![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUVkfgWDNuWsaXJGHhqLtpNvgShrhCVVVPJeU6XxE82Do/capture.png) Today I would like to talk to you about a business trip I took to the beautiful city of Reggio di Calabria. Now that I have returned to work at the university, I travel much less often than before for work, and usually when I have to go on business trips, the main reason is to attend conferences, and in this case, in particular, I went to attend a conference on the use of artificial intelligence techniques in space, which is very interesting for me since my research work at the university is based on the use of techniques, mainly based on neural networks for the autonomous navigation of a Cubesat (a small satellite) around an asteroid. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZEUdj3JHPSHHbWANrZttDXi3R8sGcLsaZZXzBvtAmBtH/img_20220901_085928_2_.jpg) But I don't want to bore you with the technical details of my work, so I will go straight to the description of my journey. From where I live, to get to Reggio Calabria comfortably, the best solution is to take a plane directly to the city, but since the timetable was a little inconvenient for me, what I decided to do was to travel not to the city's airport but to an airport a little further away, in the town of Lamezia terme, and then take a train to Reggio. The problem is that in order to do all this, first of all I had to get from my city to Bologna airport, from where I left by plane to get to Lamezia Terme and finally from here I had to take another train to get to Reggio. All in all it took me just as long, if not longer, than the direct train from Bologna to Reggio Calabria would have taken 😅 on second thought maybe that would have been the best solution. I arrived in the city late in the evening, so the only thing I could do was admire the beautiful promenade on the way to my hotel. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmX31WbY2zxJD94iDes4DUYwSUJi885hAiFkHkdxH2RKfV/img_20220901_074843.jpg) # The "lungomare Italo falcomatà" ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTW1JvEuzKhNvLRAK3W5fPw7rCFPTBPaj1i3mxehUPhfM/img_20220904_114257.jpg) The "lungomare Italo falcomatà" is unquestionably every visitor's first encounter with the city of Reggio Calabria, but it is also a place of leisure for an evening stroll while enjoying an aperitif, an ice cream, or dinner, especially in spring and summer, immersing oneself in the true movida of the city. Even those who are accustomed to this region's beauty are left speechless by the view of the Straits of Messina, Sicily across the Straits, and Mount Etna, which is encircled by the lush vegetation of a true tropical paradise. The beauty of this region has long since become legendary. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdnxc4TK72xhKWMHiVbLjecsjaGDUATaWiedLDrhM6rrS/img_20220904_113832.jpg) However, this glimpse of the city will also give you the opportunity to learn a little bit more about Reggio Calabria's history because on what the locals call the "three sea streets," you can view structures, tiny squares, monuments, sculptures, and archaeological digs, giving the Falcomatà lungomare in Reggio Calabria the appearance of being able to take a leisurely stroll through history. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbnuBSZXcPEEWPFV6bKRFsqn3vTD9dK4iEJ1rybzt3MBj/img_20220904_113958.jpg) ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdWe185RCjp6MvVEohjoDea6esGAFqRd3tM87BxfHxE8G/img_20220904_111010.jpg)

Luckily for me, the organizers of the event had provided a free shuttle service from the city center directly to the conference venue every day both going and coming back, so they themselves had advised us to take a hotel in the central area of the city, perhaps within walking distance of the sea, so that we could visit the city at our best and also enjoy the sea. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmNzfT7sQvbhgG6EYTr2LmtTupDbN7TGfnmk5yNLcKx9fL/img_20220904_114626.jpg) ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZ7ptMqXx4YaQgwahH6ifDqTHLsuai9AGLuuJmaHqFE3y/img_20220904_115606.jpg) Reggia di Calabria is a very beautiful city even more than I could have thought. I lived in southern Italy for years when I first arrived in Italy, and as much as I am in love with the culture and hospitality, and especially the food, of this area I also know that obviously compared to the north the economic situation is much worse, so I left home with not too many expectations but instead I was fascinated by the beauty of this place. I must admit, that perhaps I was a little 'stupid in this because I let myself be guided mainly by the various stereotypes, although I myself have visited many cities of southern Italy including Ragusa and Catania the wonderful Salento to the beautiful city of Peschici Vieste in Puglia and remaining each time more and more fascinated by the beauty of these places, so I could also expect, using a little' logic that the same city of Reggio Calabria was indeed beautiful. Obviously, however, like any city in the south, there is an incredible contrast between the main part of the city, so its waterfront in this case, and the suburbs, since the waterfront, being the most touristy and most visited (and therefore remurant) is very well cared for and clean, not even ornamented, while as soon as you move a few hundred meters from the center you immediately begin to see the decay, poverty, dirt and even rubbish left on the streets. We speak, however, of what is beautiful instead Reggio Calabria that precisely the area of the waterfront is the historic center. The main streets are two, one that passes next to the sea, all tiled lit very wide to allow the passage of pedestrians and with its side another small street where there are all the various restaurants and all the main attractions of the city, which like any seaside town, in the summer has these lifeguards with music parties hanging cocktails etc. etc. etc. and the other is the road of the main course through the center and has on its sides many shops and bars. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmV1FNfaxEE4qxRVSMrxE6aU9rvzFb3hsv5xAAkZfBZVRF/img_20220904_105901.jpg)

