Byzantine Calabria: on the road in the Valley of the Armenians

A journey through the ancient history of Ionian Calabria

The Ionian coast of Calabria was the promised land of many Eastern monks who fled Muslim invasions and iconoclastic persecution between the 8th and 9th centuries. After a long sea voyage, they landed here, where the mountains are close to the coast and, above all, rich in natural cavities where they could live in isolation and prayer. In time, their presence was joined by that of the population, which gathered in compact villages, often on mountain slopes.

Between ghost hamlets and lively country

Many of these villages are still inhabited today, but others have suffered such damage over the centuries that they are now abandoned, ruins in the middle of the landscape between the Calabrian mountains and the Ionian Sea. Yet they continue to be visited by curious travelers who look here for traces of the past to connect with this ancient and evocative land.

The Valley of the Armenians: ghost towns, sparkling villages and enchanting views

We too set out on the trail of the ancient Byzantines. We will start from Ferruzzano Superiore and then explore the Valley of the Armenians from side to side and finally arrive on the Jasmine Coast in Brancaleone Marina. Ghost towns, abandoned churches in the green, active and present communities and many other surprises await us along our journey. Are you ready? Let's get started!