Scilla attractions

Scilla is a fabulously beautiful town in Reggio Calabria. According to myths, Scilla is a sea monster that lives on the steep cliffs of the narrow Strait of Messina, and which haunts seafarers. In ancient times, only the brave Odysseus and the Argonauts were able to sail near Scylla and Charybdis (Charybdis is a monster that lives on the other side of the strait. Modern mariners do not believe in Scylla and Charybdis, but speak of complex currents and whirlpools in the Strait of Messina. At the same time whirlpool Scilla makes sounds remotely similar to dog barking. What is not a mythical monster?!

The first mention of Scilla dates back to the 5th century BC, during the time of the tyrant Anaxilas. Anaxilas built a fortress on a high and impregnable rock to protect the city of Reggio Calabria from pirate raids. In 387 BC, after the fall of Reggio, Sсilla was conquered by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius I. In the end of the 2nd century BC, during the Punic Wars, Sсilla was conquered by the Romans. At this time Shilla was not important, as the Sicilian cities of Messina, Syracuse, and the Calabrian city of Reggio played a major role for the Romans. Nevertheless, in 73 B.C. Spartacus, the leader of the slave revolt, camped in Scilla, waiting to cross the bay. As we know, he never made it across after all. In 42 BC, Octavian's fleet took refuge in the port of Sсilla, when he was opposing Pompey.

For many years Shilla remained the local maritime center. Since the fortress city was located off the main roads, barbarian raids and general decline did not affect Shilla for a long time.

The first Byzantine monks arrived to Scilla in the 8th century and founded the monastery and church of San Pancrazio, which was destroyed in 1773. In 1255, King Manfredi of Sicily ordered the fortification of the town and Pietro Ruffo rebuilt and strengthened the fortress. The fortress was damaged in an earthquake in 1738. In 1860, Garibaldi set up a military camp here. In the 1970s and 60s, the fortress was restored and became a museum and cultural center. The Church of Immacolata, also called Marice (Matrice Scilla) is an important point of the town: here three roads intersect, dividing the town into neighborhoods. The church was built in 1310. The church has been restored and enlarged several times, and only the roof remains of the original church.

The most picturesque quarter is the seaside Chianalea. Here live fishermen who catch the delicacy of swordfish. Narrow streets as wide as a boat, fishing nets, picturesque houses with flowers, blue boats on the shore and many fish restaurants.