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRZfgXKiBsi8j58cKZo5La6ZJscWyYVqJGbYD4QDApqDG/img_20220904_110413.jpg) But let's start to explore together the main things I saw: # The Aragonese Castle ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVJsrv7oRKU7hink3NRLH2f8FmiAaznEzC1prBrr4jGmH/img_20220904_112814.jpg) ---

https://images.ecency.com/DQmNqY2qEVuRFRFQdttdjdrmEx1g1TJkNrv6qDeMw54Ao6B/img_20220904_112710.jpg

_{The Aragonese Castle of Reggio Calabria is one of the symbols of the city. Today it is known as the Aragonese Castle, but sources date it as far back as 549 A.D. and it is presumed to have been built by the Byzantines. This fortress has served as a prison, barracks, and even a shelter over the years, including in 1540 when residents of Reggio took refuge there to flee Turkish assaults.}

--- Unluckily, only the two Aragonese towers are still surviving on the square today because the castle was substantially destroyed in the 1908 earthquake. But still the castle has kept intact his charm also because, both the exterior with a lovely terrace and the interior, which holds cultural events and exhibitions, are accessible. https://images.ecency.com/DQmUxj1iSPVfHT3J3zqi4HtonYYW1gn8iCLmLpoyDZzhfzQ/img_20220904_112508.jpg # The Cathedral of Reggio Calabria ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmXuFX5wdfBmD31KrrtraKKwLw6acgwKpQHfH7vMgTerkK/img_20220904_111814.jpg) The largest Basilica in all of Calabria is the Cathedral Basilica of Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo, which is situated at Piazza del Duomo. ---

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_{The Cathedral of Reggio Calabria has its roots in Norman times, although it has gone through many vicissitudes and restorations as a result of accidents, earthquakes, and wars.}

--- The building you can see today has a façade with three magnificent bronze gates, and its interior is divided into three naves and illuminated by sizable stained-glass windows with geometric or religious symbols on them. Sadly I didn't have time to visit the inside of the Cathedral, due to my time schedule, but also form the inside the impression it leaves on you is incredible. What surprised me the most, and maybe this is not something that normally people would think when seeing it, is its external cleanliness. If you have time go and check it for yourself. ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVaab3iRDci7qtRG8TgdUuVrEbUMVo3GksCpZouUbMTnF/img_20220904_112017.jpg)

# The Chiesa degli Ottimati ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTfnrAHzdQsSYMFK9Y443UWjsaSAQRWYDS3LMmry8XSPg/img_20220904_113250.jpg) I happened upon this church almost by chance, on my way to see the Aragonese castle (it sits opposite the latter in the direction of the Lungomare). And I must say that it is probably the thing that impressed me the most, not because it is actually 'impressive' but because it is small and precious and also because it is a bit of an outsider in that part of town. Tourists going to visit the castle, they don't even consider it (like me in the end 😅). # Conclusions As I have said before, Reggio (of Calabria, not to be confused with Reggio Emilia, which is in a different part of Italy), is a beautiful city, which for me personally was a wonderful surprise. I thing that I didn't mention in the post, is that (of course,since we are in the southern part of Italy) the food is amazing. In particular if you want to try one of the best restaurants of the city with the best view over the sea, then you have to go to the Piro Piro restaurant: [Piro Piro Restaurant Reggio di Calabria](https://www.piropiroreggiocalabria.it/) I think I will definitely come back to visit it better, but this time as a tourist and not for work, so I can enjoy it to the full!!! Until the next trip, ciaooooo! ***If you enjoyed the post, please leave an upvote and/or a comment and feel free to follow me (at the link below) if you want to see my next post about my travels.*** ➡️ [hive.blog/@aurzeq](https://hive.blog/@aurzeq) ⬅️ ![fIRMA_hIVE.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aurzeq/23u5xbDVAbo3e73k48Feq4HUqHpGQjieJvTdGtxdJoe5644JKwyz38WTxRnNUYVRdnk2f.png) [//]:# (!pinmapple 38.10619 lat 15.64371 long d3scr)