The Greek-Calabrian Area: Gallicianò, Roghudi and Greek Calabria

In the Ionian hinterland of Reggio Calabria, among the riverbeds and mountains of the Aspromonte, a unique world survives: the Greek-Calabrian Area, where the Greek of Calabria was spoken for centuries. It is a land of perched villages, shepherds, olive groves and spectacular rocks, long isolated and for that reason able to preserve an ancient language and traditions.

From Gallicianò, the most Greek-speaking village, to the ghost towns of Roghudi and Chorìo abandoned after floods, and on to the Amendolea riverbed, this is the most authentic and least touristy face of the Reggio province. A journey into Greek Calabria, among silences, panoramas and a culture that resists time.

Gallicianò, the most Greek village in Calabria

A hamlet of Condofuri perched above the Amendolea riverbed, Gallicianò is considered the acropolis of Greek Calabria: here the Grecanico language is still alive in the voices of the elderly, in songs and on bilingual signs. The tiny, silent village preserves stone houses, a small Orthodox church (the Panaghía tis Elládas), old fountains and an ethnographic museum devoted to peasant and pastoral culture. From its terraces the view runs along the valley down to the sea. Gallicianò is the ideal place to understand what it means to be Greek of Calabria, among genuine hospitality, traditional music and a harsh, fascinating landscape.

Roghudi, Chorìo and the ghost villages

Roghudi Vecchio is one of the most striking ghost villages in Calabria: built on a spur of rock overhanging the Amendolea riverbed, it was abandoned after the floods of 1971 and 1973, when the inhabitants were moved to the coast. Today empty houses, silent alleys and a suspended atmosphere remain, together with the nearby Chorìo of Roghudi. Around the village lie legendary rock formations such as the “Dragon Rocks” and the “Milk Rock”, tied to tales of shepherds and sorceresses. Walking among these ruins, with the wind and the distant sound of the riverbed, is an intense, timeless experience.

Rocks, riverbeds and the nature of the Amendolea

The landscape of the Greek-Calabrian Area is dominated by the fiumare, the wide gravelly beds descending from the Aspromonte to the sea, and by rocks with fantastical shapes. The “Dragon Rock”, with its huge boulders, and the “Milk Rock” are linked to local legends and are destinations for excursions among paths, ruins and panoramas. Higher up, the Aspromonte National Park offers woods, waterfalls and peaks from which, on clear days, you can see Etna. It is a territory perfect for trekking and for those seeking an authentic, wild Calabria: it is best to move with suitable footwear, water and, on the less waymarked routes, a local guide.

How to visit the Greek-Calabrian Area and where to stay

The Greek-Calabrian Area is visited by car starting from Reggio Calabria: follow the Ionian coast to Condofuri or Melito, then climb the mountain roads towards Gallicianò, Roghudi and Bova. The inland roads are narrow and winding, so it is best to drive carefully, allow for slow travel and check roads and paths in advance. In summer the area hosts the Paleariza festival, devoted to Greek-Calabrian music and culture. To explore these villages at ease, the ideal base is a holiday home on the Reggio coast or the Costa Viola: the sea nearby by day and villages to discover inland. Check availability and send us a request.