Ferruzzano: Mountain Views, Coast and Traces of the Past

Piazza with Panoramic Views and Coast

Piazza della Memoria offers a 360-degree view of the eastern Aspromonte mountains and the surrounding towns. La Marina, the district of Ferruzzano, combines crystal-clear water with a wide white beach. Piazza della Memoria can be reached without stairs, making it a clearly understandable starting point for finding your bearings locally.

Churches and Recorded History

The small Church of San Giuseppe on Piazza della Memoria was rebuilt after the 1908 earthquake. The Byzantine Chapel of Santa Maria degli Armeni is considered evidence of the Armenian presence in the region. This small, pagoda-like place of worship offers views of the Fiumara di Bruzzano in the Valley of the Armenians.

The origins of the Santuario della Madonna della Catena have not been historically established with certainty. According to tradition, sailors from Bruzzano, together with sailors from Ferruzzano, found a crate containing a beautiful alabaster statue of the Madonna. The sanctuary lies farther south and is disputed between the municipalities of Ferruzzano and Bruzzano.

Ferruzzano Vecchio and Archaeological Traces

Ferruzzano Vecchio is an abandoned village with characteristic alleyways and old houses. The district lies on a hilltop approximately 500 metres high; viewpoints are located at Piazza Belvedere and at the three Calvari. In Contrada Judario is the burial site known as “Monoliti e Tomba a Seduta a Putridarium”, carved into sandstone. It is an example of ancient burial practices.

Palmenti and the Wine Tradition

Approximately 160 rock-cut palmenti have been recorded in the Ferruzzano area. These palmenti are wine presses with two interconnected basins at different elevations, which were used for processing and producing wine. The local term thus refers to a form of wine processing carved into the rock, clearly distinguishing it from ordinary agricultural buildings.

Forests, Rocks and Landscape

The Bosco di Rùdina is recognised as a Site of Community Importance because of its rich biodiversity. Bosco Rudina is a 177-hectare woodland characterised by holm oaks and downy oaks. It lies at elevations between 200 and 400 metres above sea level and stretches between the Borgo di Ferruzzano and the wide riverbed of the Fiumara La Verde.

The Capo Bruzzano promontory has a lush pine forest and a viewpoint overlooking the coast. Rocca Carruso is a striking rock formation from which the coast as far as Africo Nuovo can be seen. Ferruzzano therefore brings together different landscapes: wooded heights, rock formations, a riverbed and the sea.

Trails and Traditional Dates

Stage 62 of the Basilian Way crosses the Valley of the Armenians and leads to Ferruzzano via a detour. Near Saccuti, now an abandoned district of Ferruzzano, runs the Strata Cunsulari, a paved long-distance road from Roman times. The traditional festival at the Santuario della Madonna della Catena takes place on the first Sunday in September.

Other Destinations in the Region

Stignano, Bocale, San Lorenzo, Monasterace, Villa San Giovanni, Lazzaro, Favazzina and Martone

To the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.