasteri/la-basilica-cattedrale-di-reggio-calabria

A village with an ancient history, apparently abandoned, in reality small solid artisan businesses live inside the village, which alone are worth a visit to the place. I recommend the circumnavigation of Monte Calvario, which makes the visit to the village more complete. The stretch of single track trail on the NW side is beautiful

This church in Pentedattilo was dedicated to the two Saints Peter and Paul (Santi PIETRO e PAOLO), also known as the “Prince of the Apostles”. Their common feast day in the saints' calendar is June 29th. * Simon, nicknamed Peter (Rock), was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee when he - together with his brother Andrew - was called by Jesus Christ to be “fishers of men”. According to Catholic understanding, he is the supreme apostle, and the two millennia-long line of popes - currently Francis - are his successors. On statues and paintings, Peter is almost always depicted with two keys in his hand; this attribute refers to the biblical saying in Matthew: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Chapter 16, verse 19). * Paul was initially an opponent of the Christian movement and was not called to the apostleship by Jesus Christ during his lifetime like the other apostles, but was only converted later with the famous “Damascus experience”. His attribute is the sword with which he was executed. According to Roman law at the time, such a sentence was a “privilege” (quick death and not associated with a long, painful agony like other types of execution) that the citizens of Rome were entitled to.

As a memorial to the many dead, such cenotaphs or war memorials - like this "Monumento ai caduti" in Reggio Calabria - are still very important today. "Now you, O Lord, let your servant depart in peace, as you said..." says the so-called "Song of Simeon" (Gospel of Luke chapter 2, verse 29). However, the people who are remembered here did not die in peace, but rather became victims of war and tyranny. Many places and monuments that you encounter along the way are a testament to the horror of war and tyranny - which is still significant and relevant today. They all have, and this is new for each generation, two essential functions: -1- Commemorate and remember the victims -2- Call for the preservation of peace

The Reggio Calabria War Memorial (or Memorial to the Fallen of All Wars) Designed by Francesco Jerace, an artist from Polistena, the monument was unveiled in May 1930 in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III. inaugurated . It consists of a rostral column topped by a bronze statue depicting winged victory, holding a sword in the right hand and the palm of martyrdom in the left.