Roghudi Vecchio is an ancient village located in the Calabria region, in the province of Reggio Calabria. Situated at about 600 meters above sea level, it stands on a rocky spur in the heart of the Aspromonte, between the Amendolea stream and the Furria ravine.
The name "Roghudi" derives from the Greek "rogòdes", meaning "full of crevices", or from "rhekhodes", meaning "harsh", reflecting the rugged nature of the territory. Inhabited since 1050, the village was part of the Grecanic communities of Calabria. In 1971 and 1973, two severe floods rendered the village uninhabitable, forcing the residents to relocate to Roghudi Nuovo, near Melito di Porto Salvo.
A peculiar practice in the village concerned child safety: children were tied by the ankles with ropes fastened to the outer walls of the houses to prevent them from falling off the surrounding cliffs. It is said that on quiet nights, the cries of children can still be heard from the ravines, but this may just be a legend.
Roghudi Vecchio was the birthplace of important poets of the Grecanic tradition, including Angelo Maesano, known as Mastrangelo, author of the hymn "Éla mu condà", and Francesca Tripodi and Salvatore Siviglia, who helped preserve the local culture through poetry.
Today, Roghudi Vecchio is an uninhabited village that retains its evocative atmosphere, bearing witness to the history and traditions of the Grecanic area of Calabria.