Montebello Jonico is a municipality located in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, in Calabria. The municipal territory includes several hamlets, including Fossato Jonico, Masella, and Saline Joniche.
Historical Background
Montebello Jonico has ancient origins and was part of the fiefdom of Santo Niceto. Over the centuries, the territory underwent various dominations, including the Byzantine and Norman ones. In 1806, with the abolition of feudalism, the municipality became autonomous.
Cultural and Natural Heritage
The territory offers picturesque landscapes, with hills overlooking the Ionian Sea and an inland area rich in Mediterranean vegetation. Among the sites of interest is the Mother Church of Montebello Jonico, which houses valuable works of art. The area is also a starting point for excursions into the Aspromonte mountains.
Saline Joniche
Saline Joniche is a coastal hamlet of Montebello Jonico, known for the former industrial plant of Liquichimica Biosintesi, built in the 1970s. The area also includes the port of Montebello Jonico and the natural oasis of the Pantano di Saline Joniche, an important wetland that hosts several species of migratory birds.