Diamante - Riviera dei Cedri

Diamante (CS)

Riviera dei Cedri - Calabria (Italy)

The center of the Riviera of the Cedars, Diamante is nicknamed the pearl of the Tyrrhenian.
The geographical position, its about eight kilometers. of beach sand and the varied combinations of color and the crystal clear sea and sea bed makes this one of several tourist destinations of Calabria.
Diamante has one of only two islands of Calabria, the island of Cirella, a small island shaped scenic and wild flora where the depths are stunning and reigns Posidonia Silver.
The village Cirella currently equipped seaside resort, is rich in history and artifacts that illustrate the importance of this thriving city of Magna Graecia, called Cerillae.
Settlement of the Upper Paleolithic are present in the territory of the village near the cave of the rock of St. John.
It was one of the first cities in the area founded by Ausoni and she wrote Strabo, Diodorus Siculus and Silius Italy, which claims to have destroyed, through its general Hannibal in 203 BC Hanno, for loyalty to Rome. Became an important center for exports through trade between Rome and Magna Graecia. Roman villas and temples were built, the imperial era, whose remnants are still visible. The city was destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The parish church is St. Maria de Flores has a medieval style Corinthian capitals, combined portacero Easter legneo a bust of the Madonna and Child by the SEC. XIII and other works from a church in Old Cirella. Towards the coast of the island is visible Cirella with the top ruins of ancient fortifications built to prevent the landing of the Moors.
Looking up towards the interior, on a hill, you see the ruins of old Cirella destroyed by the French fleet in 1806.
Are interesting on this site, besides the beautiful landscape, a ruined castle and the remains of a church with a Romanesque bell tower and residues of frescoes.
On the slopes of the hill were found over several necropolis known as the Mausoleum of Cirella, a monumental tomb of Roman and then used as a place of worship to become a Christian after storage of agricultural products.