Reggio Calabria
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Map of Italy showing Reggio Calabria in the south |
Reggio Calabria (officially
Reggio di Calabria,
Rìggiu in Calabrian dialect,
Righi in
Greek-Calabrian), is the largest and the oldest city in
Calabria,
Italy. Located on the toe of the
Italian boot, it's the capital of the
province of Reggio Calabria. The city proper has about 200,000 inhabitants, but the population of the urban area is more.
Founded as
Rhegion by
Greek settlers in the
8th century BCE, the city was devastated by several major
earthquakes and associated
tsunami. During the
Roman Empire it was called
Rhegium Julium as a noble Roman city. Later it became a
Byzantine city, and in the
12th century it became part of the
Kingdom of Sicily and the
Kingdom of Naples (
13th century).
Reggio Calabria is known as the location of the first dated Hebrew book, a
Rashi commentary on the
Pentateuch printed in
1475.
The worst earthquakes came in
1783 and on
December 28,
1908.
Reggio Calabria was the hometown of
Gianni Versace, where his family were tailors.
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University of Reggio Calabria*
List of mayors of Reggio Calabria*
Reggio Calabria Airport*
The City of Reggio Calabria*
Province of Reggio Calabria*
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