Location and geographical context

Bova is located in Calabria, in the heart of the Grecanic area, and is situated on the eastern side of Aspromonte, at 915 meters above sea level. The village dominates the Ionian Sea and is just 9 km from the coast, connected to the neighboring municipality of Bova Marina by a modern and panoramic expressway. Its territory is part of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and extends for about 47 km².

 

Historical notes

The origins of Bova date back to ancient times: Neolithic finds, such as obsidian splinters and flint tools, testify to human presence as early as the 4th millennium BC. In the Greek era it played an important role as a hinge between Reggio, Locri and Syracuse.

According to legend, the foundation of Bova is attributed to a Greek queen who left her footprint on the rock where the remains of the Norman castle stand today. The internal and elevated position of the town is due to the continuous incursions by sea, especially during the Saracen invasions of the 9th–10th centuries.

With the Norman domination, Bova entered the feudal system, later becoming a bishopric and maintaining an important religious and cultural influence for centuries.

 

The Greek culture

Bova is the symbolic capital of the Greek-Calabrian linguistic minority, one of the few still active in Europe. Here they speak Calabrian Greek, a language with Magna Graecia and Byzantine roots, studied in depth by the linguist Gerald Rohlfs.

The village is home to the Linguistic Ethnographic Museum, dedicated to the history and survival of the Greek language, and promotes cultural initiatives such as the summer course "To Ddomàdi Greco", to learn the language in an experiential way.

 

Religious and artistic heritage

Among the main places of worship and artistic testimonies are:

• the Cathedral of Santa Maria dell’Isodia, with three naves, a wooden ceiling and the valuable statue of the Virgin with Child by Bonanno;

• the Church of San Leo, built in the 18th century, which houses the relics of the saint and a marble statue attributed to Rinaldo Bonanno or Pietro Bernini.

The Angevin castle, in a dominant position, represents one of the most recognizable symbols of the village.

 

Artisan traditions

Bova is famous for its traditional weaving, made with manual looms and natural materials such as linen, broom and wool. The typical blankets are among the most appreciated artefacts.

Another flagship is woodworking, in particular the production of musulupare, carved moulds for the typical cheeses of Aspromonte.

 

Popular music

Traditional Bovesian music preserves ancient instruments and rhythms:

• the bagpipe, heir to the Greek auloi;

• the tambourine, the protagonist of the tarantella;

• the accordion, used both in ritual songs and in popular festivals.

 

The Path of Rural Civilization

The Path of Rural Civilization winds through the historic center, an open-air museum designed by Saverio Micheletta, which exhibits ancient agricultural tools: millstones, presses, drinking troughs, bergamot presses and palmenti. It is a real journey into the rural memory of the area, created thanks to the contribution of the local community.