Tour of the Armenian Valley: places to see

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A fascinating journey through ancient communities of Armenian origin

Cultural historian

Staiti - Regione Calabria

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A crossroads of peoples, Calabria also welcomes Armenians among its minorities, who arrived on the Ionian coast during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, who ordered their transfer to the region together with the Jews to support the Byzantine army of Nicephorus Phocas the Elder (8th-9th century).

The first communities settled in what is still known as the "Valley of the Armenians": the territory of the province of Reggio Calabria between the Costa dei Gelsomini Regional Marine Park and the lower slopes of the Aspromonte National Park. The main evidence of the Armenians in Calabria can be found in a legendary place called Rocca Armena, which, although not well defined, preserves fascinating traces of this ancient presence.

Specifically, the Valley of the Armenians includes the old hilltop villages of Ferruzzano, Bruzzano Zeffirio, Staiti and Brancaleone. The Armenians in Calabria are responsible for a series of artistic, religious and folkloric traditions that still survive today, intertwined with those of the Greek community.

In the "ghost town" of Saccuti

Ferruzzano Vecchio - Regione Calabria

The first stop on the itinerary in the Valley of the Armenians starts from the oldest historic centre of Ferruzzano, namely the abandoned ruins of Saccuti (Ferruzzano Vecchio), a significant reminder of the Armenian past of this area. Walking through the deserted streets of Saccuti, one of Calabria's so-called "ghost towns", is like being on an open-air film set (in fact, several films for cinema and television have been shot here). Among the alleys and ruins of abandoned houses, it feels like moving in suspended time, with the impression that the ancient inhabitants of Armenian origin could return at any moment. Everything in Saccuti contributes to creating an atmosphere of suspension that the most romantic travellers will certainly appreciate.

In search of the "Armenian Fortress"

Bruzzano Vecchia - Regione Calabria

The heart of the Armenian Valley was the so-called "Armenian Fortress", a place that is difficult to identify, probably located in the vicinity of the current historic centre of Bruzzano Zeffirio, in the locality of Bruzzano Vecchio. It seems that the ancient Byzantine kastron on which the town stood was founded by the troops of Nicephorus Phocas in the 9th century: here you can find the remains of the presumed Armenian Castle (or Armenian Fortress), which was conquered by Saracen pirates in 925. Among the ruins stands the Triumphal Arch, an imposing sandstone structure that symbolises local history. Around the Armenian Fortress there are several hermit caves that recall the history of the Byzantine monks who lived there (Basilian Caves).

Among the rock churches of the East

Staiti - Regione Calabria

The presence of hermit caves and small rock churches is a constant feature in the Valley of the Armenians, bearing witness to the continuity of ancient religious cults of Eastern origin. This is also true in the nearby territory of Staiti, which scholars now believe to be of ancient foundation: it is no coincidence that, near the Basilian monastery (11th century), there are the remains of a small pre-existing temple, associated with the presence of Armenian crosses and, above all, with the typical figures of peacocks, animals symbolising Armenian religiosity.

Armenian crosses and peacocks

Torre di Galati, Brancaleone - Regione Calabria

The ancient symbol of the peacock is even more evident among the ruins of Brancaleone Vetus (or Sperlinga), the historic centre of Brancaleone Superiore, which has become a veritable Urban Archaeological Park due to its Byzantine-Armenian rock settlements. This area overlooks the sea and is characterised by small 'cave churches' that house Armenian crosses and depictions of the Adoring Peacock and the emblematic Tree of Life, one of the most significant traces of the Armenian people in these places. The remains of the Mother Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Archpriest Church of the Annunciation date back to the 17th century. From Sperlinga to Brancaleone Marina, the Valley of the Armenians slopes down towards the coast of the Caretta Caretta turtles: from the Capo Bruzzano Cliff to the Capo Spartivento Lighthouse.