SHARRYLAND
The Riviera of Angels - Guardavalle
A village that right from its name reveals a prominent position in the history of the ancient fiefdom of Stilo
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The beauty of the beaches in their natural state
The territory of Guardavalle ranges from the Ionian coast, characterized by a dune belt of great naturalistic importance, to the wooded Serre ridge, which in this section culminates in Mount Bobbolo (m 1147). The capital (m 225), ancient in appearance, appears at the bottom of the valley between soft ridges that slope down to the sea on the horizon. Of recent formation, on the other hand, are Guardavalle Marina, developed since the 1950s, and Elce della Vecchia (m 1100), the result of the relocation of the old mountain district of Pietracupa. Connecting the three centers is the provincial road that climbs to Brognaturo. At the southern edge of the municipality the fiumara Assi flows into the sea at Punta Stilo, ideally marking the passage between the provinces of Catanzaro and Reggio.
A name that evokes ancient events
The foundation of Guardavalle probably dates back to the 9th century when groups fleeing from the coast, which had been beaten by Saracen pirates, aggregated in a less exposed inland location. Witnessing the uncertainty of that era are the watchtowers, twelve of them documented on this stretch of coast alone, erected to avoid being taken by surprise by threats from the sea. It is to these circumstances that some trace the name of the new settlement, Guardavalle, which indeed has a military feel to it. What is certain is that over time the village grew in importance beyond its defensive function, transmitting even to its name a sense of greater rank.
Sirleto, the village's most illustrious lineage
Guardavalle is a significant center, just consider the long list of its religious and civil architecture. It was part of the fiefdom of the neighboring town of Stilo and followed its fortunes, enjoying them in reflection. It is no coincidence that among its most illustrious sons stands out Guglielmo Sirleto, who lived in the 16th century, a person of exceptional culture, close to St. Philip Neri, risen to important positions, up to the cardinal's purple, so much so that he was among the most influential religious of the Council of Trent. In Guardavalle his figure is remembered first and foremost on the plaques on the main street in the center, without forgetting other representatives of a very high-profile lineage and the imposing palace that ideally represents its history.
Sant'Agazio, Squillace and Guardavalle
The village's most prominent religious building is the church of Sant'Agazio, otherwise known as Madonna del Rosario, which appears in the neoclassical form of its 19th-century reconstruction. The church appears in the heart of the village in the ups and downs of alleys and stairways. Inside is a remarkable canvas, Our Lady of the Rosary with Mysteries, painted in 1713 by a worthy artist of the Neapolitan school, Tommaso Martini da Bivongi, who was very active in his native lands. As for the town's patron saint , St. Agazio, martyred in Byzantium in the year 303, he is celebrated on his liturgical feast day, May 7, and then also on January 16, the feast of the Transfer of the Relics, shared with Squillace, its main shrine.
On the coast, the tower of Vinciarello
At Vinciarello, among the coastal tourist settlements, there remains an eloquent reminder of the past, a watchtower, with a square base, the only survivor of the many that dotted the coast of Guardavalle. The gable bears the date 1485, but it is likely the year of the remodeling of a much older structure. The curiosity concerns the names of those who garrisoned it: a garrison of mounted soldiers, the so-called cavallari, subordinated to a corporal, called a torriero.
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The Riviera of Angels
INTRODUZIONE
The Riviera of Angels
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The Riviera of Angels - Isca on the Ionian Sea
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The Riviera of Angels - Badolato
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The Riviera of the Angels - Santa Caterina dello Ionio
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The Riviera of Angels - Guardavalle
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