Gerace
A jewel of Byzantine-Norman architecture in Calabria, Gerace appears among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in the province of Reggio Calabria. Carved into the rock and facing the Ionian Sea
Gerace
the Ancient Village Of The Sparrowhawk
A jewel of Byzantine-Norman architecture in Calabria, Gerace appears among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in the province of Reggio Calabria. Carved into the rock and facing the Ionian Sea, we are inside the splendid Aspromonte National Park, this historic centre of medieval charm is also known as the ‘Enchanted Village’. Gerace is a word that derives from the Greek: Ἱέραξ (Hiérax), meaning ‘Sparrowhawk’.
Legend has it that it was a sparrow hawk in 915 A.D. that showed the inhabitants of the Greek Colony of Locri Epizephiri, who had escaped a terrible Saracen raid, the exact spot where to found the new town.
As many as 128 churches have been built in the village over the centuries, of which only 17 have survived to the present day. For this reason, Gerace has long been called ‘The Sacred City’.
“The ‘Borgo dello Sparviero’, as Gerace is called, is the ideal destination to immerse oneself in local culture and history. A place where time seems to stand still. This ancient village is also worth visiting for its craft workshops that often carry on centuries-old techniques.
The Village
Access to the ancient village is through an ancient gate in the city walls: Porta della Varvara, which introduces us to the district of the Potters’ Workshops. Continuing our discovery of the old town, we reach the small Church of San Francesco d’Assisi (an ancient place of worship), the 11th century AD cathedral (one of the most important Norman buildings in Calabria) and the museum below the church.
The Cathedral of Gerace, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is one of the most interesting buildings to be discovered. Built around the year 1000, it appears like a fortress. One of the walls, from which two apses protrude, stands out like an enormous wall of limestone. The style is Romanesque while the Baroque influence is evident on the high altar, the Byzantine on the transept.
The Norman Castle of Gerace dates back to the 7th century, but was fortified and renovated in the Norman era, around 1050. In fact, the central keep dates back to that period, and the walls were built from huge megalithic blocks. Today, few ruins of the castle remain, but it was once surrounded by mighty walls and also had a drawbridge.
