Stilo
Stilo, the blinding Byzantine light of the Cattolica
Historical centres
Stilo - Regione Calabria
The village of Stilo is among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, in the province of Reggio Calabria. It dominates the ancient Stilaro Valley and shows its medieval origins set in the rock.
Stilo is the legendary ‘’City of the Sun‘’ idealised by the philosopher Tommaso Campanella, a native of these very places, as well as the site of the famous Cattolica di Stilo, a Byzantine jewel that is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.
A small 10th century pearl, with its characteristic small domes and Greek cross plan, the Cattolica of Stilo is the landmark building of eastern architecture in Calabria.
Another architectural symbol of the village is the Castle of Stilo (Norman Castle of 1093), on the slopes of Mount Consolino, in a panoramic position. Today, only the circular entrance towers can be admired, but it once had triangular towers and incorporated a chapel-church.
The village of Stilo is entirely carved out of granite by local stonemasons and craftsmen, who contributed to the construction of about twenty splendid Baroque churches, including the 14th-century Mother Church (Cathedral of Stilo) and the Church of San Giovanni Therestys with the adjoining Convent of the Liguorini (now the Town Hall).
In the centre of the main square, the statue of Tommaso Campanella also invites us to visit the Convent of San Domenico, where we can see his personal cell.
Finally, the other symbol of the village of Stilo can be encountered in the alleyways of the centre: the original Fountain of the Dolphins (or Gebbia), in arabesque style.
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