Reggio Calabria: The Ancient Mediterranean City That Has Been Renamed Over a Dozen Times

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Perched on the toe of the Italian Peninsula, Reggio Calabria is a city of constant transformation. From its origins as a Greek colony to its role as a Byzantine capital and a hub for silk production, this resilient Mediterranean port has survived earthquakes, invasions, and a dizzying succession of names.

Reggio Calabria, the largest city in its region, sits on the slopes of the Aspromonte mountains, directly across the Strait of Messina from Sicily. Its history spans 3,500 years, during which it has functioned as a vital maritime pole. In ancient times, it was a flourishing colony of Magna Graecia, founded by inhabitants of Chalcis around 730 or 743 BC. Its strategic location made it a target for various powers, leading to a complex identity shaped by Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, and Spanish influences.

The city's name has shifted with its rulers. Known as Rhegion to the Greeks and Rhegium Julii under the Romans, it was later called Riyyu by the Arabs and Rìsa under the Normans. Etymologists have long debated its origin; while some link it to the Italic word for king, others point to the Greek term for 'break,' referencing a mythic earthquake that supposedly severed Sicily from the mainland. This seismic reality is no myth; the city sits on a faultline between the Eurasian and African plates, suffering catastrophic damage in 1908 and several times before.

Despite its turbulent past, Reggio has been a center of innovation. It was home to the Pythagorean School and, in 1475, hosted the first dated, printed edition of a Hebrew text. It also pioneered the intensive cultivation of the bergamot orange in the 1750s. Today, the city is perhaps best known for the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Græcia, which houses the Bronzes of Riace—rare Greek sculptures that serve as a testament to the city's enduring cultural legacy.

The city's modern layout is largely a product of the 1908 earthquake, which necessitated a complete urban redesign. Today, it remains a major economic center for southern Italy, maintaining strong cultural and historical ties with Messina. Whether through its unique optical phenomena like the 'Fatamorgana' or its history as the birthplace of the name 'Italia,' Reggio Calabria remains a vital, if often overlooked, pivot of the Mediterranean.

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