Discovering Santa Caterina dello Ionio and the Tower of Sant'Antonio

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024 sees the renewal of the appointment with the FAI Spring Days, the most important public event dedicated to Italy's cultural heritage and landscape.

At the national conference, the FAI indicated the most interesting initiatives of these days and highlighted the idea of the municipality of Santa Caterina dello Ionio, a beautiful town in the province of Catanzaro. A pirate attack will be simulated at the Tower of Sant'Antonio. Two costumed horsemen will warn of the enemies' arrival and then smoke and acoustic signals (cowbells) will be set off, to which the bells of the Church of St. Catherine up in the village will respond.

The Tower is one of about 50 Saracen Towers still in good condition, part of a larger defence system on our coastline of about 350 constructions also present in the famous "Codex of Wonders by Romano Carratelli". It will be possible to visit the tower and climb up to the terrace of the battlements from which the entire gulf can be seen. During the visit, the function of the watchtowers and the history of Torre Sant'Antonio will be explained. Tables from the Roman Carratelli Codex will be displayed concerning the towers in the area, among which Tower of Sant'Antonio is obviously one. The Codex is a paper manuscript dating back to the late 16th century. It consists of 99 watercolours depicting fortified towns, castles, defensive installations and the territory of the Province of Calabria Ultra of the Kingdom of Naples. The Codex is owned by the Romano-Carratelli family. The manuscript is kept in the Antique Collection of the Romano-Carratelli Family Library and is bound by the Ministry of Culture by Decree No. 165/2014.

It will be possible to meet the master Alberto Timossi who will talk about his installation "Segnacoli". The Segnacoli (Signposts) arose on the Kothon stretch of water to bear witness to the time that has passed on a place that has remained almost unchanged since its origins. Also at Tower Sant'Antonio, an exhibition for children of illustrations made by artificial intelligence of the main monuments of Santa Caterina dello Ionio, including Tower Sant'Antonio. And the reproduction of a cartoon to explain in a simple way the function of the watchtowers in antiquity.

The initiatives are part of the broader programme that the municipality of Santa Caterina has organised for the FAI Spring Days. Both Saturday and Sunday it will be possible to visit the village with its numerous churches and magnificent noble palaces, listen to the ancient and fascinating history of the town and enjoy the photographic and pictorial exhibitions organised for the occasion. On Sunday morning, it will be possible to take an interesting nature walk in the Autonomous Agricultural Outpost, accompanied by botanists and zoologists to admire the valley below, with its caves, gullies, landscapes unchanged by time, the flowering of wild orchids and the famous rock palaces carved out of granite. On Sunday afternoon, an unrepeatable experience: sculptor Antonio Tropiano will teach how to carve a dream house out of a large log to create the ideal village. At 6 p.m., a talk on "Departures" to reflect on the abandonment of small towns and possible returns. There will also be zeppolata promoted by the Pro Loco and dinners and lunches in the catoji and typical restaurants.