Calabria - Stilo

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Stilo, whose name derives from the Greek "stylos-colonna", is one of the most important centres of Calabria for its architectural monuments that, as the actual town itself, date back to the Byzantine era. The most significant of these monuments is the Byzantine church "Cattolica" from the 7^th or 10^th century. The architectural structure of these monuments are similar to the type of expression found on memorials in Armenia and Georgia. Another famous is the Basiliano Monastery whose ruins are found on a height above the town.

From Stilo you can go visit Calabrian sites and towns like Gerace that lies close by, that apart from being the home town where the "Greco di Gerace" D.O.C. white wine is produced, has a rich patrimony of the Byzantine churches and houses the biggest Cathedral of Calabria and the magnificent castle of "Roberto il Guiscardo" that offers a beautiful panorama from its high walls.

Another close by town of Stilo's is Locri, which dates back thousands of years. It was the first city, in the whole world to have written legislation. The city has seen moments of great splendour, affronting the city of Crotone, fighting the Bruzi, the Romans, and the Carthaginians. At a point in time it was conquered by Scipio, which caused the decline of the Magno-Greca civilisation.