Tour of Cassiodorus's sites in Calabria

The first of the three stops on the Cassiodorus sites in Calabria is the birthplace of Senator Cassiodorus: the ancient Roman city of Scolacium. Today, it is almost entirely identified with the National Archaeological Park of the same name, located in Roccelletta di Borgia, nestled among the centuries-old olive trees of the Costa degli Aranci. The senator, who was one of Emperor Theodoric the Great's most beloved advisors (during the Roman-Barbarian period of the Ostrogoths in Calabria), was born and began his long career right here, among the ruins that today help us imagine its original splendour. Built on the ruins of the Greek Skylletion, the Roman city of Scolacium, founded in 120 BC, intertwines its history with that of Cassiodorus in the last phase of the site's life, when the learned monk founded the Vivarium monastic complex nearby, linking it to today's Squillace. The perimeter of the large Norman basilica dedicated to Santa Maria della Roccella has been preserved from the medieval period.

It is precisely in Vivario locality, in Squillace, that we encounter the second and fundamental stage of the "Places of Cassiodorus" in Calabria. Here, at the end of the Gothic War, the senator settled permanently and founded the famous Monastery of Vivarium, with its priceless library. Having set aside his public and political duties, which he recounts in his work Historia Gothica, Cassiodorus chose to retire to a spiritual life, devoting himself to prayer and literature, as well as enjoying the wonderful hilly and coastal territory that fell within his possessions. A landscape that still today, from the top of the acropolis of Squillace, offers breathtaking views of the gulf and the Costa degli Aranci. Here, starting in 540, Cassiodorus composed his fundamental works: De Anima and Variae, dedicating himself to the amanuensis copying of precious manuscripts preserved in the Scriptorium and in the Library.

Around the ancient monastery of Vivarium, Cassiodorus launched a series of productive activities to support the monks, giving rise to a significant transformation of the area, which slowly developed its own economy. This led to the creation of the so-called Cassiodorus's Pools, which can still be seen in the seaside resort of Copanello, now part of the municipality of Stalettì. What were fish ponds in Cassiodorus's time are now warm swimming pools carved into the cliff. A magical and secluded place, where you can take an unforgettable dip in summer and explore the coast by sailing boat, visiting the nearby San Gregorio Cave. The archaeological remains of the Church of Panaja, the Tomb of Cassiodorus and the ancient Church of St. Martin are worth seeing all year round.