Melito di Porto Salvo is a municipality located in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, in Calabria. It is the southernmost municipality of the Italian peninsula and overlooks the Ionian Sea along the Riviera dei Gelsomini. An important agricultural and commercial center, it has experienced significant demographic growth in recent decades, also due to the abandonment of the inland areas above it.
Historical Background
Melito di Porto Salvo is known as the landing site of Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Expedition of the Thousand, which took place on August 19, 1860, on the beach of Rumbolo. This event is commemorated by a stele and the “Museum of the Thousand,” which houses documents and testimonies related to the Unification of Italy.
Cultural and Natural Heritage
The area offers sandy beaches and clear waters, ideal for seaside tourism. It is also a starting point for excursions into the Aspromonte mountains and along the “Englishman’s Path,” a trail that follows in the footsteps of the traveler Edward Lear.
Pentedattilo
Pentedattilo is a hamlet of Melito di Porto Salvo, located about 250 meters above sea level, perched on the cliff of Monte Calvario, whose shape resembles a hand with five fingers—from which it takes its name (from the Greek pente daktylos). Founded in 640 BC as a colony of the Greek city of Chalcis, it was a thriving commercial center during the Greco-Roman era.
History and Legends
In 1783, a devastating earthquake severely damaged the village, leading to its gradual abandonment as the population moved to Melito di Porto Salvo. In the 1960s, Pentedattilo was completely abandoned, but starting in the 1980s, it became the focus of restoration efforts by European volunteers and artists.
One of the most well-known legends is that of the “Massacre of the Alberti” in 1686, a tragic event that gave rise to ghost stories and mysteries surrounding the village.
Events and Culture
Today, Pentedattilo hosts cultural events such as “Paleariza,” a festival dedicated to Grecanic culture, and the “Pentedattilo Film Festival,” an international short film showcase. The village is also a popular destination for excursions and offers breathtaking views that have inspired artists like Edward Lear and M.C. Escher.