What to see in Italy

The Falcomatà Promenade, also known as the Matteotti Promenade, is a beautiful promenade that stretches for about 1.7 km along the coast of Reggio Calabria, from Piazza Indipendenza to Piazza Garibaldi. Its name pays tribute to Mayor Italo Falcomatà, a key figure in the 'Springtime of Reggio'. The coastal area of the historic centre of Reggio Calabria is bordered by the port and the sea fort (the ancient Castelnuovo at Punta Calamizzi) and includes the Falcomatà promenade, the Matteotti promenade, Corso Vittorio Emanuele III and Viale Genoese Zerbi. In general, this entire area is known as Via Marina.

The promenade offers a breathtaking view of the sea and the surrounding coastline, and is characterised by a wide variety of plants, including numerous palm trees. Along the promenade, one can admire several Art Nouveau buildings, many of which date back to the reconstruction of the city at the end of the 19th century, such as the Zani palace, the Spinelli palace and the Genoese Zerbi villa. In addition, there are numerous memorials along the promenade, a monumental fountain and a number of archaeological sites bearing witness to the city's Greco-Roman era, such as sections of the Greek city walls and a Roman spa.

Between the sea and the promenade is the Arena dello Stretto, a Greek-style theatre that hosts cultural and entertainment events, especially in the summer months. On the Porto Salvo pier, opposite the arena, is the monument to Victor Emmanuel III, who first landed in Italy here on 31 July 1900.

The Bergamot Museum, founded in 2008 by Prof. Vittorio Caminiti, aims to promote this unique citrus fruit, its history and uses, especially the essential oil exported all over the world. The museum is divided into several sections, including a bibliography on the citrus fruit, an exhibition area on the chemistry process of the essential oil, a section dedicated to the machines used to process bergamot over the years, a collection of materials and objects related to the trade of the product a section on its use in food and wine and an exhibition of the finished products obtained from processing the citrus fruit, including the essential oil, the famous 'Calabrisella' (eau de Cologne), dolls, roses and snuff boxes made from the dried Bergamot peel.
The Cilea Theatre is a temple of art and culture in the city of Reggio Calabria. Named after the famous Calabrian musician Francesco Cilea, it was built at the end of the second decade of the 19th century. The Cilea Theatre is an elegant and refined structure, characterised by a charming foyer and an imposing red curtain on the proscenium. After restoration, which returned the theatre to the city after more than a decade of work, its beauty was enhanced by the attention to detail in the architecture and furnishings.

The Cilea Theatre in Reggio Calabria is the largest theatre in the region, with a capacity of 1,500 seats. Located in a privileged position, opposite Palazzo San Giorgio, it occupies an area between Corso Garibaldi to the west, Via Cattolica dei Greci to the south, Via del Torrione to the east and Via Osanna to the north.

The stage of the Cilea Theatre has witnessed a long artistic tradition, which has seen great names from the Italian and international scene perform. Notable among them are performances by the famous Maria Callas and the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Inside the north wing of the Cilea Theatre is the Reggio Civic Art Gallery, with works by world-famous artists such as Mattia Preti, Luca Giordano, Pietro Bernini, Antonello da Messina, Alonso Rodriguez (a pupil of Caravaggio) and Renato Guttuso.

The Teatro Cilea offers a rich programme of events every year, catering for all tastes. The Rhegium Opera Festival is a great rendezvous with opera and symphonic music, combining three separate festivals into one event, staging major operas such as Verdi's La Traviata, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Bellini's Norma. In addition, the Cilea's season hosts performances by local theatre groups, such as the Compagnia Scena Nuda with its Contemporary Myths Festival, and the Officine dell'Arte season with its comedy proposal.

In short, the Cilea Theatre is a place where art and culture meet in an atmosphere of great charm and refinement, representing a fundamental part of Reggio Calabria's history and cultural identity.

The Reggio Calabria Civic Art Gallery, located in the Francesco Cilea Theatre, exhibits works of art of particular artistic relevance. These include panels painted by Antonello da Messina, works by Mattia Preti, Giuseppe Benassai and Renato Guttuso. The sculpture section is dedicated to marble busts and classical sculptures.

Inaugurated in 2008 by the President of the Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini, the Pinacoteca was entrusted with the task of displaying the collections owned by the municipality, previously scattered in other museums and offices, such as the National Museum of Magna Graecia, Palazzo San Giorgio and the Pietro De Nava Library. The restoration and museum layout project was supervised by Prof. Arch. Fabio Mariano.

The oldest works (15th-19th century) come from the collections of the former Museo Civico, founded in 1882 and suppressed in 1948, while the more modern works (19th-20th century) were acquired through purchases and donations.

Among the most valuable works are the two wooden panels 'Saint Jerome Penitent' and 'Three Angels Visiting Abraham' by Antonello da Messina, purchased by the Municipality of Reggio Calabria in 1890. State works include 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' by Mattia Preti and 'The Battle of Capua' by Andrea Cefaly.

There are numerous works by Calabrian artists, such as landscapes by Ignazio Lavagna Fieschi and Giuseppe Benassai, sculptures by Francesco Jerace, paintings by Rubens Santoro, Francesco Raffaele, Antonio Cannata and Enzo Benedetto, and sculptures by Pasquale Panetta and Saverio Gatto. Non-Calabrian artists include Giovanni Omiccioli, Giampiero Restellini and Renato Guttuso.