Bova - Italy

Bova (RC)

Calabria (Italy)

The ancient origins of the town of Bova (Vua) are proven by numerous archaeological finds unearthed close to the Norman castle dating from the Neolithic period, although the first historical documented the existence of Bova date back to the early second millennium, when between 1040 and 1064 the Normans imposed on Arab and Byzantine domination in Sicily and Calabria.
In the eighth century - VI Others C. became a colony of Magna Graecia, while in the following centuries it was besieged by the Saracens, Arabs and Normans, and the latter with its domination Bova entered the feudal period and became county.
The ancient city was a bishopric (diocese remained until 1996 and then was united to the Diocese of Reggio becoming Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova), and followed the rite greek introduced into Calabria by Basilian monks until 1572, when Bishop restorations imposed the Latin rite, he disappeared all traces of the Byzantine rite and with it all the paintings and the stems and replace them with statues seventeenth-century suited to the Roman rite.
The artistic works of this period are also represented by many churches around the country with its portals in local stone and marble statues decorated attributed to the School Messina.
The romanization led to the gradual disappearance of the Greek language, which was considered the language of the people or poor people.
The natural terrain features of the site not only strongly influence the structure Centre plan, plan medieval, but stressed the strategic importance and economic past Bova took control of a large portion of the mountain area behind.
Recent history leads to the 70s when, after major earthquakes and floods, the majority of the population moves to the coast lies the town of Bova Marina.
But Bova, despite the serious economic and social consequences, resist depopulation and abandonment and remains a separate joint not merged to the Navy, as happens to most other mountain towns.
Since the mid 90's comes a new interest in the town of Bova and are enhanced not only the cultural resources but is also recovered the public and private architectural heritage.
In 2003, arrives at the national level the first confirmation that the path is taken is winning Bova falls in the net of most beautiful villages in Italy.

Natural Resources
The town of Bova is perched on the slopes of Aspromonte in the Province of Reggio Calabria.
The natural context in which it is located is affected by three landscape systems of great interest: the National Park of Aspromonte (Bova which is a "visitor center"), the park of Fiumara Anthropic Amendolea whose stream generated for centuries the main physical and structural changes of the system morphology Grecanica, and finally the coastal strip, this being visible from the rooftop terrace on which natural Bova is located.
The fact that the municipal area falls almost entirely to 'internal Aspromonte National Park, created in 1994, has allowed the spread of initiatives aimed at discovery and exploitation of natural resources for tourism of the rich environmental heritage.
Indeed, the municipal area, characterized by rivers, Mediterranean and hilly habitat is located in one of the most important channels of migration of birds, particularly the buzzard, the kite, and storks.
Beyond that there is a Special Protection Area for birds (SPAs) and can be found and protected wildlife species facing extinction like the wolf, wildcat Bonelli's eagle, and a major allocation and diversification of the flora : associations fir-beech, pine and larch Loricate.
Regarding the rural habitat area offers many resources related to the presence of rivers, such as the presence of water mills and mills used for processing agricultural products.
The landscape, as well as for secular olive groves and vineyards, is particularly beautiful in spring for flowering broom and wild Ginestrella, whose fiber was once used for textile production of blankets.

Crafts, Typical Products
The traditional crafts of the area is the wood from the slot, the interweaving of baskets with olive branches and cane weaving of blankets and broom.
Typical products are based on agro-pastoral.
The first courses of pasta sauce are maccarruni goat cordeddi with the sauce, the taggliarini with chickpeas.
There are plenty of meats like capicollo and brawn, and cheese as the cheese can be tasted and purchased in local butcher shop "The Village" and lestopitta a dough of flour and water fried in oil.
Desserts such as dried fruit, are linked to religious festivals at Christmas and Easter are prepared Petrali the 'ngute.
The oil is locally produced and the wine in its variants Fengari (white) and Ambeli (red) that you can taste and buy in the Cantina Sociale di Bova which produces, bottles and sells wine from native vines, and grafting experiments native.

Tourist Infrastructure
The tourist accommodation is represented by a particular form of hospitality is widespread acceptance that it is able to offer beds in renovated old houses in the historic center, you can also choose B & B formula.
Anyone interested in knowing the territory from geological point of view can visit the Museum of Paleontology and Natural Sciences Aspromonte and who wants to deepen topics related to Greek culture of Calabria has provided the Library Mosin and language promoted by ATM Provincial exploitation of Greek of Calabria.
The sports-Bova offers, in addition to trekking, clay shooting field, a tennis court brief in accordance with cones and a municipal soccer field.

Getting there
- By car: A3 Salerno-Reggio Cal. From RC SS106 Jonica of Bova Marina.
Then SP Bova or Inter (faster).
- By train: from Reggio Calabria and Catanzaro, Then Bus Station Bova Marina Bova.
- By plane: Airport of the Straits of Reggio Calabria.
Then by car or bus line Jonica Frederick of Bova Marina.
Bova then bus or taxi.